Private Pain Clinic in Sutton Coldfield
Consultant-led interventional pain management for Birmingham and the West Midlands — ultrasound-guided nerve blocks and joint injections, X-ray-guided spinal injections and radiofrequency ablation, local anaesthetic infusions — at The Vesey in Sutton Coldfield. No GP referral required. Dr James usually holds his clinic on Tuesday mornings, in person or by video; live availability is shown when you book online.
Chronic pain — whether from nerve damage, joint degeneration, failed back surgery or unexplained origin — is common, and often hard to treat with one approach alone. The Vesey's pain clinic offers consultant-level assessment and interventional treatment. Dr James usually holds his clinic on Tuesday mornings, in person or by video; live availability is shown when you book online. If a nerve block, injection or infusion is recommended at your consultation, your procedure visit is booked promptly — after a cooling-off period that gives you time to consider the consent information before going ahead.
Conditions we treat
Dr Arul James assesses and manages the full range of pain conditions. The list below is grouped by area — most patients come with a single concern but often leave with a comprehensive, multi-modal plan agreed at the same visit.
- Lumbar disc prolapse
- Facet joint pain
- Failed back surgery syndrome
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Radiculopathy (sciatica)
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Postherpetic neuralgia (shingles pain)
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Small fibre neuropathy
- Chronic migraine
- Occipital neuralgia
- Cervicogenic headache
- Facial pain
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Shoulder pain (suprascapular block)
- Hip pain
- Tennis / golfer's elbow
- Phantom limb pain
- Scar pain
- Post-thoracotomy pain
- Persistent surgical site pain
- Palliative pain management
- Cancer-related nerve pain
- Visceral pain syndromes
Ultrasound-guided and X-ray-guided procedures
Dr Arul James performs both on site at The Vesey. The guidance is chosen for the target, not for convenience: ultrasound where soft tissue, nerves and blood vessels need to be seen; X-ray where the needle must reach bone-bordered targets deep in the spine.
Real-time picture of nerves, vessels and tendons. No radiation.
- Peripheral and intercostal nerve blocks
- Stellate ganglion block
- Occipital nerve block
- Suprascapular nerve block (shoulder)
- Genicular nerve block (knee)
- Joint and bursa injections — shoulder, hip, knee, elbow
- Trigger point injections
- Tenex tendon treatment
Live X-ray with contrast dye confirms the needle position on the spine before any medicine is given.
X-ray-guided procedures use a low, measured radiation dose. Please tell us before your procedure if you are or might be pregnant. Some procedures, such as the sacroiliac joint injection, can be done under either guidance — Dr James will explain which he recommends for you at your consultation.
Procedures & transparent pricing
Every price below is the fee charged at The Vesey, inclusive where stated. You will always receive a clear itemised quote before any procedure begins.
| Procedure | What's included | From |
|---|---|---|
| Initial pain consultation | 45-min history + examination + plan | £260 |
| Ultrasound-guided | ||
| Ultrasound-guided nerve block | Procedure + US guidance + clinic fee | £800 |
| Stellate ganglion block | US guidance, drugs and monitored recovery | £950 |
| Occipital nerve block | Bilateral greater + lesser occipital | £800 |
| Sphenopalatine ganglion block | Via intranasal catheter | £800 |
| Trigger point injections | Up to 6 points, ultrasound where indicated | £290 |
| X-ray-guided (fluoroscopy) | ||
| Epidural steroid injection | X-ray guidance with contrast | £1,200 |
| Caudal epidural injection | X-ray guidance with contrast | £1,500 |
| Transforaminal nerve root / DRG block | Single level, X-ray guidance | £950 |
| Facet joint injection | X-ray guidance with contrast | £1,200 |
| Medial branch block (diagnostic) | Two levels, before RF ablation | £680 |
| Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) | Per level, bilateral | £2,200 |
| Sacroiliac joint injection | X-ray or ultrasound guidance | £750 |
| Lumbar sympathetic block | X-ray guidance, drugs and recovery | £900 |
| Infusions and medicines | ||
| Lidocaine infusion | Monitored IV infusion in our treatment room | £800 |
| Specialist medicines review | 45-min consultation with Dr James, including whether a cannabis-based medicine is appropriate | £260 |
| Follow-up consultation | 30 mins | £180 |
Prices as of June 2026. Hospital anaesthetist fees for theatre procedures quoted separately. Ultrasound or X-ray guidance is included in every procedure price.
What to expect
From booking to discharge, this is the pain clinic journey. Any procedure is carried out at a separate visit after your consultation, with a cooling-off period in between.
Full history, pain mapping, examination and intervention planning with Dr Arul James.
