David S. Levi, MD

Physiatrist

Dr. David Levi received his undergraduate degree from Tulane University in New Orleans. He earned his Doctorate of Medicine from Eastern Virginia Medical School. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Carolinas Rehabilitation in Charlotte, North Carolina where he served as Chief Resident. Following residency, he specialized in spine injections and musculoskeletal medicine, completing his fellowship training in New Orleans at LSU.

Dr. Levi is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is an active member of several organizations including the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spine Intervention Society, North American Spine Society, and the American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine. He has lectured extensively in the US and internationally on back and neck disorders, advanced spine injection procedures as well as regenerative medicine.

Dr. Levi is an active researcher and published author in the fields of fluoroscopically guided spinal injections, ultrasound guided peripheral joint injections, and novel techniques in regenerative medicine. He serves as an editorial reviewer for The Spine Journal, Interventional Pain Medicine, the Pain Medicine journal, and PM&R journals. Dr. Levi was honored to serve as chairman of the Spine Intervention Society’s Research Division from 2018-2021. He serves as an instructor for complex Spine Injections Courses for the Spine Intervention Society and the North American Spine Society.

Other areas of clinical interest and expertise include the use of neuro-musculoskeletal ultrasound. He is skilled in the use of ultrasound to diagnose upper and lower extremity disorders as well as in the performance of ultrasound guided injections. Dr. Levi earned prior facility accreditation for musculoskeletal ultrasound from the American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine. Dr. Levi has been awarded the honor of “Top Docs” in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

Education

Undergraduate: Tulane University; New Orleans, LA
Medical Degree: Eastern Virginia Medical School; Norfolk, VA
Residency, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation: Carolinas Rehabilitation; Charlotte, NC
Fellowship, Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine: Louisiana State University; New Orleans, LA

Areas of Specialization

Non-surgical x-ray guided spinal procedures
Non-surgical sports and joint treatments
Image-guided spine, joint, and tendon injections
Regenerative medicine procedures
Diagnostic spinal procedures
Diagnostic ultrasound for joints and tendons
Clinical research for spinal conditions

Certification

American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Appointments

Spine Injection Instructor, North American Spine Society and Spine Intervention Society
Chairman, Research Division, Spine Intervention Society
Board of Directors Spine Intervention Society
Editorial Reviewer for The Spine Journal, Pain Medicine, and PM&R Journals

Hospital Privileges

Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center
Virginia Beach General Hospital

Professional Associations

American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Spine Intervention Society
North American Spine Society
American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine

Awards & Honors

Top Doc, as voted on by peers, Coastal Virginia/Hampton Roads Magazine 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022

Family & Interests

Dr. Levi lives in Virginia Beach with his wife and family. He enjoys spending time with his family, saltwater fishing, kayaking, running, and tennis.

Publications

Levi D, Horn S. The Utility of Determining the True Fluoroscopic Contralateral Oblique Angle Measurement during Cervical Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injections for Use in Repeat Injections. PM&R 2018;11(5):566-568.
Levi D. Subdural Extra-arachnoid Flow Pattern Visualized in a Contralateral Oblique View During a Cervical Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injection. Pain Med. 2017;18(6):1177-1182.
Levi D, Horn S, Carnahan D, Levin J. Is severe episodic low back pain a sign of discogenic etiology? Accepted for publication Pain Medicine 2017.
Levi D. Disruption of a lumbar zygapophyseal joint synovial cyst with intrathecal flow. (poster presentation at Spine Intervention Society annual meeting 2017)
Levi D, Horn S. The Utility of Determining the True Fluoroscopic Contralateral Oblique Angle Measurement during Cervical Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injections for Use in Repeat Injections. (in submission for publication)
Levi D, Horn S, Tyszko S, Levin J, Hecht-Leavitt C, Walko E. Intradiscal platelet rich plasma injection for chronic discogenic low back pain: a prospective study. Pain Medicine 2016;17(6):1010-22.
Levi D, Horn S, Corcoran S. The incidence of intradiscal, intrathecal and intravascular flow during the performance of retrodiscal (infraneural) approach for lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections. Pain Medicine 2016;17(8):1416-22.
Levi D S, Horn S, Collado A. Reliability and accuracy of MRI laminar angle measurements to determine intra-procedural contralateral oblique view angle for cervical or thoracic interlaminar epidural steroid injections. Pain Medicine 2016;17(9):1628-33.
Levi D. Diagnostic and therapeutic injection of a symptomatic pseudoarticulation between an anomalous C2 lamina and the C3 articular pillar. (poster presentation at Spine Intervention Society annual meeting 2016)
Levi D, Levin J. Novel technique may be a step backward in safety. (Letter to ed) Spine 2016:41(6):E379.
Levi DS, Horn S, Walko E. Intradiscal Methylene blue treatment for discogenic low back pain. PM&R 2014;6(11):1030-1037.
Levi, DS, Horn, S. Intradiscal biostat^R (fibrin) for chronic low back pain. Site principle investigator for multisite phase III randomized placebo controlled trial for discogenic low back pain. Spinal Restoration Austin, TX. 2013
Levi D. Intra-articular hip injections utilizing ultrasound guidance: accuracy using a linear array transducer PM&R 2013;5:129-34
Levi D. Intradiscal flow during a transforaminal epidural steroid injection. Pain Medicine 2010;11:1716-18.
Levi D. The effect of patient sense of control on the perception of pain and anxiety during EMG/NCS. LSU School of Medicine, 2003.
Kirsteins A, Levi D. Percutaneous intramuscular neuromuscular electrical stimulation for the treatment of shoulder pain in chronic hemiplegic stroke patients with shoulder subluxation: Preliminary findings, 2001 (Accepted for poster presentation at AAPM&R annual meeting, 2001).
David Levi, MD, Scott Horn, DO, Jestine Murphy, Matt Smuck, MD, Josh Levin, MD, Modification of the Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection Technique Based Upon the Anatomic Angle of the Superior Articular Process on MRI, Pain Medicine, pnaa162.

