Meet Dr. Varun Patibanda

Varun Patibanda, M.D., D.A.B.P.M., Q.M.E.is a dual board-certified interventional pain physician serving patients on the Monterey Peninsula and throughout the Central Coast. He holds board certifications from the American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (ABPMR) and the American Board of Pain Medicine (ABPM/CCPM), and is a California Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) for workers' compensation cases.

Dr. Patibanda has been in practice since 2020 and performs procedures at a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center, ensuring a seamless patient experience from consultation through procedure and follow-up.

But credentials only tell part of the story.

A Doctor Who Truly Understands Pain

In July 2023, Dr. Patibanda's life changed in an instant. A drunk driver jumped a curb and pinned him against the door of a convenience store. He was left completely unable to move.

What followed was a long, grueling road back. Eight reconstructive surgeries on his right forearm — including blood vessel transfers, muscle transfers, and nerve grafting. During recovery, he developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in his right hand, one of the most severe and difficult-to-treat chronic pain conditions that exists. He had a peripheral nerve stimulator implanted to manage it — the very same technology he places in his own patients.

He knows what it's like to depend on opioid medications to get through the day. He's been through ketamine therapy. He's sat in waiting rooms, worn the hospital gown, and stared at ceilings wondering if things would ever feel normal again.

And then he came back. He returned to the operating room and resumed performing the procedures that help his patients find relief — because that's what he was meant to do.

Why It Matters for You

Most pain physicians study chronic pain in textbooks. Dr. Patibanda has lived it.

When you sit across from him and describe your pain — the way it steals your sleep, strains your relationships, makes simple tasks feel impossible — he doesn't just understand the science. He understands the experience. The frustration of being told “it's all in your head.” The fear that things might never improve. The exhaustion of trying treatment after treatment.

That lived experience shapes everything about how he practices:

• He listens first.Your story matters. He won't rush you through a 5-minute appointment.
• He explains clearly. You deserve to understand your condition and your options — in plain language, not medical jargon.
• He treats the whole person.Pain isn't just a signal from a nerve. It affects your mood, your work, your family, your identity. He gets that.
• He's honest about what works.Not every patient needs a procedure. Not every procedure is the right one. He'll tell you the truth, even when the answer isn't what you hoped to hear.

His Philosophy

Dr. Patibanda believes that effective pain care starts with trust. Patients who feel heard and respected make better decisions about their health — and get better outcomes.

His approach combines the latest evidence-based interventional techniques with genuine compassion. He offers a full range of minimally invasive procedures at a state-of-the-art surgery center — from epidural steroid injections and nerve blocks to advanced neuromodulation — and works with each patient to build a plan that fits their life, not just their diagnosis.

The goal isn't always zero pain. The goal is giving you back the things pain has taken — the ability to work, play with your kids, sleep through the night, feel like yourself again.

Beyond the Clinic

When he's not seeing patients, Dr. Patibanda is a devoted father to two young sons. His family is the reason he fought so hard to recover — and the reason he shows up every day determined to help others do the same.