Pain Management Physician in Opelika, AL — Drug-Free, Non-Surgical Relief
Most pain management practices in Alabama lead with injections, opioid prescriptions, or a referral to a surgeon. At Herring Spine & Rehab in Opelika, the model is built around the opposite approach — finding the structural and medical cause of your pain and treating it without surgery or narcotics. The practice has been doing this for East Alabama patients since 1981, with medical services added through Tiger Town Wellness in 2005.
The American College of Physicians recommends non-pharmacologic treatment as the first line of care for chronic low back pain — including spinal manipulation, which is the foundation of chiropractic care. At Herring Spine & Rehab, that guideline-backed approach is paired with on-site medical oversight from a physician who completed his residency and a chief fellowship year at the Mayo Clinic.
Patients come to this practice from Opelika, Auburn, LaFayette, Smiths Station, and across Lee and Chambers counties — many after years of chronic pain that other providers have managed but not resolved. If you are looking for a pain management physician in Opelika who leads with non-surgical care, this is the practice built for that.
How Pain Management Works at This Practice
Pain management at Herring Spine & Rehab is a coordinated effort between the chiropractic team and the medical providers at Tiger Town Wellness. The two sides of the practice work in the same building and review the same patient records. That means a patient presenting with chronic low back pain gets a structural evaluation from the chiropractor and a medical assessment from the physician or nurse practitioner on the same visit — not two separate appointments at two separate offices weeks apart.
On the medical side, pain management is non-narcotic by design. Corticosteroids, NSAIDs, and muscle relaxants may be prescribed as short-term support while chiropractic care addresses the underlying mechanical cause. Injections are available as needed. The goal is to reduce pain enough for the structural treatment to work — not to create a long-term medication dependency.
On the chiropractic side, the practice uses spinal adjustments, Cox decompression technique, manual and mechanical traction, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound therapy, cold laser therapy, and rehabilitative exercises. Four Cox decompression tables are on-site — making this one of the more fully equipped practices in East Alabama for disc-related and chronic pain cases that are frequently routed toward surgery elsewhere.
Acute Pain Management
Injuries and sudden-onset pain treated same-day — without opioids and without waiting weeks for a specialist appointment.
Chronic Pain Management
Long-standing pain addressed through coordinated chiropractic and non-narcotic medical care as a unified plan.
Non-Narcotic Pain Relief
Corticosteroids, NSAIDs, and muscle relaxants prescribed as a short-term bridge — not a permanent solution.
Inflammation Management
Anti-inflammatory medical support coordinated with chiropractic care to address the structural source of inflammation.
Muscle Spasm Treatment
Medical and chiropractic combined — muscle relaxants, soft tissue therapy, and rehabilitative exercises in one plan.
Pain Control Clinic
Our dedicated pain control hub serving patients with acute, chronic, and recurring pain across East Alabama.
The Medical Team Behind the Pain Management Model
Dr. Ronald J. Herring, M.D., is the physician behind the medical side of Herring Spine & Rehab. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Alabama, completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic, and went on to serve an additional fellowship year as Chief Medical Resident there. He is a member of the American College of Physicians, the Alabama Medical Association, and the Plummer Society.
That level of medical training is uncommon in an integrated chiropractic practice. It means the pain management oversight at this location reflects the same clinical standards applied at one of the most recognized medical institutions in the country — applied to a non-surgical, non-narcotic model in East Alabama.
Working alongside Dr. Ronald J. Herring is Jeff Sanders, FNP-BC, the board-certified nurse practitioner who handles day-to-day medical consultations, prescription management, and patient follow-up through Tiger Town Wellness. Together, the medical and chiropractic team share records, coordinate treatment plans, and see patients at the same Gateway Drive location in Opelika.
"I had been in chronic pain for 5 years and had been to 5 other doctors. All was unsuccessful in helping me. After 2 appointments I was 90 percent better. After about 3 months, I was completely pain free for the first time in 5 years."
