CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) — At Advanced Pain Management of Virginia, Dr. Scott Wagner helped relieve patients from their pain every day, using the skills he’s learned over the course of his long career.

Many of these skills come from a variety of previous experiences, including Wagner’s time studying sports medicine and chiropractic. This knowledge is what makes Wagner unique, but what makes his treatments effective.

Combining his skills

Wagner came to Charlottesville years ago, shortly after year in Charleston, S.C., where he learned the ins and outs of how a chiropractic office work.

Within six months of being in Charlottesville, Wagner reached out to UVA to offer his expertise. He has been a college athlete himself and, upon reflecting on his newfound chiropractic skills, realized he could help other athletes return to the competition.

Not long after, Wagner was doing just that, helping future professional athletes get back to what they love. This experience further informed Wagner’s philosophy, which he would continue to apply as his career went on.

Treating every patient like an athlete

One of the biggest things Wagner took away from his time in sports medicine was that every patient could benefit, and that they don’t have to accept the fact their body simply gets worse from aging.

“I found that sports medicine was probably the only altruistic medicine out there,” he said. “Where we really are trying to prevent surgeries, or if they have surgery, we’re really trying to make sure they’re back 100% if we can get them there.”

Wagner added he’s had plenty of older patients show significant improvements, and he believes that’s in part due to Charlottesville having a great culture of people who are dedicated to staying healthy.

Changing the goals

For Wagner, one of the biggest differences between treating athletes with injury and treating patients with chronic pain is the end goal.

“Instead of a sports score, it becomes lifetime goals,” he said.

Wagner has had to develop some additional skills to treat non-athletes, but much of his philosophy has stayed the same. At the end of the day, Wagner is dedicated to providing long-lasting relief from pain, no matter who he’s treating.