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Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R):


Services that treat patients with musculoskeletal disorders and rehabilitation needs

 

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A physiatrist, or rehabilitation physician, is a medical doctor who has completed residency training in the medical specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). This physician is a nerve, muscle, bone and brain expert who diagnoses and treats injuries or illnesses that affect how you move. The physiatric approach to patient care looks at the whole person and not just one symptom or condition.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians keep people as active as possible for as long as possible. Their broad expertise and training enable them to treat a range of illness and injuries – from diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation – throughout a person’s lifetime.

You may consider seeing a PM&R physician if:


  • You had an accident or you have an injury or chronic condition that has left you with pain or limited function
  • You’re contemplating or recovering from surgery
  • You have an illness or treatment for an illness that has diminished your energy or ability to move easily
  • You’re recovering from the effects of a stroke or other problems related to nerve damage
  • You have chronic pain from arthritis, a repetitive stress injury, or back problems
  • Excess weight makes it difficult to exercise or has caused health problems
  • You think you’re too old to exercise
  • Life changes such as childbirth or menopause have created new challenges to your physical function

Conditions that are commonly treated by PM&R physicians include:


Musculoskeletal Disorders
  • Low back and neck pain (including degenerative disc and joint disease, radiculopathy, and spondylolisthesis)
  • Sports and workplace injury (including rotator cuff tendinopathy, lateral epicondylitis, ACL and meniscus injury, and post-concussive syndrome
  • Joint disorders and osteoarthritis

Neurological Disorders
  • Radiculopathy (including sciatica)
  • Focal mononeuropathy (including carpal, cubital, and tarsal tunnel syndrome)
  • Peripheral neuropathy

Disorders requiring Rehabilitation
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Stroke

PM&R physicians also perform electrodiagnostic studies (EMG/NCS) to assess for conditions such as carpal  tunnel syndrome, sciatica and peripheral neuropathy and procedures such as injections to help with joint and back pain.