CRNA Brings Hope and Healing to Rural Patients Facing Chronic Pain

When Ben Campbell, MS, CRNA, NSPM-C, Lt COL (Ret), USAR, FAANA, first stepped into an operating room as a college student, he thought he was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps as a surgeon. He was assisting his father during surgery, but he couldn’t help noticing the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) at the head of the bed. 

“I thought, ‘Who are they and what are they doing?’” he said. “A lightbulb went off. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be a CRNA.” 

CRNAs, also known as nurse anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, are highly trained clinicians who are qualified to deliver the full spectrum of anesthesia services and pain management in every type of healthcare setting. 

That day in his father’s OR set Campbell on a career path that would span decades of anesthesia practice, military service, and chronic pain management. Today, he’s helping patients in rural Arkansas—and from across the country—find opioid-free relief from chronic pain. 

Campbell said he’s been interested in pain management since 1985, when he became a CRNA. In the late 1980s, he was one of the first people to start performing epidural infusions for post-operative pain in Jonesboro, Arkansas. “I’ve always been drawn to finding ways to help patients recover with less pain,” he said. 

Campbell discovered the pain management fellowship at the University of South Florida (USF) in 2019. Immediately, he saw an opportunity to strengthen his expertise and shift his focus on chronic pain care. 

In his current practice, Campbell emphasizes approaches designed to address the underlying causes of pain, not just its symptoms. Rather than relying solely on medications or repeat procedures, he looks for restorative strategies that aim to repair the source of pain and help patients return to fuller, more active lives. 

Although these therapies can be complex and often require patients to seek them outside of traditional insurance models, Campbell has seen firsthand the difference they can make for people who have long felt there were no options left. 

“Instead of keeping patients on a cycle of temporary fixes, the goal is to help them find lasting improvement,” he explained.

For years, he provided pain services in Mena, Arkansas, a town of just 5,000 on the Oklahoma border. Patients in the region faced long drives to distant clinics, dependence on opioids, and few alternatives. After completing the pain management fellowship at USF, Campbell relocated his practice to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he continues to expand treatment options for patients close to home. 

“Access is everything,” he said. “For someone in chronic pain, a three-hour round-trip drive can be impossible. Being there for patients in rural areas makes all the difference.” 

In addition to serving patients from Arkansas, he treats patients who travel from as far away as Arizona, Maryland, and Wisconsin. Patients traveling from other states reinforced his belief that CRNAs nationwide can help close gaps in care. He encourages other CRNAs to explore providing chronic pain management services because of the need nationwide, particularly in rural and underserved communities. 

“CRNAs in rural areas are already providing the majority of anesthesia care. They’re uniquely positioned to expand into pain management, especially where the need is greatest. CRNAs can step into these communities and bring real solutions to people who have been living in pain for far too long.” 

Campbell now serves as the clinical coordinator for the USF fellowship, guiding CRNAs who are entering the pain management specialty. His teaching emphasizes physical assessment, accurate diagnosis, and patient-centered rapport. 

He gave credit to his nursing background in learning how to develop trust and empathy. “As CRNAs, we treat the pathology and the patient equally. That connection matters just as much as the procedure.” 

Campbell’s 28 years as a CRNA in the U.S. Army also shaped his practice, he said, and he carries lessons learned during his service to this day. 

“If you can function in that environment and treat soldiers with horrific trauma and injuries, nothing intimidates you. It gave me the confidence to know I can function to the highest level and in the most stressful environment. I want to respect those who made the ultimate sacrifice by remembering them, and by being someone who advocates for our patients, the CRNA profession, and greater access to care.” 

Campbell pointed to the growing network of CRNA-led rural pain clinics as evidence of the profession’s potential impact. He hopes to see more fellowship programs created, more CRNAs trained, and broader acceptance of innovative pain treatments that can change patients’ lives forever. For now, he continues to be motivated by the gratitude of his patients, whose lives have been restored. 

“There’s nothing more rewarding than treating somebody who has been in pain for years and finally seeing them get better,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a patient with tears in their eyes because they’re not hurting anymore. That moment makes all the training, sacrifice and hard work worth it.”