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Dr. Howard Dedes, MD

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Specializes in: Interventional Pain Medicine and Physiatry (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation)

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine (2006)

Professional interests include: knee pain, hip pain, spinal procedures, and more.

18785 Brookhurst Street Suite 200
Fountain Valley, CA

(949) 877-7246

Dr. Howard Dedes, MD is an interventional pain specialist in Fountain Valley, CA specializing in interventional pain medicine and physiatry (physical medicine & rehabilitation). He graduated from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine in 2006 and has 20 years of experience. Dr. Howard Dedes, MD is affiliated with Saddleback Medical Center, Long Beach Medical Center, Greater Newport Physicians, MemorialCare, Orange Coast Medical Center and MemorialCare Medical Group MemorialCare Independent Physicians.

Office Locations

Greater Newport Physicians

18785 Brookhurst Street Suite 200
Fountain Valley, CA

(949) 877-7246

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18785 Brookhurst Street Suite 200
Fountain Valley, CA 92708

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26921 Crown Valley Parkway Suite 201
Mission Viejo, CA 92691

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9940 Talbert Avenue Suite 202
Fountain Valley, CA

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Some issues Dr. Howard Dedes, MD can help you with:

Joint Injections

A joint is any area of the body where two bones connect. Due to injury or disease, the space between the two bones can sometimes become swollen and inflamed, which leads to pain and a loss of mobility. Injection and aspiration are two tools that physicians use to treat joint pain locally without needing to perform surgery.

Both injection and aspiration are techniques that involve inserting a needle connected to a syringe directly into the joint. Aspiration involves the removal of excess fluid, and injection is the placement of medication directly into the joint space via the needle. Both procedures may be performed at the same time. In both cases a local anesthetic may be used, the skin will be cleaned and disinfected, and then the needle will be inserted. In some cases, especially if the injection or aspiration is in a large and deep joint such as the hip or spine, ultrasound may be used to guide the needle to the exact location desired.

In some cases, irritation to the joint can cause fluid to build up so significantly that the joint hurts and can no longer move well. Aspiration removes some of the excess fluid and relieves the pressure. In addition, aspiration can be used to provide a sample of joint fluid if it needs to be examined microscopically for the presence of white blood cells, bacteria, or crystal formations.

Certain injuries and diseases that affect joints are inflammatory in nature, such as rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis or gout. These diseases may be helped by the local injection of anti-inflammatory medications directly into the affected joint. In this case, corticosteroids such as methylprednisone are usually used. Relief from the pain may be felt right away and may last for weeks or even months.

In some cases, such as with osteoarthritis, the cartilage buffer between the two bones wears down and pain comes from bones rubbing against each other. In this case, injection of a lubricating agent such as hyaluronic acid may be beneficial. It provides a slippery cushion between the bones to relieve pain that can last for months.

Musculoskeletal Problems

The musculoskeletal system refers collectively to the bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. It is what gives the body structure and movement. Because this system encompasses so much of the body, musculoskeletal problems are extremely varied and can happen almost anywhere. There are musculoskeletal problems that affect only the joints, those that affect the bones, those that affect tendons and ligaments, and those that can happen in any area of the body but cause pain and numbness.

Joint problems include bursitis and arthritis. Bursitis is the inflammation of a fluid-filled sac cushion on the outside of a joint, causing symptoms including pain and swelling. Arthritis is the inflammation and damage of a joint due to wear and tear or disease. There are several treatments for arthritis, but if the damage progresses far enough, joint replacement may be necessary. In joint replacement, a metal or plastic implant is surgically placed within the joint to make movement easier.

Bone problems include scoliosis, fractures, and osteoporosis. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine, making the normally straight spine look like a 'C' or 'S.' It is treated with braces or surgery. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to weaken and break easily. It's most common in women, especially older women. Fully half of all women over 65 have osteoporosis. Fractures are any break in the bone. They can be a simple crack or a severe and complicated shatter. Osteoporosis causes fractures in people who have it, but other causes are trauma (such as a fall) or overuse.

Tendon and ligament problems most often result from injury or overuse. Two good examples are ligament tears and tendonitis. The most common ligament tear is the ACL tear in the knee. This ligament supports and stabilizes the knee and is most often torn during sports activities. Tendonitis happens when a tendon, which connects muscles and bones together, becomes irritated and inflamed. This happens most often in older patients who push their bodies too far, leading to pain and swelling. Treatment for both tendon and ligament problems usually includes rest, ice, and supporting the area to let it heal.

Pain and numbness problems can be caused by overuse, disease, an injury, or a compressed nerve. Lower back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome are two of the most common conditions patients encounter. Lower back pain may be caused by sore muscles that have been overworked, or an injury to the disks separating the vertebrae in the spine. Lower back pain usually goes away on its own within a few days, but it may require medical treatment depending on the cause. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the nerve at the base of the palm becomes trapped or pinched. Symptoms include tingling, pain, numbness, or weakness in the hand. Treatment involves rest and sometimes steroid injections.

