Locations
Pain Management Center, Mount Auburn Hospital
Cambridge, MA
About
Bio
Dr. Bial is a Boston-area based, dual board certified, pain medicine specialist and internist. She earned her postgraduate medical training at Harvard University affiliated programs, and completed her subspecialty fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Erica Bial has additional training, including acupuncture certification and has earned a master's degree in Occupational and Environmental Health as well as a postgraduate certificate from the University of California in the science of pain. She practices interventional pain management and spine care in the orthopedics department of a large multispecialty group in Massachusetts, USA.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Pain Management
Internal Medicine
Specialty
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
100 Answers
104 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Not standard therapy: Since beta blockers can actually increase feelings of malaise as well as cause low blood pressure, unless anxiety is a major cause, this would not be ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Yes: Usually if facet degeneration is widespread, inter laminar esi can permit spread of steroid kind of coating the whole area, multiple levels at once. H... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Testing first: there are several reasons you might have a lower progesterone level - and without knowing where you were in your cycle if you do ovulate, assuming you... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
New or old? Sudden?: This really depends on the cause. It sounds like what you have is either a ruptured biceps tendon or a developing ganglion cyst. There is very little ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Yup.: osteoarthritis, or "OA" is a common maturational change of the skeleton, usually with aging or history of repetitive trauma. So this can happen to any... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
No test for fibro: If you have widespread pain and nothing much else to explain it, I don't know how fibromyalgia could be ruled out - it is what we call a "diagnosis of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Be: Be specific about symptoms - "pain" can mean a lot of things - track what it feels like, where, when.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Ask: Ask who will manage actually administering medications, especially as that person may get sicker.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 51-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Wrong diagnosis: If there is no diabetes, the diagnosis is not "diabetic nerve pain." there are many potential causes of widespread pain, see a pain doctor. The good n... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Red, pain, or pus: That's the basics - if they're red, painful, or draining, that'd be concerning for infection. The thing that I am concerned about is that you have sev... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Neuroma likely.: It sounds like you have a neuroma, or possibly some entrapment of the very end part of your peroneal nerve. It sounds like in your case, tissue that h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Wouldn't risk it.: Eating rare or undercooked foods always poses a risk - but especially when you are pregnant. Why risk it? Beef sold commercially is very often contami... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Yes, but others, too: Yes, pain in the ribs, especially under the ribs, can be from gas. Acid reflux very commonly causes pain just under the sternum. However, any kind of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Uncommon: The spleen is located under the ribs on the left. But the things here is this: unless you have a reason to have a lot of inflammation in the area, pai... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
See a doctor: When you say "stomach" i assume you mean your abdomen. There are many things that can cause pain in that region, but the classic concern for right low... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Short version: no.: By definition, fibromyalgia involves all four quadrants of the body, and usually it comes along with changes in sleep. No simple physiologic neck prob... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Don't sweat it!: There is a range of ways to minimize sweating - starting the with basics - wear clothes that suit the weather and be sure to stay hydrated. Antiperspi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 55-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Maybe spine: The fact that this is in both legs at the same time, in the front and above your knees clues me in that this is either metabolic (like dehydration) or... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Maybe: If you are taking vitamins, then many of them are water soluble. This means that your kidney will remove any excess that your body doesn't use and the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 54-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Risk/benefit balance: The mobi-c device has not been available long enough at this point to have 10-20 year data to have directly applicable information to know. But all sp... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Lots of things.: Depending on where the pain is more specifically, what other symptoms come along with it, how long it has been there, and what it feels like, a diagno... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
No. but...: Not all kinds of enterococcus are pathogenic.
