Highly Rated Pain Specialist in Edmonton
Chronic Pain still controlling your life after everything you've tried?
If physiotherapy, chiropractic care, medication, or previous injections have not given you lasting relief, Dr Yakunchikov provides targeted interventional pain treatments designed to help you get back to doing the things you love.
Pain specialist experience 20+ years
MD experience 30+ years
Accepting new patients
When pain takes over, life gets smaller
Maybe a good night's sleep is a distant memory.
Maybe exercise feels impossible.
Maybe work, family, hobbies, and simple daily tasks all come with a cost afterward.
And maybe the hardest part is this:
Chronic Pain doesn't just affect your body.
It affects who you are.
The hobbies you stopped doing.
The plans you stopped making.
The relationships in your life.
The person you used to be before pain became part of every day.
Many patients come to Dr Yakunchikov after months or years of failed treatments, unclear answers, and feeling like nobody has really understood what they are going through.
Why pain can continue after other treatments
Many Chronic Pain patients aren't starting from zero: they've already tried to solve this.
Some are told to just exercise even though pain makes movement impossible.
Some rely on narcotics but still cannot function normally.
Some try injections, but maybe the source of pain was not identified or treated precisely enough.
Some are told surgery is the next step, even when less invasive options may still be worth exploring.
But Chronic Pain is rarely solved by just treating the surface symptom, and for many patients, general pain management is not enough.
They need someone to identify where the pain is coming from before deciding what treatment makes sense.
A different approach to Chronic Pain treatment
Dr Yakunchikov's approach starts with a careful assessment of where the pain is coming from, then uses targeted treatments to reduce pain, restore movement, and help patients return to normal function.
Depending on the source of pain, Dr Yakunchikov may use treatments such as spinal procedures, nerve blocks, or pulsed radiofrequency to target the area more effectively.
The goal is not to mask pain temporarily.
The goal is to understand the source of the pain, reduce it as safely as possible, and help the patient move, sleep, work, and live more normally again.
When pain is reduced, many patients can finally begin gentle movement, physiotherapy, strengthening, and normal activity again -- the things that are often impossible when pain is too severe.
IMAGINE...
Imagine getting your life back.
Working again.
Finally being able to sleep again.
Walking, exercising, or spending more time with loved ones without pain controlling every decision.
Read real patient feedback below from people who came to Dr Yakunchikov and regained their lives after living with long-term Chronic Pain.
Patients often come to Dr Yakunchikov when they feel they have run out of options
Patient feedback includes:
"He helped me so much to control the pain in my knees and back"
"He has made amazing improvements to my daily life"
"I can finally move my arm without pain"
"Dr Yakunchikov saved my life"
"He is the reason I am able to walk and am not on any regular pain meds"
"Hands down the very best, most ethical, knowledgeable, caring doctor"
"Were it not for him my husband would likely be dead"
"He is knowledgeable, ethical, and patient with all our questions"
"I got my life back"
RateMDs.com verified anonymous patient feedback:
Read real patient success stories below:
Multiple botched surgeries. Other doctors couldn’t help. Screaming in pain despite high-dose medications. Now? He drives independently and can walk upright again.
A man in his late 30s came to Dr Yakunchikov in late 2023 after a few years of severe abdominal and pelvic pain following multiple surgeries.
Before treatment with Dr Yakunchikov, he was experiencing extreme pain despite high-dose medications and other therapies. The pain was so severe that it regularly interrupted his ability to function normally: he could not even walk upright or drive a car.
Dr Yakunchikov developed a treatment plan focused on reducing the source of the pain and improving his quality of life. This comprised IV treatments + nerve blocks with steroids as well as PRF-DRG.
Over time, with regular treatment, his symptoms improved substantially. Today, he is able to walk upright, drive independently, and participate in daily activities that had previously become extremely difficult due to his extreme pain.
While his treatment continues, the improvement in both his pain and function has been significant compared to where he started.