Because the musculoskeletal system involves so much of the body, problems here can be incredibly varied in their type and severity. Some musculoskeletal problems will go away on their own or only require rest, while others may require medication, physical therapy, or even surgery.

Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)

If conservative treatment options and other spine surgeries have failed to provide someone pain relief, they may be a candidate for spinal cord stimulation. Spinal cord stimulation is a treatment for chronic back or leg pain. A spinal cord stimulator, which is surgically implanted underneath the skin (subcutaneously), can deliver electrical pulses to the area of pain. These pulses will reach the brain before the pain signals can, so instead of pain, patients will experience a tingling sensation.

To determine if spinal cord stimulation may benefit someone, they will first undergo a trial period. During this period, a temporary electrode lead is placed subcutaneously above the spinal cord, and it is connected to an external stimulator that they will carry with them. The procedure is typically completed within an hour, and patients may return home the same day. After a few days or weeks, the trial stimulator will be assessed for effectiveness. If the trial is unsuccessful, patients may undergo a second trial period, or the leads will be removed, and other treatment options will be considered. If, instead, a patient's pain is relieved during the trial, they will undergo surgery for implantation of a permanent stimulator and leads.

The components of a spinal cord stimulation system include the stimulator, the leads, and the wire that connects the two. Implantation of permanent leads may be percutaneous (through the skin) or involve a surgical incision. The spinal cord stimulator is implanted subcutaneously in the abdomen or buttock. The stimulator is battery-powered and may be rechargeable. If the battery is not rechargeable, it will last around 2-5 years, and a patient will need surgery to replace it.Their doctor will program the neurostimulator following the procedure.

After spinal cord stimulator surgery, patients may be released from the hospital the same day or the next one. In the weeks following the operation, patients will need to work with their doctors to find the optimal settings for their neurostimulator. Activities such as driving, twisting, bending, raising one's arms, sleeping on one's stomach, or lifting heavy objects should be limited.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard Dedes, MD treated as an interventional pain specialist in Fountain Valley, CA during 2012 were diagnostic procedures, pain management, injections and nerve block.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	25
diagnostic procedures	812
doctor visit	656
injections	264
minimally invasive procedures	73
nerve block	224
nerve procedures	73
pain management	312
spinal procedures	211

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard Dedes, MD treated as an interventional pain specialist in Fountain Valley, CA during 2013 were pain management, nerve block, spinal procedures and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD for Medicare patients.

diagnostic procedures	65
doctor visit	745
injections	259
minimally invasive procedures	84
nerve block	259
nerve procedures	84
pain management	343
spinal procedures	259

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD.

**Gender**
Male	159
Female	295

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	436
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	179
From 75 to 84	126
85 and over	48
Less than 65	101

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD in 2013

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	60
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	35
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	21
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	30
Dementia	6
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard Dedes, MD treated as an interventional pain specialist in Fountain Valley, CA during 2014 were pain management, injections, nerve block and spinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	15
diagnostic procedures	16
doctor visit	696
injections	399
minimally invasive procedures	43
nerve block	367
nerve procedures	43
pain management	427
spinal procedures	367

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD.

**Gender**
Male	175
Female	296

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	451
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	170
From 75 to 84	139
85 and over	54
Less than 65	108

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD in 2014

Hypertension	72
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	39
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	31
Dementia	7
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard Dedes, MD treated as an interventional pain specialist in Fountain Valley, CA during 2015 were pain management, injections, spinal procedures and nerve block.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	49
doctor visit	807
injections	447
minimally invasive procedures	85
nerve block	336
nerve procedures	85
pain management	483
spinal procedures	380

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD.

**Gender**
Male	354
Female	618

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	942
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	322
From 75 to 84	268
85 and over	104
Less than 65	278

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD in 2015

Hypertension	72
High Cholesterol	60
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	39
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	31
Dementia	7
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard Dedes, MD treated as an interventional pain specialist in Fountain Valley, CA during 2016 were injections, pain management, spinal procedures and nerve block.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	64
doctor visit	906
injections	641
minimally invasive procedures	34
nerve block	431
nerve procedures	34
pain management	611
spinal procedures	544

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD.

**Gender**
Male	208
Female	353

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	533
Black	15
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	193
From 75 to 84	157
85 and over	72
Less than 65	139

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD in 2016

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	40
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	35
Asthma	24
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	34
Dementia	7
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard Dedes, MD treated as an interventional pain specialist in Fountain Valley, CA during 2017 were injections, pain management, spinal procedures and nerve block.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	64
doctor visit	892
injections	727
minimally invasive procedures	48
nerve block	464
nerve procedures	48
pain management	711
spinal procedures	623

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD.