Presentations

Biologic Treatments for discogenic Low Back Pain. Emory University Grand Rounds Dept of PM&R Jan 2022.
Caudal and Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injections, North American Spine Society Injection Course Jan 2022
Is It Reasonable to Offer Regenerative Treatments for Discogenic Low Back Pain? Spine Intervention Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2021
Rate of Discontinuation and Safety of Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections using the Modified Approach in an Office Setting without Sedation. Spine Intervention Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2021
Regenerative Treatments for Discogenic Low Back Pain. Duke Spine Symposium. Duke Dept of Neurosurgery. May 2021.
Cervical Spine Complex Case Presentations. Spine Intervention Society Bio Skills Course May 2021
Regenerative Medicine for discogenic Low Back Pain. Stanford University Grand Rounds Dept of PM&R May 2020.
Regenerative Treatments for the Spine in Clinical Practice. Is it appropriate? Spine Intervention Society, Winter Seminar 2020
Lumbar Zygapophyseal Joint Imaging. Spine Intervention Society, Winter Seminar 2020.
Ultrasound vs Fluoroscopy for Spinal Procedures. Spine Intervention Society, Winter seminar 2020
Is Episodic Low Back Pain Discogenic? Spine Intervention Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2019
Modification of Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Injection Technique, Spine Intervention Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2019
Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections and Selective Nerve Root Blocks, North American Spine Society Injection Course 2019
Interventional and Regenerative Treatments for Young Athletes CHKD Sports Medicine Conference, Norfolk VA 2019
Regenerative Treatments for Discogenic Low Back Pain Spine Intervention Society Winter Seminar 2019
Injection Therapies for non-radicular, Non-sacroiliac joint Buttocks pain Spine Intervention Society Winter Seminar 2019
Lumbar Zygapophyseal Joint Imaging Spine Intervention Society Winter Seminar 2019
Avoiding Complications and Appropriate Management for Spinal Injections Spine intervention Society Bio Skills Lab 2019
Bone Marrow Concentrate and Adipose Intradiscal Treatments Spine Intervention Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2018
Lumbar Transforaminal and Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injections, North American Spine Society Injection Course 2018
Regenerative Medicine for Discogenic Low Back Pain: Hype or Hope? Evidence-Based Medicine Seminar, Spine Intervention Society 2018
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid injections and Selective Nerve Root Block. Spine Injection Course, North American Spine Society 2018
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid injections and Selective Nerve Root Block. Spine Injection Course, Spine Intervention Society 2017
Fluoroscopic Anatomy, North American Spine Society Injection Course 2016
Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) for the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Conditions: Hope or Hype? : Grand Rounds Sentara Healthcare. 2016
Platelet rich plasma injection for chronic discogenic low back pain, Spine Intervention Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2016
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections, North American Spine Society Injection Course 2015
Intradiscal platelet rich plasma injection for chronic discogenic low back pain: a prospective study, Spine Intervention Society 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting 2015
The Incidence of Intradiscal, Intrathecal and Intravascular Flow During the Performance of Retrodiscal (Infraneural) Approach for Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections. Spine Intervention Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2015.
Ultrasound Guidance for Spinal Injections, Spine Intervention Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2015
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections, North American Spine Society Injection Course 2014
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections, North American Spine Society Injection Course 2013
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections, North American Spine Society Injection Course 2012
Epidural Steroid Injections, North American Spine Society Injection Course 2011
Epidural Steroid Injections, North American Spine Society Injection Course 2010
Physiatric Approach to Low Back Pain, Carolina Rehabilitation Hospital 2009
Whiplash: Fact or Fiction? Carolina Rehabilitation Grand Rounds 2009
Physiatric Approach to Low Back Pain, Physical therapy conference Virginia Beach, VA 2009
Epidural Steroid Injections, North American Spine Society Injection Course 2009
Low Back Pain Case Presentations, Eastern Virginia Medical School 2009
Pain Management of Chronic Diseases, Week of Healthy Living Community Lecture Series. Virginia Beach, VA 2008
Cervical Injury in Motor Vehicle Collision, Bayside Hospital Grand Rounds 2007
Whiplash: Fact or Fiction? Virginia Beach General Hospital Grand Rounds 2007
Update on Low Back Pain, Virginia Beach General Hospital Grand Rounds 2006
Spine Clinical Case Presentation to Physiatry Residents, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 2005
Treatment Modalities for Low Back Pain, Virginia Beach General Hospital Primary Care Grand Rounds 2005
Spinal Injections, Physical Therapy Conference Virginia Beach, VA 2005
Spinal Injections, American Academy of Physician Assistants annual meeting, New Orleans, LA 2003
Neuromuscular Stimulation and Shoulder Pain in the Subluxed Shoulder in Hemiplegia, Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation Grand Rounds 2001
The Effect of Exercise on Immune Function, Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation Grand Rounds 2000