Thrive by IU Health

September 15, 2025

Pain navigation program gets dentist's career back on track

IU Health Methodist Hospital

Pain navigation program gets dentist's career back on track

Justin Suggs wanted to be a dentist his whole life. Shortly after accomplishing his goal, a broken back sidelined him for more than two years. "I got in a car crash on my way to work... and shattered my L1 vertebrae," said Justin, who's pain became a chronic condition. "I was referred to the pain navigation program [at IU Health]. I was hesitant at first because it was like, you're going to do art therapy and music therapy and I was like, how is this going to fix the pain... [but after completing the program] I wouldn't change a single thing about it."