Paul Christo, MD

Professional Titles

• Director, Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Program

Primary Academic Title

Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine

Background

Centers and Institutes

Blaustein Pain Treatment Center

X (Twitter)

https://www.twitter.com/DrPaulChristo

Clinical Trial Keywords

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Pelvic Pain

Additional Academic Titles

Joint Appointment in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Research Interests

Aging and Pain, Pain Education, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Lab Website

Paul Christo Lab

• Work in the Paul Jordan Christo Lab is focused on pain management in older adults, thoracic outlet syndrome therapies, spinal chord stimulation and the usage of online education modules for pain education. Recent research has investigated novel therapies for thoracic outlet syndrome (including the use of botulinum toxin), the sexual side effects of chronic opioid therapy and complex regional pain syndrome.

Research Summary

Dr. Paul Jordan Christo is researching the use of botulinum toxin for thoracic outlet syndrome, pain in older adults, the mechanisms of spinal cord stimulation and the application of online educational modules for pain education.

He has published on such topics as post herpetic neuralgia, opioid effectiveness in chronic pain, aging and addiction, cancer pain and complex regional pain syndrome. He is investigating novel therapies for thoracic outlet syndrome, and studying the sexual side effects of chronic opioid therapy, pain medication prescription errors and online educational modules for pain education.

Selected Publications

• 1. Christo PJ, El-Mallakh RS: Role of endogenous Oubain-like compounds in the pathophysiology of bipolar illness. Med. Hypo. 1993; 41:378-383.
  2. Panlilio LM, Christo PJ, Raja SN: Current management of postherpetic neuralgia. The Neurologist 2002;8:339-350.
  3. Block BM, Christo PJ: Ketamine analgesia for the opioid-tolerant cancer patient. The International Journal of Pain Med. and Pall. Care 2003; 2:71-74.
  4. Cohen SP, Christo PJ, Moroz L: Pain management in trauma patients. American Journal of Phys. Med. and Rehab. 2004;83:142-161.
  5. Wu CL, Christo PJ, Richman JM, Hsu W: Postdural Puncture Headaches: An Overview. The International Journal of Pain Med. and Pall. Care 2004;3(2):53-59.
  6. Brown AK, Christo PJ, Wu CL: Strategies for postoperative pain management. Best Practice and Research Clin. Anaesthesiology 2004;18:703-717.
  7. Christo PJ, Hobelmann G, Sharma A: Aging and the Neurobiology of Addiction. Geriatrics and Aging 2005; 8 (10): 48-52.
  8. Christo PJ, Hobelmann G, Maine D: Post Herpetic Neuralgia in Older Adults: Evidence-Based Approaches to Clinical Management. Drugs and Aging 2007: 24 (1):1-19.
  9. Cohen SP, Hurley RW, Christo PJ, Winkley J, Mohiuddin MM, Stojanovic MP: Clinical Predictors of Success and Failure for Lumbar Facet Radiofrequency Denervation. The Clin. Journal of Pain 2007;23(1):45-52.
  10. Christo PJ: Interventional Approaches to Neuropathic Pain. Journal of The Transverse Myelitis Assoc. 2007; April, (2):41-49.
  11. Cohen SP, Christo PJ, Wang S, Chen L, Stojanovic MP, Shields CH, Brummett C, Mao J. The Effect of Opioid Dose and Treatment Duration on the Perception of a Painful Standardized Clinical Stimulus. Regional Anesthesia and Pain Med. 2008: May-June; 33(3):199-206.
  12. Gupta A, Christo PJ. Expert Opinion in Opioid Abuse and Addiction. The Journal for Nurse Practit.: February 2009: 5 (2): 132-134.
  13. Williams BS, Christo PJ. Obstructed Catheter Connection Pin discovered During Intrathecal Baclofen Pump Exchange. Clin. Journal of Pain 2009: March-April; 25 (3):256-259.
  14. Bennett JS, Christo PJ, Friedewald VE, Pool JL, Roberts WC, Scheiman JM, Simon LS, Strand V, White WB, Williams GW. American Journal of Journal of Cardiology Editors Consensus: Selective and Nonselective Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) and Cardiovascular Risk. American Journal of Cardiology 2009 (in press). 
  15. Wang J, Christo PJ: The Influence of Prescription Monitoring Programs on Chronic Pain Management. Pain Physician 2009;12.
  16. Carinci AJ, Christo PJ: Physician Impairment: Is Recovery Feasible? Pain Physician 2009;12.
  17. McGreevy K, Williams KA, Christo PJ. “Cephalad Lead Migration Following Spinal Cord Stimulation Implantation.” Pain Physician. 2012; 15:E79-E87.
  18. Manchikanti L, Vallejo R, Manchikanti KN, Benyamin RM, Datta S, Christo PJ. “Effectiveness of Long-Term Opioid Therapy for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain.” Pain Physician. 2011; 14:E133-E156.
  19. Christo PJ, Manchikanti LM, Ruan X, Bottros M, Hansen H, Solanki DR, Jordan AE, Colson J. “Urine Drug Testing in Chronic Pain.” Pain Physician. 2011; 14:123-143.
  20. Manchikanti L, Ailinani H, Koyyalagunta K, Datta S, Singh V, Eriator I, Sehgal N, Shah R, Benyamin R, Vallejo R, Fellows B, Christo PJ. “A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials of Long-Term Opioid Management for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain.” Pain Physician. 2011; 14:91-121.
  21. Gupta A, Martindale T, Christo PJ. “Intrathecal Catheter Granuloma associated with Continuous Sufentanil Infusion.” Pain Medicine. 2010; Jun;11(6):847-52.
  22. Dubois BW, Christo PJ: The placebo effect. In: J. Ballantyne, ed. The Mass. Gen. Hospital Handbook of Pain Management, Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2002.
  23. Christo PJ: Opioid effectiveness and side effects in chronic pain. In: Staats PS, ed. Anesthesiology Clinics of North America: Interventional Pain Management. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/W.B.Saunders, 2004, pp 699-713.
  24. Christo PJ, Raja SN: Complex regional pain syndrome. In: Wallace M, Staats PS, eds. Pain Medicine and Management: Just the Facts. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
  25. Christo PJ, Grabow TS, Raja SN: Opioid effectiveness, addiction, and depression in chronic pain. In: Clark MR, Treisman GJ (eds.): Pain and Depression. Advances in Psychosomatic Med., 2004;25:123-137.
  26. Grabow TS, Christo PJ, Raja SN: Complex regional pain syndrome: Diagnostic controversies, psychological dysfunction, and emerging concepts. In: Clark MR, Treisman GJ (eds.): Pain and Depression. Advances in Psychosomatic Med., 2004;25:89-101.
  27. Christo PJ, Hobelmann G: Migraine Headaches, Chronic Pancreatitis, Constipation/Obstipation in Pain Management. In: Kirsch JR, Sibell D (eds.): The 5 Minute Consult for Pain Management. Lippincott series, 2006.
  28. Christo PJ, Hobelmann G: Pelvic Pain. In: Smith HS (ed.): Current Therapy in Pain. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders, 2009.
  29. Christo PJ, Jones C: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. In: Smith HS (ed.): Current Therapy in Pain. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders, 2009.
  30. Christo PJ, Cauley B: Post Herpetic Neuralgia. In: Smith HS (ed.): Current Therapy in Pain. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders, 2009.
  31. Christo PJ, Mazloomdoost D: Interventional Treatments for Cancer Pain. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, New York Academy of Sciences, 1138: 299-328 (2008).
  32. Christo PJ, Mazloomdoost D: Cancer Pain and Analgesia. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, New York Academy of Sciences, 1138: 278-298 (2008).
  33. Williams BS, Christo PJ: Pharmacologic and Interventional Treatments for Neuropathic Pain. In: Zhang JM and Dobretsov M (eds.): Mech. of Pain in Peripheral Neuropathy. Transworld Research Network (in press).

