Get Your Musculoskeletal System Treated By A Physiatrist!

Did you know that not only a sports doctor or an orthopedist is not the only one that can treat problems involving your musculoskeletal system? When we have injured our joints, muscles or even bones, then we primarily prefer consulting either a sports doctor or an orthopedist. However, were you aware that a physiatrist is also someone capable of dealing with problems related to bones as well as joints? He or she can also help find speedy recovery in case you have injured yourself due to sports or any problem with your musculoskeletal system.

Confused about what any physiatrist treats? Following is all that you must know

Rehabilitation physicians, also known as physiatrists, are basically doctors that have specialized in physical medicine where surgery is not needed. This means that such professionals can treat your musculoskeletal issues that involve ligaments, tendons, nerves, etc. without having you opt for surgery.

Physiatrists aim to help regain mobility as well as function. Moreover, a physiatrist treats and diagnoses the physical disability or injury you are going through using various methods. Such methods include therapy programs and medicines as well as procedures like electromyography or conduction testing on the individual’s nerves. By performing procedures that are hardly invasive, physiatrists restore function. Examples of such procedures include epidural injections guided by fluoroscopy or injections guided by ultrasounds.

A physiatrist doesn’t just focus on a comprehensive and customized treatment. He or she works with a team instead of treating on an individual basis. He or she directs both the treatment team along with the group responsible for rehabilitation. The team can include various professionals like physicians.

A physiatrist can treat the following:

• Stroke
• Sports injuries
• Extreme burns
• Injuries of the spinal cord

Based in NYC, we at NYDN Rehab are professionals of nonoperative treatment that can help individuals recover from spine injuries. Some areas we focus on include the following:

• Chronic joint or back pain
• Injuries due to running
• Acute joint or back pain
• Tendinopathy or tendonitis
• Osteoarthritis or other degenerative problems involving the joints
• Injuries caused by overuse like golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow
• Cubital syndrome
• Carpal tunnel
• Similar nerve entrapments

If you are faced with disorders or even injuries related to the spine or have a musculoskeletal injury because of sports, then a physiatrist can help in many ways. First, he or she will conduct a detailed evaluation. Next, he or she will come up with a personalized plan keeping your needs in mind that will help you get speedy recovery. Commonly, the plan will also involve external rehabilitation programs and therapy like occupational therapy. Similarly, it might also involve prescribing medicines and noticing their effect. Likewise, it might also involve testing out supporting devices such as orthotics to see if they can help.

As mentioned earlier, physiatrists are known to perform such procedures that are minimally invasive. These restore mobility while relieving pain without any surgical procedure. Nonoperative treatments that physiatrists perform include:

• Bursa infections
• Joint infections
• Injections for trigger points thus helping to get relief from musculoskeletal pain
• Injection for sacroiliac joints
• Injections done with the help of ultrasound for ligaments
• Epidural injections done by using X-ray or other fluoroscopic methods
• PRP therapy
• Stem cell therapy including BMAC
• Prolotherapy