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Lucas First, MD

Pain Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Provider Ratings

4.9 out of 5 (155 ratings)

Provider Groups

  • Innovative Health Alliance of New York

  • SPHP Medical Associates

Primary Contact

(518)713-5400
Provider Groups

  • Innovative Health Alliance of New York

  • SPHP Medical Associates

Primary Contact
(518)713-5400
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Services & Specialties

Areas of Specialization

  • Pain Medicine
  • Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Locations & Contact

Primary Location

St Peter's Sports & Spine

1182 Troy Schenectady Rd
Ste 100
Latham , NY 12110

View hours
Monday
8:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday
8:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday
8:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday
8:00am - 5:00pm
Friday
8:00am - 5:00pm
St Peter's Sports & Spine
(518)713-5400 View Details

About

Dr. Lucas First joined St. Peter's Musculoskeletal Medicine office in Latham in 2022 (renamed St. Peter's Sports & Spine in 2024). He is a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physician, specializing in interventional pain medicine.

Dr. First received his Doctor of Medicine from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his Bachelor of Science degree from Union College in Schenectady, New York, with a major in neuroscience and minors in chemistry and Chinese culture & medicine. He also completed field research and his honors thesis at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.

Dr. First did his PM&R residency and served as chief resident at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, completing rotations at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Weill Cornell Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Hospital for Special Surgery, Helen Hayes Hospital, Blythedale Children's Hospital, and James J. Peters Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Additionally, he did an internal medicine internship at Albany Medical Center and a pain medicine fellowship with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center's Department of Anesthesiology in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

"I look forward to helping patients regain their function and get back to doing the things they enjoy in life. Chronic pain is not something that you have to live with!"

Conditions Treated

  • Arthritis
  • Back Pain
  • Bursitis
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Cervical Radiculopathy
  • Cervical Spinal Disorders
  • Cervical Spine Disease
  • Cervical Spondylosis
  • Degenerative Spinal Disorder
  • Gluteal Pain
  • Golfer's Elbow
  • Greater Trochanteric Bursitis
  • Hamstring Tendonitis/Injury
  • Hand & Wrist problems
  • Hip Pain
  • Iliotibial Band Syndrome
  • Joint Pain
  • Knee Pain
  • Low Back Pain
  • Lumbar Facet Arthropathy
  • Lumbar Radiculopathy
  • Lumbar Spinal Disorders
  • Lumbar Spondylosis
  • Meralgia Paresthetica
  • Mid-Back Pain
  • Muscle Injury
  • Musculoskeletal Disorder
  • Neck Pain
  • Neuropathy
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Overuse Injuries (Athletes)
  • Patellar Tendonitis
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Radiculopathy
  • Rotator Cuff Injury
  • Rotator Cuff Tear
  • Sacroiliac Joint Pain
  • Sciatica
  • Shoulder Pain/Injury
  • Shoulder Joint Instability
  • Shoulder Pain
  • Shoulder Tendonitis
  • Soft Tissue Injury
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Sports Injury
  • Sprain
  • Strains
  • Tear of Meniscus of Knee
  • Tendonitis
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Thoracic Radiculopathy
  • Thoracic Spondylosis

Services Offered

  • Epidural Steroid Injections
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Fluoroscopic Guided Injections (Spinal Injections)
  • Joint, Tendon, and Muscle Injections
  • Kinetic Chain Approach
  • Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
  • Non-Surgical Approach to Sports Medicine/Musculoskeletal Injuries
  • Orthopedic Rehabilitation
  • Percutaneous Needle Tenotomy
  • Peripheral Nerve Blocks
  • Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
  • Trigger Point Injections
  • Ultrasound-Guided Injections
  • Viscosupplementation/Hyaluronic Acid Injections

Conditions Treated

  • Physical Rehabilitation

Additional Resources

Education & Certifications

Education

Education:
Drexel University College of Medicine (2017)

Internship:
Albany Medical Center (2018)

Residency:
New York Presbyterian Hospital (2021)

Fellowship:
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (2022)

Board Certifications

Pain Medicine, Pain Medicine, American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Subspecialty (2022)

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Board of (2022)

Provider Groups

Innovative Health Alliance of New York

SPHP Medical Associates

Provider Ratings

The following ratings and reviews are based on verified feedback collected from independently administered patient experience surveys. The ratings and comments submitted by patients reflect their own views and opinions. Patient identities are withheld to ensure confidentiality and privacy. Learn More >

4.9 out of 5

(155 ratings)

The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.