She couldn’t walk properly. Pain controlled her life. Now she feels confident enough to start a family.
A woman in her 30s came to Dr Yakunchikov in January 2024 after developing severe CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) following a nerve biopsy in November 2023.
Her lower leg was swollen, discoloured, extremely painful, and difficult to use. Before starting treatment with Dr Yakunchikov, she relied on crutches and struggled to put weight on her foot.
After a combination of targeted pain treatments (IV pain treatments and PRF-DRG (pulsed radiofrequency dorsal root ganglion) neuromodulation treatments) over the following years, her pain improved significantly. Her extreme leg swelling reduced dramatically, the discolouration largely resolved, and she regained much of her ability to walk.
Most importantly, she felt well enough to begin planning the future again with her husband. In early 2026 she became pregnant — something she previously did not feel physically or emotionally capable of doing because of the severity of her pain.
While she still faces ongoing challenges, including currently not being able to be treated for her pain due to her pregnancy, her condition and quality of life improved dramatically compared to where she started.
He was in so much pain he was afraid to take a deep breath. Now he’s able to garden again.
A man in his 30s came to Dr Yakunchikov in mid 2021 with severe chronic pain caused by profound degeneration of his thoracic vertebrae.
His pain had spread across much of his upper and middle back. Before starting treatment with Dr Yakunchikov, even taking a deep breath could trigger intense pain.
Over several years of treatment (paravertebral blocks from 2021 to 2022, IV pain treatments mid 2022 onwards, PRF of thoracic DRGs early 2023 onwards), the painful area gradually became much smaller and his symptoms improved significantly.
Today, he is able to garden again and participate in activities that were previously impossible because of the severity of his pain.
He continues PRF-DRG treatment as well as IV pain treatments as of mid 2026, but his condition also continues to steadily improve, and he has regained much of the function that Chronic Pain had taken away.
Meet Dr Yakunchikov, Interventional Pain Specialist.
Dr Yakunchikov is a certified pain specialist trained in pain medicine in the UK and Canada.
Credentials:
- MD (30+ years)
- Diplomate of European Academy of Anaesthesiology (DEAA)
- Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthestists UK (FRCA)
- Fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of Royal College of Anaesthestists UK (FFPMRCA)
- Extensive MD experience in 4 countries (Russia, Denmark, UK, and Canada)
- Practising pain medicine since 2004
- Practised anaesthesiology from 1988 to 2016
- Regularly appraised on his continuous professional development
Dr Yakunchikov has spent 20+ years as a pain specialist helping complex Chronic Pain patients regain function, including patients who have not found relief elsewhere and have often already tried multiple treatments.
Often described as careful, calm, compassionate, and thorough, he always takes the time to explain what is happening, why it may be happening, and what treatment options may be appropriate.
Why patients choose Dr Yakunchikov
Patients choose Dr Yakunchikov because his appointments are built around understanding the pain before choosing the treatment.
They want a doctor who:
- listens.
- explains.
- has experience treating complex Chronic Pain.
- does not simply default to narcotics.
- uses targeted treatment instead of guessing.
- focuses on restoring function, not just reducing symptoms.
Dr Yakunchikov assesses every patient individually because Chronic Pain is not the same for everyone.
Examples of conditions treated:
- Back and spine pain
- Neck pain
- Chest, abdominal, and pelvic pain
- Joint pain, including knee, hip, or shoulder pain
- Headaches and facial pain
- CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome)
- Persistent pain after surgery
Treatment options available:
Treatment options may include:
- Targeted spinal procedures
- Nerve blocks
- Low-dose steroid injections
- Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) neuromodulation
- IV pain treatments where appropriate**
Available treatments may depend on the clinic location, patient history, and Dr Yakunchikov’s assessment.
Clinic locations:
Stop waiting months for answers.
