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| Photo credit: @goodforthesoulphoto |
I am not a psychiatrist, I am a physiatrist. I am not a pediatrician, I am a PM&R physician. I am not a physical therapist, I am a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation doctor.
Despite these common misconceptions, I love the opportunity to teach others about my medical field and why I chose it. As a small yet growing specialty, many people, including medical students, are unfamiliar with who we are and what we do. This is especially true now with limitations placed on shadowing and clinical rotations amidst the COVID19 pandemic. So let me break it down for you:
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| Photo credit: @goodforthesoulphoto |
FUNCTION: We optimize a patient’s functionality, enhancing and restoring their abilities to improve their quality of life. As a cheerleader, dancer, runner, and skier, I learned the physics of falling gracefully and using gravity to our advantage. My sports experiences along with my osteopathic medical training gave me a deeper understanding of body mechanics, which helps patients maximize their potential.
SCOPE: We focus on musculoskeletal and neurologic disorders, addressing medical needs both inpatient and outpatient of those with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, amputation, pain, sports medicine, and more. We utilize various diagnostic and treatment modalities like therapy, ultrasound, interventional procedures like epidural steroid injections, botox injections for spasticity and migraines, trigger point injections, and EMGs (electromyography - a study of the health of nerves and muscles).
TEAMWORK: We work closely with physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapists as well as case managers, social workers, nurses and other doctors in order to provide a multi-disciplinary treatment approach to patient care.
OPPORTUNITY: The need for more research is in high demand, from regenerative medicine and biotechnology to my own interest in cancer rehabilitation. This past week, an article came out about a group of scientists at Stanford who discovered a way to regrow cartilage in joints in order to "ease movement between bones." This discovery could have promising implications for treating many of our patients who present with joint issues. See below and click here for more information.
PEOPLE: From attendings and colleagues to patients and families there is a breadth of knowledge, mentorship, and education offered. The stories I hear and the progress I observe as patients recover are so inspiring. I have watched as patients who previously could not move are now walking down the hallway to hug their family. Patients who could not talk are now able to tell their children they love them. Just as I motivate my patients to keep fighting, they encourage me to be a better physician.
Learn more about this field at the American Academy of Physiatry's website here.
This post was inspired by fellow physiatrist @doctor.darsh - check him out on Instagram
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