— Verified Google Review, 5 StarsWhy Patients in Opelika and Auburn Choose This Approach
The patients who end up at Herring Spine & Rehab for pain management have usually already tried the conventional route. GP visits. Specialist referrals. Prescription cycles. Sometimes surgery. And they are still dealing with pain that has not fully resolved. That is not a failure of those providers in every case — it is a reflection of how musculoskeletal pain works. Structural problems do not always respond to pharmacological solutions, and surgery carries risks and recovery times that not every patient wants to accept.
The Auburn-Opelika corridor has a high proportion of patients with exactly these kinds of conditions — physically demanding jobs in manufacturing and warehousing near the I-85 corridor, aging patients managing degenerative disc disease or chronic low back conditions, and post-injury patients from Auburn University athletics or auto accidents who need ongoing pain management without long-term opioid dependence.
Same-day X-rays at the Gateway Drive office mean patients get a structural diagnosis on day one rather than waiting for an outside imaging referral. For cases needing more advanced imaging, the chiropractic physicians hold auxiliary staff privileges at East Alabama Health to order MRIs, CT scans, and bone density tests directly.
"After going to GP doctors and ortho doctors for years I was just prescribed medicine to hope my back pain would improve. My first day here, Dr. Rod reviewed my X-rays and explained what was going on — then NP Jeff explained how the medicine I was currently taking was not helping my problem and proposed something new."
— Verified Google Review, 5 Stars"After 5 back surgeries, 10 screws and 2 cages, I had exhausted all options — surgery, injections, medications. Three weeks ago I could not move, was in agonizing pain 24/7. Today I'm easily 50% better than I was and trending in the right direction."
— Verified Google Review, 5 StarsWhat to Expect as a New Patient
New patients at Herring Spine & Rehab begin with a full exam. X-rays are taken and read on-site the same day, and a report of findings is reviewed with you at that first visit. The chiropractic physician walks through what the imaging shows, explains what is driving your pain structurally, and presents a recommended course of care.
If your case warrants medical involvement — non-narcotic prescription support, an injection, or an evaluation of how your current medications may be interacting with your condition — that conversation happens with the nurse practitioner or physician at the same location. No separate referral, no second office.
No contracts are required. You pay by the visit and are never asked to pre-commit to a bundle of appointments before you know whether the care is working. Insurance staff verify coverage before your first appointment — BCBS, Aetna, Humana, United Healthcare, and Medicare are all accepted.
Same-Day X-Rays & Findings
Images taken and read on-site. You leave your first visit with a clear diagnosis and a care plan — not a referral slip.
No Contracts
Pay by the visit. No prepaid packages required before you know whether the treatment is working for your condition.
Insurance Verified Before You Come In
BCBS, Aetna, Humana, United Healthcare, and Medicare accepted. Staff confirm your coverage before the first appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a pain management physician do?
Does the pain management physician at this practice prescribe opioids?
What credentials does the physician at Herring Spine & Rehab hold?
Can I see a pain management physician and a chiropractor at the same office?
Do I need a referral to see the pain management physician in Opelika?
What conditions does the pain management team treat?
Does insurance cover pain management physician visits at this location?
How is this different from a traditional pain clinic in Alabama?
Ready to See a Pain Management Physician in Opelika?
Call Herring Spine & Rehab today. Same-day X-rays, non-narcotic care, and a coordinated chiropractic and medical team — all at 2011 Gateway Drive in Opelika.
Our office hours:
Monday through Friday: 8am–12pm and 1:30pm–5:30pm
Saturday: 8am–12pm
Call us at (334) 745-5321 to schedule your first appointment.
Our staff will verify your insurance coverage and answer any questions before you come in.
Serving patients throughout East Alabama, including Opelika, Auburn, Valley, LaFayette, Dadeville, Beulah, Smiths Station, Lanett, and surrounding communities. Same-day X-rays available. No contracts required.