Welcome to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast! This week, I am joined by Dr. Ryan Budwany, an interventional pain specialist and Chief Medical Officer at Pain Health. In this episode, we explore chronic pain—why so many patients feel stuck, how pain is often managed with medications instead of truly treated, and why waiting too long can lead to long-term loss of function.

Dr. Budwany shares insights into modern, minimally invasive treatment options, including image-guided procedures, diagnostic injections, and advanced technologies that target the root cause of pain rather than simply masking symptoms. We also discuss how pain impacts overall health, including movement, weight, and mental well-being.

Tune in to learn how early intervention and a more proactive approach can help patients restore function and get their lives back.

Dr. Ryan Budwany, MD, MBA, MPH, is a triple board-certified interventional pain and spine physician and Chief Medical Officer of PainHealth, based in the Tampa Bay area. He specializes in advanced, minimally invasive, non-opioid treatments focused on identifying and treating the source of pain—helping patients improve function, restore quality of life, and return to the activities that matter most.

Recognizing that pain carries both a significant personal and economic burden, Dr. Budwany leverages his background in medicine, public health, and business to develop innovative, scalable models of care that move beyond medications and focus on preventing disability. He is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence and medical technology into pain care—using tools like AI-driven patient education, clinical decision support, and remote monitoring to enhance outcomes and expand access to care.

Dr. Budwany works with patients locally in Tampa Bay, across Florida, and nationally, and is a recognized speaker on the future of pain care and healthcare innovation.

00:00 – Introduction and why chronic pain is often misunderstood
02:15 – Meet Dr. Ryan Budwany and his background
05:10 – Why patients delay seeking care
08:40 – Pain as a warning sign, not just a symptom
12:30 – How pain affects mood, weight, and lifestyle
16:45 – Why pain care became medication-focused
21:20 – The “fire alarm” analogy explained
25:10 – Minimally invasive spine treatments
30:05 – Diagnostic vs therapeutic injections
34:50 – Using pain relief as a window for recovery
39:10 – Transition to advanced solutions (Part 2 preview)

Connect with Dr. Budwany
Website: www.painhealth.com
Work Email: better@painhealth.com
Youtube: / @painhealthmd
LinkedIn: / ryan-budwany-md-mba-mph-557a248b

Connect with Dr. Reller
Podcast website: