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Really unhappy with physical therapy - should I try physiatry?
I had a work-related back injury and worked with a physical therapist to help me get back on track. It improved for the most part, but I still experience radiating back pain and the PT I visited is advising the same exercises and regimens. Is it worth it to visit a physiatrist?
13 Answers
HI, I recommend seen an physiatrist specialized in pain and spine or musculoskeletal rehabilitation. I am specialized in brain injury and can't really advise on back injuries.
Yes - it is understood that most patients have access to physical therapy directly without the need for a prescription from a physician.
However, guidelines from both the Physical Therapy associations and the Medical associations agree that if a patient's condition does not progressively improve after an adequate trial of physical therapy, further evaluation and management by a medical specialist is warranted.
Moreover, advanced imaging may also be needed if there are 'red flags' involved affecting bowel/bladder/balance issues, groin numbness, progressively worsening muscle wasting, weakness and sensory loss.
I hope that this helps!
Physiatrists are great with back pain. Yes, you definitely need to see one.
Yes, I think it would be a good idea to see a physiatrist.
All the best,
Regina Eum
Physical therapy is an important place to start but if strengthening the spine and muscles around the spine isn't enough the best next step is to see a interventional physiatrist who specializes in spine care (similar to myself). I am unique to spine care as we specialize in injections to treat the cause of the pain and no just place a bandaid (ie steroid injection) see our website regenexx.com or centenoschultz.com
thank you
Yes absolutely these Dr are the experts
A physiatrist may be able to point you in the right direction especially if your symptoms haven’t improve with physical therapy. There may be another issue which has not been addressed. This might involve additional work up.
Dr. Michael's Office
Hi there sorry to hear you are still in pain.
I would say yes to visiting an PM&R specialist. He can help diagnose your problem and find out why you are not responding to conservative treatment.
It would be a great idea to follow up with a physiatrist to see if something is going on undiagnosed or if additional exercises would be beneficial. Its always best to take a multidisciplinary approach and having a physician perspective might be beneficial.
Yes. You need worker comp case manager to prove your visit with physiatrist.
Dr. Li
Hello,
Yes. A physiatrist is a physician with extensive training in multiple
medical issues. This will be different than physical therapy which is more
oriented to deliver treatment based up diagnosis and prescription from a
physiatrist (physician).
Dr. Nicola
Absolutely. Suspect there is more than a mechanical,problem. This requires a better diagnosis, then aggressive treatment to resolve
Radiating pain may imply nerve rot irritation which is easily diagnosed by an MRI. A finding on an MRI that fits the distribution of your pain may open the door to specific xray guided epidural injections to alleviate your radiating pain.