Is Physiatry Right For You?

The treatment of muscle, nerve, and bone disorders.
In our clinic, in addition to cutting edge surgical and pharmaceutical methods of treatment, we offer a variety of holistic treatments for the effective, but natural management of pain, disease, or dysfunction. This includes physiatry.
Our resident Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physician, Dr. Mary Nell Anderson, is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of muscle, nerve, and bone disorders. She is an expert in the treatment of migraine headaches and is also a specialist in acupuncture.
What Is Physiatry?
Physiatry is a branch of medicine centered on enhancing and restoring function to those affected by physical impairments or disabilities.
The focus of physiatry is to not just reduce pain with bandaid treatments, but get to the root cause of dysfunction and address it appropriately.
PM&R physicians like Dr. Anderson treat patients of all ages, and focus their treatment on enhancing and restoring function. They are medical doctors and are qualified to diagnose and treat pain disorders that result from injuries, illness, or other disabling conditions.
Physiatrists, such as Dr. Anderson, pull from a broad medical expertise that helps them to treat disabling conditions throughout the lifespan – or “healthspan,” as we like to call it. A “healthspan” is defined as the period of a person’s life during which they are healthy, vibrant, and enjoying full function. We are not against aging, we are just for aging well.
In our clinic, our goal is to expand our patients’ healthspans. Our goal is to never compromise health for a short-term, band aid treatment that may temporarily reduce pain. We want you to be able to enjoy your health for many years after injury, illness, or diagnosis.
How Does Physiatry Prolong The Healthspan?
Physiatrists treat each patient as a whole, taking lifestyle, activity level, diet, sleeping habits, and more into consideration during their diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Anderson uses her expertise to guide surgical procedures when they are necessary as well.
She has expertise in electrophysical diagnostic techniques that assist the surgeons in making accurate diagnoses of the true source of pain. In addition, she works closely with our team of highly-trained and experienced physical therapists.
She is also an expert in acupuncture and the treatment of migraines and spasticity.
PM&R physicians may treat their patients using some of the following procedures:
- Nerve Stimulators, Blocks and Ablation procedures
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Manual Medicine/Osteopathic Treatment
- EMG/Nerve Conduction Studies
- Nerve and Muscle Biopsy
- Ultrasound guided procedures
- Injections of spine and joints
- And more!
If you’ve been suffering from chronic pain, you are likely a good candidate for a visit with Dr. Anderson. Click below to schedule your appointment today: