Private Pain Clinic in Sutton Coldfield
Consultant-led interventional pain management — ultrasound-guided nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation and spinal injections — at The Vesey in Sutton Coldfield. Seen within 7 days, no GP referral required.
Chronic pain — whether from nerve damage, joint degeneration, failed back surgery or unexplained origin — is one of the most undertreated conditions in UK healthcare. The Vesey's pain clinic offers consultant-level assessment and interventional treatment within a week, without the 6–12 month NHS pain pathway wait. 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
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 nerve block | Procedure + US guidance + clinic fee | £800 |
| Facet joint injection (lumbar) | Bilateral L3–L5 under US guidance | £450 |
| Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) | Per level, bilateral | £650 |
| Occipital nerve block | Bilateral greater + lesser occipital | £800 |
| Sphenopalatine ganglion block | Via intranasal catheter | £800 |
| Lidocaine infusion | Monitored IV infusion in our treatment room | £800 |
| Follow-up consultation | 30 mins | £180 |
Prices as of June 2026. Hospital anaesthetist fees for theatre procedures quoted separately. Fluoroscopy/imaging included where listed.
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, ultrasound probe positioned, sterile prep completed.
Needle placement confirmed on screen before any injection is made.
Written instruction sheet, follow-up booked, GP letter within 48 hours.
How we compare
Patients from Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham regularly compare us with Spire and BMI. Here is an honest like-for-like on nerve block pricing and access.
- ✓ FFPMRCA consultant
- ✓ Prompt procedure booking after consultation
- ✓ All procedures US-guided
- ✓ Open Sundays
- ✓ No GP referral needed
- ✓ Lidocaine infusion available on-site
- ✓ Seen within 7 days
- ✕ 3–4 week typical wait
- ✕ Closed Sundays
- ✓ Insurance widely accepted
- ✕ Referral often required
- ✓ On-site imaging
- ✕ 2–3 week typical wait
- ✕ Closed Sundays
- ✓ Insurance accepted
- ✕ Limited evening availability
- ✓ Subspecialty pain consultants
Comparator prices are typical published self-pay fees as of June 2026 and vary by consultant and time of year.
From our consultant
"Most of my patients have already tried physio, painkillers, and acupuncture. What they haven't had is a targeted injection to the exact pain source, placed under ultrasound guidance by someone who does this every day. That's what changes lives."
Dr Arul James · Consultant in Pain Medicine, The Vesey
Radiofrequency ablation — long-term pain relief without opioids
RF ablation uses heat generated by radiofrequency energy to deactivate the medial branch nerves supplying painful facet joints. The procedure is performed under image guidance at The Vesey, with the target nerve confirmed before any energy is applied.
The effect lasts 12–18 months in most patients and can be repeated when pain returns. This makes RFA one of the most durable non-surgical options available for chronic back and neck pain — without the dependency risk of opioids or the cumulative side-effect burden of long-term steroid use.
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 £650 per level. The full pathway (diagnostic block + RFA) follows NICE guidance.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pain management consultation cost?
Initial 45-minute consultation £260. If an ultrasound-guided nerve block is recommended, it is booked as a separate procedure visit (from £800) 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. The effect lasts 12–18 months in most patients and can be repeated. From £650 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, providing longer relief (12–18 months). 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.
Is all interventional pain work done under ultrasound?
Yes. At The Vesey all nerve blocks and joint injections are performed under real-time ultrasound guidance for safety and accuracy. No blind injections.
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
Seen within 7 days. Prompt procedure booking after consultation. No GP referral. FFPMRCA consultant.
Free reschedule with 48+ hours' notice · Pay per visit · CQC reg. 1-13508890408
Conditions we treat
Detailed patient information for each topic — symptoms, investigation, treatment options and pricing.