**Gender**
Male	251
Female	366

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	591
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	12
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	240
From 75 to 84	179
85 and over	67
Less than 65	131

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD in 2017

Hypertension	74
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	43
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	34
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	33
Dementia	8
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard Dedes, MD treated as an interventional pain specialist in Fountain Valley, CA during 2018 were injections, pain management, spinal procedures and nerve block.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	104
doctor visit	704
injections	915
minimally invasive procedures	48
nerve block	461
nerve procedures	48
pain management	859
spinal procedures	695

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD.

**Gender**
Male	273
Female	365

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	611
Black	12
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	222
From 75 to 84	193
85 and over	89
Less than 65	134

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD in 2018

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	42
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	21
Diabetes	34
Dementia	9
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard Dedes, MD treated as an interventional pain specialist in Fountain Valley, CA during 2019 were injections, pain management, spinal procedures and nerve block.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	69
doctor visit	368
injections	516
minimally invasive procedures	33
nerve block	254
nerve procedures	33
pain management	480
spinal procedures	410

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD.

**Gender**
Male	200
Female	277

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	444
Black	12
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	159
From 75 to 84	149
85 and over	72
Less than 65	97

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD in 2019

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	41
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	34
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	17
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	36
Dementia	12
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard Dedes, MD treated as an interventional pain specialist in Fountain Valley, CA during 2020 were pain management, spinal procedures and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	445
injections	13
pain management	13
spinal procedures	13

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD.

**Gender**
Male	34
Female	24

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	41
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	24
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	22

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD in 2020

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	40
Depression	41
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	41
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard Dedes, MD treated as an interventional pain specialist in Fountain Valley, CA during 2021 were pain management, spinal procedures, injections and nerve block.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	749
injections	64
nerve block	40
pain management	64
spinal procedures	64

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD.

**Gender**
Male	64
Female	82

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	113
Black	0
Hispanic	18
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	71
From 75 to 84	27
85 and over	12
Less than 65	36

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD in 2021

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	21
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	27
Dementia	10
Cancer	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Howard Dedes, MD treated as an interventional pain specialist in Fountain Valley, CA during 2022 were injections, pain management, nerve block and spinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	26
doctor visit	770
injections	71
nerve block	28
pain management	45
spinal procedures	28

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD.

**Gender**
Male	65
Female	77

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	114
Black	0
Hispanic	13
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	72
From 75 to 84	33
85 and over	12
Less than 65	25

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD in 2022

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	73
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	19
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	21
Diabetes	25
Dementia	0
Cancer	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Howard Dedes, MD treated as an interventional pain specialist in Fountain Valley, CA were pain management, injections, spinal procedures and diagnostic procedures.

aspiration	52
diagnostic procedures	297
doctor visit	703
injections	392
minimally invasive procedures	56
nerve block	286
nerve procedures	56
pain management	395
spinal procedures	326

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD.

**Gender**
Male	162
Female	250

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	3
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	388
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	2
Other	1

**Age**
75 to 84	115
85 and over	48
Less than 65	97
65 to 74	150

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Howard Dedes, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and depression.

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	34
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	25
Asthma	9
Osteoporosis	12
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	29
Atrial Fibrillation	7
Dementia	6
Cancer	8

Education & Training

Dr. Howard Dedes, MD graduated from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine in 2006. He completed residency at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. He has a state license in California.

Medical School: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine (2006)

Residency: VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (2010)

Licensed In: California

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Howard Dedes, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Saddleback Medical Center

Long Beach Medical Center

Greater Newport Physicians

MemorialCare

Orange Coast Medical Center

MemorialCare Medical Group MemorialCare Independent Physicians

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Howard Dedes, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Boston Scientific Corporation	$2,714 Superion Indirect Decompression System $1,763	PAIN MANAGEMENT $495	GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT $197	WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 $89	Infinion 16 $69	Other $101
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.	$2,516 Evoke SCS $2,516
Relievant Medsystems, Inc.	$1,336 Intracept $1,336
Abbott Laboratories	$1,257 Proclaim Family of SCS IPGs $726	Proclaim IPG $257	PROCLAIM $237	ETERNA $37
Nevro Corp.	$652 Senza Spinal Cord Stimulation System $509	Senza $144
Other	$3,823 BOTOX $566	NURTEC ODT $383	INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM $334	mild Device Kit $271	BELBUCA $252	Other $2,017

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$7,611
Travel and Lodging	$4,630
Education	$57

Biography

Dr. Howard Dedes specializes in physiatry (physical medicine & rehabilitation) and interventional pain medicine and practices in Fountain Valley, CA and Mission Viejo, CA. Areas of expertise for Dr. Dedes include nerve block, bulging disc, and laser ablation. Dr. Dedes's professional affiliations include Orange Coast Medical Center, Greater Newport Physicians, and Long Beach Medical Center. He attended medical school at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine. His medical residency was performed at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Dedes speaks Spanish.