Brief consent review, positioning for ultrasound or X-ray, sterile prep completed.
Needle placement confirmed on screen — ultrasound, or X-ray with contrast — before any medicine is given.
Written instruction sheet, follow-up booked, GP letter within 48 hours.
Radiofrequency ablation for facet joint pain
RF ablation uses heat generated by radiofrequency energy to deactivate the medial branch nerves supplying painful facet joints. The procedure is performed under X-ray guidance (fluoroscopy) at The Vesey, with the target nerve confirmed before any energy is applied.
Where it helps, the effect can last for many months, and the procedure can be repeated if pain returns. It is a non-surgical option for chronic back and neck pain that does not depend on long-term medicines. Not everyone responds, and Dr James will talk you through the likely benefits and risks for you.
RFA is indicated for confirmed facet-mediated pain. To confirm this, a diagnostic medial branch block is performed first — a small injection of local anaesthetic. If pain reduces significantly within the expected window, RFA proceeds as the definitive treatment. The Vesey performs lumbar, cervical and thoracic RFA. From £2,200 per level. For low back pain, NICE guidance (NG59) says radiofrequency denervation may be considered when other non-surgical treatment has not worked, and only after a positive diagnostic medial branch block.
Cannabis-based medicines
Specialist doctors in the UK have been able to prescribe cannabis-based medicines since November 2018, but only a consultant on the GMC Specialist Register can start one. Most are unlicensed, and NICE guidance (NG144) does not recommend them for managing chronic pain in adults, other than CBD within a clinical trial. Dr James considers them only where recognised treatments have not helped enough, as one option among several, and many patients will not be suitable.
The consultation is £260. If Dr James prescribes, the prescription goes to a specialist pharmacy, which charges for the medicine separately.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pain management consultation cost?
Initial 45-minute consultation £260. If an injection is recommended, it is booked as a separate procedure visit after a cooling-off period, giving you time to consider the consent information. Follow-up consultations are £180.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. Self-referral is accepted. Any MRI reports, previous injection records or medication lists are useful to bring but not required.
What is radiofrequency ablation?
RF ablation uses heat energy to deactivate the nerves causing facet joint pain. Where it helps, the effect can last for many months, and it can be repeated if pain returns. From £2,200 per level. A positive diagnostic medial branch block is required first.
How quickly does a nerve block work?
The local anaesthetic component usually provides relief within hours. The steroid component peaks at 5–7 days and can last 3–6 months. A small proportion of patients do not respond.
What is the difference between a nerve block and RF ablation?
A nerve block injects local anaesthetic (and usually steroid) around a nerve — it is temporary but can last months. RF ablation uses heat to deactivate the nerve ending, usually giving longer relief than a block. RFA is usually only performed after a positive diagnostic block.
Do you offer lidocaine infusions?
Yes. IV lidocaine infusions for chronic neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia and CRPS, delivered in a monitored treatment room. From £800. A consultant assessment is required first, with a cooling-off period before the infusion.
Will pain injections show on my insurance?
Most major insurers (Bupa, Vitality, AXA Health, Aviva, WPA) cover interventional pain procedures. Pre-authorisation is typically required. We provide detailed clinical coding to support your claim.
Do you offer ultrasound-guided and X-ray-guided injections?
Yes, both, on site at The Vesey. Ultrasound is used for nerve blocks, joint and soft-tissue injections, where it shows nerves, vessels and tendons in real time with no radiation. X-ray guidance (fluoroscopy) with contrast is used for spinal procedures such as epidurals, facet and medial branch blocks, nerve root blocks and radiofrequency ablation, where the needle must be placed against bone deep in the spine. Every injection is image-guided.
Can Dr James discuss cannabis-based medicines?
Yes. Dr Arul James, Consultant in Pain Medicine on the GMC Specialist Register, can discuss them as part of a full pain assessment, where recognised treatments have not helped enough. NICE does not recommend them for chronic pain outside research, so many patients will not be suitable. The consultation is £260; see cannabis-based medicines for chronic pain.
What should I do after a nerve block?
Rest for 24 hours after the procedure. Some temporary increase in soreness is normal. Avoid driving for 24 hours if significant lower limb weakness occurs. Detailed written aftercare is provided at discharge.
Consultant-led pain management in Sutton Coldfield
Dr James's clinic usually runs on Tuesday mornings. Prompt procedure booking after consultation. No GP referral. FFPMRCA consultant.
Free reschedule with 48+ hours' notice · Pay per visit · CQC reg. 1-13508890408
Patient information for these conditions
Detailed patient information for each topic — symptoms, investigation, treatment options and pricing.