Michael Crabtree, MD

Meet Michael Crabtree, MD

Fellowship-Trained Pain Medicine Specialist Helping You Move Past Chronic Pain in Santa Fe

Dr. Michael Crabtree is a fellowship-trained, dual board-certified pain medicine specialist at CHRISTUS Health in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He earned his medical degree with Highest Honors from Ross University School of Medicine and completed both his Anesthesiology residency and Pain Medicine fellowship at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. He holds board certifications in both Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine through the American Board of Anesthesiology and brings more than 18 years of experience to patients living with pain conditions that range from herniated discs and spinal stenosis to complex regional pain syndrome. He also served as an Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico as the Pain Medicine Fellowship VA site Director at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Hospital in Albuquerque, NM.

Career at a Glance

• Dual board-certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine (American Board of Anesthesiology)
• Fellowship-trained in Pain Medicine at the University of New Mexico
• 18+ years of clinical experience in pain management
• Served as Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at UNM; VA Site Director of Pain Medicine Fellowship
• Graduated with Highest Honors from Ross University School of Medicine (2003)

Clinical Role and Leadership

Dr. Crabtree practices at CHRISTUS St. Vincent Pain & Spine Specialist Pain Center in Santa Fe, where he evaluates and treats adult patients with acute and chronic pain conditions. His dual board certification in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine means he approaches pain through a deep understanding of how the nervous system processes and transmits pain signals and which interventional, pharmacologic, and rehabilitative strategies are most likely to provide meaningful relief. His academic role at UNM, where he directed the VA site for the Pain Medicine Fellowship, reflects a physician who stayed engaged with current evidence based medicine alongside practicing, a combination that directly benefits the patients he sees in the clinic.

Condition-Specific Interventions

1. Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Phantom Limb Pain, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome & Post-Herpetic Neuralgia: nerve related pain conditions that may include burning, shooting, or tingling sensations. 

• Spinal Cord & Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Stimulation: Advanced neuromodulation that intercepts pain signals before they reach the brain, providing significant relief for intractable neuropathic pain. 
• Peripheral Nerve Stimulation: Targets specific nerves outside the central nervous system to reduce refractory large joint and peripheral nerve pains. 

1. Acute, painful Vertebral Compression Fractures

• Kyphoplasty: A highly effective, minimally invasive procedure that stabilizes the collapsed vertebra, restores vertebral height, and rapidly reduces fracture-related pain. 

1. Lumbar Stenosis: narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back that compresses nerves and causes pain. 

• Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression: A tissue-sparing approach that relieves spinal canal pressure without the need for traditional, extensive open surgery. 

1. Refractory Chronic Low Back Pain: from herniated disc material pressing on spinal nerves to swollen vertebral bodies causing pain. 

• VIA Disc NP: A minimally invasive injection that supplements lost spine disc tissue, restores cushioning, and reduces discogenic pain.
• Basivertebral Nerve Ablation: Treats painful modic changes in the lumbar vertebral bodies via targeted denervation.

1. Osteoarthritis

• Steroid injections, ablations and peripheral nerve stimulation.

1. Post-surgical pain management: evaluation and treatment of pain that persists or develops beyond three months after a surgical procedure

• Steroid injections, ablations, and a variety of neuromodulation techniques.

1. Chronic pain syndromes: persistent pain that lasts beyond expected healing time. 

What You Can Expect from Care with Dr. Crabtree

Dr. Crabtree's patients consistently report that he answers their questions thoroughly and follows up on their care: two things that matter deeply when managing life long pains. Dr. Crabtree explains conditions clearly, keeps wait times manageable, and takes the time patients need to feel heard.

You can expect:

• A thorough evaluation of your pain condition including what's causing it, what's been tried, and what options remain
• Clear explanations of your diagnosis and treatment plan in language that makes sense
• A multimodal approach to pain management that may include interventional procedures, medication management, physical rehabilitation, and lifestyle guidance
• Consistent follow-up to track your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed
• A physician who listens to your experience of pain and factors it into every clinical decision

Interventional Pain Management Approach

Dr. Crabtree's training as both an anesthesiologist and a fellowship-trained pain specialist gives him the skill set to perform a range of interventional pain procedures which are targeted treatments that address the specific source of pain rather than relying solely on medication. These may include epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation (using heat to reduce pain signals from specific nerves), joint injections, spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, kyphoplasty, minimally invasive lumbar decompression, intradiscal injections, basivertebral nerve ablation, and other image-guided procedures. His approach prioritizes identifying the pain generator, the exact structure or nerve causing the problem, and then selecting the intervention most likely to provide lasting relief with the least disruption to your daily life.