| Physiatry & Pain Management |
|  General Introduction:
Physiatry deals with the treatment of disease or an injury, the resulting disabilities and the restoring of full function to patients. A physiatrist is a physician who is trained in the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR). The physiatrist treats many problems in major systems in the body, pediatrics, traumatic injury to the brain and spinal cord, injuries that require musculoskeletal rehabilitation, patients of all ages and athletes.
PMR, like many medical specialties, has several distinct fields or sub-specialties on which physiatrists may choose to focus. In addition to spinal cord injury, stroke and traumatic brain injury, one of the fastest growing subspecialties is Interventional Physiatry, which focuses on non-operative management of painful spine disorders.
How AOSMI has a High Standard of Care for Physiatry:
Dr. Kristen Cardamone is a board-certified, fellowship trained interventional physiatrist, with the primary goal of optimizing function. She treats a broad range of pain conditions through non-surgical treatment approaches including medications, supplementation, osteopathic manipulation techniques, coordination of physical therapy/exercise regimens, and various injections approaches such as facet and medial branch blocks, radiofrequency ablation, epidural steroid, intramuscular Botulinum toxin injections and neurostimulation trials for pain management. She is also trained in electrodiagnostic medicine (NCS/EMG) which can assist with proper diagnosis of peripheral nerve injury.
Dr. Kristen Cardamone has special interests in pregnancy/post-partum related pain complications as well as cancer rehabilitation, which includes evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of various cancer-related complications such as pain, spasms, neuropathy or lymphedema.
Interventional Physiatrists undergo four years of training after medical school called residency training and an additional year after residency called fellowship. They must pass two difficult certification examinations and are considered sub-specialty certified. Advanced Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute can help you with pain management.
AOSMI's Approach to Interventional Physiatry:
We at AOSMI use advanced techniques recognized in the field to treat spine-mediated pain. Thorough examinations focus on correctable biomechanical abnormalities such as flexibility and strength deficits and generate a comprehensive rehabilitation program including therapy and medication. We have the ability to treat patients who do not respond to conservative therapy by using targeted spinal injections to diagnose and treat pain from the spine.
Spinal injections of the neck, mid or low back, such as epidural steroid injections, facet or medial branch blocks and radiofrequency ablations may prevent patients from requiring more aggressive treatments such as spine surgery. The procedures are safe and performed at an outpatient ambulatory surgical center which requires no general anesthesia or overnight stay. For many procedures, there is no prolonged recovery period and results can occur within days of the procedure. Since these procedures are not surgical, there is no wound to heal and no scars afterward.
Spinal injections are only one of the many treatment options available from a physiatrist. Often, with early evaluation and treatment, the need for more aggressive treatment can be prevented. AOSMI is happy to discuss any questions you may have about this exciting treatment option.
Our board- certified Physiatrist is fellowship-trained in interventional spine procedures and specializes in sports, spine and pain management. |
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