Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians, by taking the whole body into account, they are able to accurately pinpoint problems and enhance performance. Consider seeing a PM&R physician as a first-approach if:
Getting started
A PM&R physician will thoroughly assess your condition, needs, and expectations and rule out any serious medical illnesses to develop a treatment plan. A clear understanding of your condition and limitations will help you and your PM&R physician to develop a treatment plan suited to your unique needs.
Tailoring your plan
After assessment of your condition, PMR physician makes your treatment plan by formulating short term and long term goals. Every disorder and every patient is managed differently as per their goals. Hence the treatment plan is always tailor made. For example; a patient may be suffering from chronic neck pain. The PM&R physician might prescribe medication, stretching, and physical modalities for short-term pain relief, as well as strengthening exercises and workplace & lifestyle modifications to prevent future pain. Another example is post stroke patient with weakness of right upper and lower limb. PMR physician, after careful evaluation sets short term and long term rehab goals and treats accordingly like management of tightness of muscles by medication, injection; management of swallowing difficulty; speech difficulty; bladder and bowel incontinence; training for activities of daily life, gait training, prescription of orthosis for prevention of contracture, prescription of exercise program; vocational counseling; sexual rehabilitation etc. By directing your treatment plan to paramedical team members and collaborating with other health care professionals, a PM&R physician is able to specially design a treatment program tailored to you.