Irene I. Wu, MD

Irene I. Wu, MD

  • Pain Medicine
Santa Monica Pain Medicine | 1245 16th Street, Suite 225, Santa Monica, CA 90404

About

Dr. Wu is the Associate Director at the UCLA Comprehensive Pain Center. She is Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Wu holds a BS in Biological Sciences and a BA in Economics from Stanford University. She received an MD from Chicago Medical School. She is board-certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine.

Dr. Wu has authored abstracts and presented at multiple national meetings. She has delivered presentations on multiple topics including lumbar and cervical spine pain, intrathecal infusion pumps, spinal cord stimulation, complex regional pain syndrome, and cancer pain management.

Dr. Wu continues to be an active member in the UCLA Faculty Practice Group, as well as multiple national organizations including American Society of Anesthesiology and American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. She is also active in resident and fellow education. She currently serves as the Chair of the Pain Medicine Clinical Competence Committee for the American Board of Anesthesiology.

Common Conditions Treated:

  • Cancer Pain
  • Chronic Back
  • Post-laminectomy syndrome (post spine surgery)
  • Bulging Disc / Disc Herniation
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)/RSD
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Peripheral Neuropathy (Diabetes, HIV)
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Facet Joint Arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Vertebral Compression Fractures
  • Migraines
  • Scoliosis
  • Headaches
  • Shingles
  • Motor Vehicle Injuries
  • Rotator Cuff Tear
  • Joint Osteoarthritis
  • Post Herpetic Neuralgia
  • Phantom Limb Pain
  • Piriformis Syndrome

Common Procedures Done:

  • Pain Epidurals (Lumbar, Thoracic, Cervical, Caudal)
  • Spine Joint Injections
  • Nerve Blocks
  • Muscle Injections
  • Bursa Injections
  • Botox for Migraines
  • Discography
  • Joint Injections (knee, shoulder, hip, sacroiliac)
  • Sympathetic Blocks
  • Pain Spinal Cord Stimulators
  • Pain Medication Pumps
  • Kyphoplasty
  • Radiofrequency Ablation
  • Cancer Neurolytic Procedures

Languages

English

Education

Medical Board Certifications

Pain Medicine, American Board of Anesthesiology, 2012
Anesthesiology, American Board of Anesthesiology, 2011

Fellowship

Pain Management, UCLA School of Medicine, 2011

Residency

Anesthesiology, UCLA School of Medicine, 2010

Internship

Anesthesiology, UCLA School of Medicine, 2007

Degree

MD, The Chicago University School of Medicine, 2006

Hospital Affiliations

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center

Medical Services

Videos

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What causes cancer pain?