59 Reviews

07/18/2024

Dr First always listens to answers all questions completely. He never rushes through an appt.

07/08/2024

Excellent doctor!

06/17/2024

I liked Dr. First very much. His staff was also very kind.

05/31/2024

Very receptive to my questions, explained things clearly, provided a good plan for next steps.

05/31/2024

Great doctor and staff

05/22/2024

Doctor first took time to listen. And answer all my questions

05/13/2024

I look forward to any future visits I may have

05/09/2024

All good.

05/07/2024

I will be telling all my friends and family who are in pain to go see Dr. First and his staff.

04/19/2024

Good follow up

04/16/2024

Great experience every visit

04/05/2024

Everything was as it should be with a professional caring staff.

03/18/2024

Dr. First listens attentively and provides appropriate and compassionate feedback.

03/15/2024

He is familiar with and uses new treatments, different from I received from other providers.

03/08/2024

I would highly recommend Dr. First to anyone needing the pain management services he provides.

02/20/2024

Very good practice!

02/09/2024

Off the chart, thank goodness. I am hopeful I may finally have a light at the end of the 12yr tunnel i have been in!

02/02/2024

Very easy to understand and personable

01/30/2024

I appreciate Dr first because he takes the time to allow you to address your concerns without rushing you out of the exam

01/26/2024

My belief of no pain in lower back is restored.

01/23/2024

Very good experience

01/22/2024

Amazing.

01/12/2024

Dr. First is very kind and takes the time to explain things thoroughly. He also took his time and didn’t make me feel like I was being rushed. He answered all my questions completely and succinctly.

12/26/2023

I finally have a diagnosis for the pain in my thigh as well as a possible treatment.

12/18/2023

One of the few doctors that I trust completely

12/12/2023

I have said what he think. Dr. First is a credit to his profession and to St. Peter’s .

12/11/2023

Dr. First is the bee's knees! Listens, cares, has fantastic bedside manner. Though on the younger side for a Dr. compared to all of the other ones I've been to, I hope he never loses this spark about him as he continues to grow within his field. Truly a gem in the medical field and more seasoned doctors could certainly learn a lot from his demeanor alone. He lacks arrogance and isn't condescending like many Drs I have encountered...a breath of fresh air in the medical community! It's nice to be truly heard and understood.

12/11/2023

Excellent care

12/07/2023

He was very personable, He listened to everything I had to say and gave me great feedback.

12/06/2023

Dr. First did everything he could to alleviate my pain.

11/30/2023

I will use this provider before any other.

11/29/2023

Excellent work

11/28/2023

Excellent

11/27/2023

10+++

10/21/2023

I am a lucky man to have two such good doctors.

10/11/2023

Listen to what I had to say, put plan in place and doing more testing

10/10/2023

FROM THE FRONT DESK TO THE NURSE TO THE DOCTOR, EVERYONE WAS VERY PLEASANT & HELPFUL.

10/10/2023

Should have been a 10 for provider care. Wouldn’t let me enter it.

10/07/2023

Staff and doctor were polite, courteous and punctual. You don't see that often today.

10/07/2023

Very patient and caring.

10/06/2023

Dr. First is very likeable, listens well, explains his ideas well. I'm optimistic we can see significant improvement over time.

10/04/2023

Great practice and very friendly staff .

09/21/2023

Really good and thorough

09/17/2023

Good experience

09/10/2023

My pain level, for which I have been treated, has been diminished about 75 to 80% without narcotics. I am having a much better quality of life.

09/05/2023

Very happy with the time taken to answer many questions

08/22/2023

Nice guy

08/20/2023

Not only was Dr. First wonderful. The receptionist when I arrived was very helpful. I belive her name begain with a C.

08/19/2023

So far, so good

08/09/2023

Hes a great doctor and the staff as well

08/03/2023

Success makes everyone happy

07/29/2023

Provider was efficient and listened to what I had to say. Did not recommend any unnecessary procedures.es

07/26/2023

No tengo mas comentarios

07/18/2023

Dr. First is an exemplary physician. He made a detailed plan of care for me which I really appreciated. He also was very knowledgeable and thorough. He is truly a gem!

07/17/2023

He's the bees knees! (BEFORE they're arthritic, that is.)

07/13/2023

My care by Doctor FIRST was outstanding, as I expected. I look forward to discussing my progress as a

07/06/2023

Very knowledgeable on my issues

06/29/2023

Very personable and easy to talk to about my condition

06/27/2023

Have recommended and would again!
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(518)713-5400

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