Your question seems to ask about staph aureus - which as a cause of food poisoning, doesn't make you si... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Maybe not good idea: Having high blood pressure and migraines when on birth control might imply that you have a reaction to the hormones that can raise blood pressure as w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Maybe. but...: Anytime a patient describes pain in the chest, the first thing we sorry about it that it could be coming form your heart. For that reason, if this is ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Nope: This mix carries an increased risk of sedation and seizures.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Maybe.: There hasn't been very clear research into the effects of vibration. But any kind of repetitive movement, applying acceleration/deceleration forces on... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Could be.: If it is just from cold air or turbulent air flow when you are breathing more quickly, then no, no so "weird" - but it really depends on what you feel... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
STD. maybe.: If these are new symptoms, i'd be concerned that you have a sexually transmitted disease. However, the itching could be from a yeast infection (not ne... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Pipe burn: It is more likely that the lip swelling is a heat burn from the smoking apparatus (pipe, etc) than from an allergic reaction. That said, your drugs co... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Definitely could be.: not all chest pains are cardiac. If ti is occasional and you're only 27 and have been thoroughly checked out (sounds like you have!) I would agree thi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
?right units?: I am unfamiliar with CRP being expressed in mmol/l - this is usually expressed in mg/dl or mg/l. If the number you wrote is right, a CRP of 0.2 is nor... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
What is the question: Are you asking for a diagnosis or some other question? When you say you have pain in the knee, can you be more precise about where - front or back, in... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Lifestyle change: The best evidence for pain management for fibromyalgia is actually lifestyle change, not pills. Get healthy sleep every night, never nap, and exercise... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Probably not. : It is possible that scar tissue is contributing to your pain or preventing medication from spreading within the thecal sac. Worth a try.
But
a "pa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Ask your doctor.: Most of the time, anti inflammatory medications like Ibuprofen are ok after surgery, as long as your aren't bleeding much. Ask your doctor. Otherwise... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
MYTH:: Myth: fish oil is health supplement, eat lots. Truth: new evidence suggests it may not be healthy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Be: Be honest. The people who love you can support you best once you own up & and talk openly about it.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Don't: Don't quit pt if it causes some increase in pain! just communicate with your therapist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Yup.: An er doc can and should decline to prescribe any medication that s/he feels might not be appropriate. Chronic pain, by definition, is not new or emer... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Palliative: Palliative care isn't withdrawing care & is not to facilitate death; just a change in goals.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Plantar warts: This sounds like plantar warts, but other things can cause a rash on the bottom of the feet, too. If they hurt, they're easily treated but you need a ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Cause or effect?: Are you on the medications for the burning pain or is this a new symptom? I'm imagining you mean this is new - the tramadol could be causing it, but t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Nothing to worry abt: If your period starts a little slowly, you can see some brown spotting first. This is normal.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Not sure: Hi - i'm happy to help, but I am not sure what you mean by "t5s?" if you mean your t5 vertebra, yes, theoretically. Pain can stem from almost any loca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 56-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Bubble and squeak.: This is thought to be the result of little bubbles moving around the joint spaces, perhaps a very early sign of arthritis in some people. But if it do... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Nope.: If you are feeling increased fatigue and no other symptoms, and there's no good lifestyle-based reason, see your doctor. No "energy" supplement has ev... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
No. : This is an antibiotic. It helps to kill certain types of bacterial infections. There is no direct pain relieving property. Even if you have body pains... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Needs exam: given how young you are, if this is entirely new, and you have not otherwise changed your lifestyle, you need to see your doctor. Lots of things could... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Maybe vitamin or not: The color change, by itself, would suggest a medicine or vitamin is the cause. But the pelvic pain and tissue clot are not related to that kind of cha... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Erica Bialanswered
Specializes in Pain Management
Might be serious: If this is new chest pain, it could be cardiac, meaning coming from your heart. This requires immediate medical attention.
If you know it isn't you... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
139
Thank you notes
Oct 27, 2015
Thank you for your great advice serving doctors and patients alike!
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Bial is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Bial is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you very much your answer offered a lot of insight, appreciated!
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you so much!! I was just nervous since I've never seen this :\
HealthTap member
Your answer was very helpful! Thanks :) insomnia secondary to other health issues CAD lupus arthritis etc...
Awards
Top Pain Management Specialist , First Place, Massachusetts - Summer
2013
Top Pain Management Specialist, First Place, Massachusetts - Spring
2014
Top Pain Management Specialist, First Place, Massachusetts - Spring
2015
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