CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — As integral parts of a comprehensive pain management practice, the providers at Desert Pain Specialists treat patients from head to toe – plus every joint in between. And perhaps no one knows that better than the practice’s newest provider, because she also happens to be one of their patients. 

Michelle “MJ” Johnson, MSN, AGNP-C, AGPCNP-BC, brings a wealth of nursing experience to Desert Pain. She joined the team last November and currently sees patients at the St. George location.

“Everybody is genuinely so happy to be here, and our patients are so appreciative of the care they receive,” she said. “It’s just a good environment to be in.”

Johnson has worked in several facets of nursing over the past 16 years, including spending time in intensive care as well as home health and hospice. In all areas of health care, she has found joy in connecting with patients and advocating for their best quality of life.

“You really have to have compassion and be on the same page with the patient as far as what success looks like for them,” she said. “It’s not always necessarily about fixing things, but also learning to live, and live well, with the things we can’t fix.”

Johnson works with patients to review their pain history and discuss available treatment options. Whether patients are struggling with an acute injury or chronic pain, Desert Pain can provide relief for a broad spectrum of conditions. She also provides medication management as well as referrals for physical therapy, surgery and other outside services.

Johnson makes time for every patient. She prioritizes listening to their individual concerns as they describe the challenges that pain presents in their daily lives.

“MJ is a smart, caring and compassionate provider who makes excellent comprehensive plans to help patients improve their quality of life,” said Dr. Nate Clements, a pain management specialist at Desert Pain. 

A Utah native, Johnson grew up in Orem and graduated from Orem High School. After earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Dixie State University, she spent the next several years working in outpatient surgery, where she specialized in orthopedic spine and interventional pain medicine and often collaborated with Desert Pain’s physicians.

“Seeing what a difference interventions can actually make was amazing,” she said. “It was very fulfilling to be able to take care of those patients.”

However, Johnson’s first experience with pain management was actually as a patient rather than a provider. Desert Pain has treated her chronic neck pain, the result of a wakeboarding accident, for the past six years. She still regularly undergoes procedures to maintain optimal function.

Having discovered a passion for helping patients living with pain, she pursued a master’s degree in nursing through the University of Cincinnati in 2023 and earned double board certification in adult-gerontology primary care. Now, she continues her career evolution as a pain management provider with Desert Pain.

“The best part of the work I do is helping people get back to the things they love,” she said. “Every day, I hear from patients how their function has improved after coming to us.”

“Patients can reliably be greeted by MJ with a smile, a warm heart, a competent mind and a passion to pursue solutions to their chronic pain conditions,” pain management specialist Dr. Steven Larsen said.

Johnson and her husband, Ryan, have been married since 2003 and have two wonderful children. In her free time, she can be found playing with her two dogs, fishing or golfing with her husband, kayaking local reservoirs and hiking the area’s beautiful trails.

“I moved here 22 years ago,” she said. “I like being outdoors, and it’s so nice to live in a place that’s as dynamic as ours. I just don’t think there’s any place as beautiful and diverse as St. George as far as the things you can enjoy here.”

For Johnson, joining Desert Pain represents the culmination of more than a decade spent serving patients in the community. The critical thinking skills and compassionate approach to care that she developed over years of working in surgery, hospice and the ICU, along with her own chronic pain journey, have shaped her into a passionate advocate for the best interest of everyone she treats.

“I can draw from my background and everything I know as far as what’s going on physiologically, but they live in their bodies and they know their pain,” she said. “They know what helps and what doesn’t help, and I think that’s a huge part of helping treat people successfully.”

Desert Pain is Southern Utah’s premier interventional pain management team. The physicians and the entire staff are dedicated to helping patients find relief from their pain. Their state-of-the-art facility in St. George allows them to offer unmatched quality of care for patients.

Call 435-216-7000 or visit the Desert Pain website to schedule an appointment today.

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

• S P O N S O R E D   C O N T E N T • 

Resources

• Desert Pain Specialists | Telephone: 435-216-7000 | Email: [email protected] | Website.
• Locations:
  • St. George: 617 E. Riverside Drive, Suite 301.
  • Hurricane: 48 S. 2500 West, Suite 110.
  • Hildale: 1040 Utah Ave.
  • Cedar City: 1760 N. Main St., Suite 220.
  • Beaver: 68 N. Main St.
  • Panguitch: 200 N. 400 East.
  • Kanab: 348 N. 300 West.
  • Delta: 126 S. White Sage Ave.
  • Fillmore: 700 S. Highway 99, Suite 3.
  • Richfield: 1000 N. Main St., Suite C.
  • Mesquite, Nevada: 340 Falcon Ridge Parkway, Suite 603.
  • Overton, Nevada: 475 N. Moapa Valley Blvd.

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