Honors

• America's Top Doctors, 1/1/11
• Top Doctor for Pain Management, U.S. News & World Report, 1/1/11
• Super Doctor (Anesthesiology) for the Washington, DC-Baltimore-Northern Virginia Area, 1/1/11
• 70 Best Pain Management Physicians in America, Becker's ASC Review, 1/1/11
• American's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly, 1/1/11
• Top Doctor for Pain Management, U.S. News & World Report, 1/1/11
• Super Doctor (Anesthesiology) for the Washington, DC-Baltimore-Northern Virginia Area, 1/1/11
• 70 Best Pain Management Physicians in America, Becker's ASC Review, 1/1/11
• American's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly, 1/1/11
• Fellow, Mayday Pain and Society Fellowship Program: A Media and Policy Initiative, 1/1/08
• America's Top Physicians, 1/1/08
• Fellow, Mayday Pain and Society Fellowship Program: A Media and Policy Initiative, 1/1/08
• America's Top Physicians, 1/1/08
• Best Doctors in America, Best Doctor physician, 1/1/07
• Top Doctor in Pain Medicine/Anesthesiology: Baltimore Magazine, Top Doctors, 1/1/07
• America's Top Anesthesiologists: Guide to America's Top Anesthesiologists, 1/1/07
• Best Doctors in America, Best Doctor physician, 1/1/07
• Top Doctor in Pain Medicine/Anesthesiology, Baltimore Magazine, Top Doctors, 1/1/07
• America's Top Anesthesiologists, Guide to America's Top Anesthesiologists, 1/1/07
• Americas Top Physicians, Pain Medicine: Guide to Americas Top Physicians, 1/1/06
• Americas Top Physicians, Pain Medicine, Guide to Americas Top Physicians, Consumers Research Council of America, 1/1/06
• Americas Top Physicians, Pain Medicine, Guide to Americas Top Physicians, Consumers Research Council of America, 1/1/03

Memberships

• American Academy of Pain Medicine
• American Medical Association
• American Pain Society
• American Society of Addiction Medicine
• American Society of Anesthesiologists
• American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians
• American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
• International Spinal Injection Society
• Maryland Society of Anesthesiologists
• North American Neuromodulation Society
• The Johns Hopkins Medical and Surgical Association

Professional Activities

• American Pain Society, Opioid REMS Educational Initiative
• Dannemiller Advisory Board
• Faculty Presenter, Archimedes Regional Advisory Board Webcast
• Maryland Society of Anesthesiologists (Maryland Board of Physician Quality Assurance), Peer Reviewer
• Pain Management, Editorial Board
• Pain Medicine, Manuscript Reviewer, 1/1/06
• Pain Medicine, Referee Panel for the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) Journal, 1/1/07
• Pain Physician, Associate Editor, 1/1/09
• Pain Physician, Editorial Advisory Board, 1/1/04 - 1/1/08
• Quadrant HealthCom, Advisory Board, Chronic Pain Perspectives (CHPP)
• The Clinical Journal of Pain, Ad Hoc Reviewer
• The Journal of Pain, Reviewer, 1/1/09