If Chronic Pain has taken over your sleep, movement, work, or quality of life, contact Dr Yakunchikov directly to discuss your situation and whether interventional pain treatment may be appropriate for you.
Many Chronic Pain patients spend months or years searching for relief without finding a treatment that truly works for them.
Dr Yakunchikov provides thorough assessments and targeted pain treatments designed to help patients regain function and move forward with their normal daily lives.
After the free* consultation, Dr Yakunchikov will provide his expert opinion and discuss appropriate treatment options based on your individual situation.
Currently accepting new patients.
Targeted interventional pain management in Edmonton.
What Happens Next?
1. Contact Dr Yakunchikov.
2. He will discuss your situation and consultation options.
3. Dr Yakunchikov will perform a thorough assessment and review your history.
4. If appropriate, he will explain potential treatment options and answer your questions.
Every patient is different, and treatment recommendations are made on an individual basis.
Take the first step toward understanding your pain:
FAQs
Do I need a referral?
In most cases, specialist consultations require a referral from your family physician or another healthcare provider.
If your family doctor would like to send a referral, it can be faxed directly to Walker Lake Pain Clinic at:
Fax: #
If you have questions about booking or the referral process, please contact Dr Yakunchikov directly and he will be happy to help.
Will treatment be covered by Alberta Health?
Consultations are covered by Alberta Health for eligible patients.
If Dr Yakunchikov recommends any treatment, he will explain any available options and answer questions about coverage during your consultation.
At Walker Lake Pain Clinic, patients would pay the cost of the steroid/"cortisone" drug if they were to receive steroid injections, within the range of $10 to $27 per treatment, with the majority of health insurance and government benefit providers usually covering up to 80-90% of the cost.
At Physiologix and Misercordia Hospital Pain Clinics, there is no cost to patients for treatments as long as they are clients of Alberta Health.
I've already tried physiotherapy, medications, injections, or other treatments. Can you still help?
No treatment can guarantee results, and every patient responds differently.
However, many patients who see Dr Yakunchikov have already tried physiotherapy, medications, injections, or other treatments without finding lasting relief.
The purpose of the consultation is to carefully assess your situation and determine whether additional treatment options may be appropriate.
Treatment options may include more advanced interventional pain treatments, depending on your individual situation and assessment.
What types of pain do you treat?
Dr Yakunchikov treats a wide range of Chronic Pain conditions, including back pain, neck pain, joint pain, chest pain, abdominal pain, pelvic pain, headaches, facial pain, persistent pain after surgery, CRPS, and other complex pain conditions.
Treatment recommendations are always based on an individual assessment.
Will I receive treatment during my first appointment?
Usually the first appointment focuses on assessment, reviewing your history, and determining what treatment options may be appropriate.
If treatment is recommended, Dr Yakunchikov will explain the available options and discuss next steps with you during your consultation.
What if I'm not sure whether or not I'm a suitable candidate?
If you're unsure whether Dr Yakunchikov may be able to help, contact him directly to discuss your situation.
He can answer your questions and help determine whether a consultation may be appropriate.
All treatment decisions are made collaboratively between physician and patient, and no treatment is ever performed without your informed consent.
How long do I need to have Chronic Pain to see Dr Yakunchikov?
There is no minimum length of time you must have been experiencing pain.
Whether your pain has been present for months or years, Dr Yakunchikov can assess your situation and discuss whether interventional pain treatment may be appropriate.
Ready to discuss your pain treatment options?
Please leave your first name and phone number below and Dr Yakunchikov will contact you as soon as possible using your preferred contact method.
Prefer to speak directly?
Call or text Dr Yakunchikov at:
#
Please note: Dr. Yakunchikov may be treating patients and unable to answer immediately. If you call and reach voicemail, please leave your name and phone number and he will return your call as soon as possible.
*Consultations are covered by Alberta Health for eligible patients
**Due to current administrative restrictions IV pain treatments are unavailable for new patients at this time