Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
WHAT IS PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION?
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is a field of medicine also known as Physiatry. Physiatrists specialize in the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of painful musculoskeletal conditions. OAM physiatry specialists are fellowship-trained in interventional spine and sports medicine care. They provide comprehensive treatment to patients dealing with a variety of musculoskeletal conditions and disorders including injuries to muscles, bones, nerves, ligaments, tendons and other structures. Interventional physiatry may also be used to optimize a patient’s condition pre- or post-surgery.
Using the most effective non-surgical, non-narcotic treatments, ONS physiatrists practice thoughtful, conservative patient care, taking into account the patient’s lifestyle goals. After a thorough physical assessment, a personalized treatment plan is designed which may include any of a variety of advanced procedures such as image-guided Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), steroidal injections, therapeutic exercises, orthotics and mobility-assistance devices.
WHAT CONDITONS CAN A PHYSIATRIST TREAT?
- Arthritis
- Back and Neck Pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Muscle and Nerve damage
- Osteoporosis
- Post-surgical limitation
- Spine conditions
- Sports injury
- Tendonitis
- Concussion
COMMON PHYSIATRY TREATMENTS
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Epidural injections
- Facet joint injections
- Fluoroscopy
- Hip and pelvis (SI) joint injections
- Interlaminar injections
- Intramuscular trigger point injections
- Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS)
- Nucleoplasty
- Plasma Rich Platelets (PRP)
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Selective nerve root block injections
- Viscosupplementation
At Orthopaedic Associates of Manhasset in Great Neck, New York, our physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists (physiatrists) can help restore your function through a regimen of treatments. These include nonsurgical, physician-guided strengthening, stretching, therapy, medications, and minimally invasive techniques to significantly reduce – or even completely eliminate – your pain symptoms.
To diagnose your source of back or neck pain, our physicians will thoroughly assess your condition based on your personal experience and lifestyle. Your doctor will clearly explain treatment options so that, together, you can decide the best course or care to get you back to your normal activities.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation treatments may include:
Epidural steroid injections are nonsurgical treatments for low back (lumbar) and neck (cervical) pain. During an epidural, medication is injected near the painful area of the spine. Your condition may require a series of cervical or lumbar epidural injections to ease your neck or back pain and inflammation. Learn more about epidural injections for the low back and neck.
Facet joint injections are nonsurgical treatments to relieve pain and inflammation of the facet joints in the spine. Facet joints are located on the top and bottom of each vertebra and connect the vertebrae to form the spine and allow back motion. During a facet injection, medication is injected into the facet joint capsule or surrounding tissue.
Peripheral joint injections are administered within the joints of the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee. Pain in these joints may be caused by bursitis, tendonitis, or arthritis.
The sacroiliac joints connect the sacrum, which is located at the end of the spine, to the two large pelvic bones (the iliac bones). Sacroiliac joint injections are given to reduce inflammation that is causing pain within the buttocks, thigh, groin, or hip joint.
Trigger point injections are used to treat involved muscles in many areas of the body. Trigger points are tight bands or small areas of a muscle that are sensitive to touch and pressure. The trigger point can irritate surrounding nerves and cause referred pain, a type of pain that radiates to nearby areas. The neck, back, and shoulders are common areas where trigger point injections are administered.
A nerve block places medication directly around a suspected nerve in your spine to help determine if it is the source of pain. If the nerve block relieves the pain, your doctor can proceed with treatment, which may include additional medication injections or surgery.
Another technique that can be performed for the relief of chronic back pain is to implant a small wire called a spinal cord stimulator under the skin. The wire is connected to a power source that transmits low-level electrical impulses to the spinal cord or specific nerves to block pain signals from reaching the brain. Instead of pain, you may feel a mild tingling sensation.
Facet radiofrequency is used to treat nerve pain in the back. The procedure uses heat to create a lesion on the affected nerve, which impairs the nerve’s ability to transmit signals about facet joint pain. Because the nerve is "turned off," pain is not felt. The treatment provides pain relief for about a year but can last much longer for some people.
For your convenience, these short outpatient procedures are performed in our office.
Visit our orthopedic patient education library to read more about back pain, neck pain, and pain management procedures.
Pain Management Services in NYC & Long Island
For comprehensive pain management services in the New York City area, call Orthopaedic Associates of Manhasset today at (516) 627-8717 or request your appointment now. We look forward to seeing you at one of our 3 convenient locations on Long Island, New York.