physiatrist

SPORTO · 01-14-2004, 12:10 AM

Do physiatrist's generally take a more conservative aproach leaning towards rehabilitation instead of recovery? Wouldn't a person best chance at recovery/regeneration be with a neurologist. After 2 yrs of seeing a PMR I feel I do most of my own reasearch, evaluations & diagnostics. I consult with him he then writes a scrip or sends me to a specialist. Is my PMR just to overbooked?

SCI-Nurse · 01-14-2004, 11:53 PM

Sporto, this question is probably more appropriate for the Care or Cure forums, but I will move it to Care for now.

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There are good an bad physiatrists, just as there are good and bad neurologists. In my experience, neurologists have little experience or expertise in rehabilitation, and often fairly negative attitudes about people with SCI or about patients being real partners in their care. I think physiatrists have more training in this area, and many are involved in keeping up to date on the latest cure research. Right now though (at least in the USA) there is little that either a physiatrist or a neurologist can offer that will actually be effective in causing any neurologic return or cure. As new therapies emerge, we may see these provided by a multidisciplinary team that may combine a neurosurgeon, neurologist, interventional radiologist, immunologist physiatrist and other specialists.

If you are not happy with your current physician, I would encourage you to interview other physicians and ask very direct questions about what you feel you need, and also about how informed and up-to-date the physician is on the latest in SCI care and treatment.

(KLD)

[This message was edited by SCI-Nurse on 01-15-04 at 02:09 AM.]

01-14-2004, 12:10 AM	#1
SPORTO Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: alb, nm, 87111 Posts: 103	physiatrist Do physiatrist's generally take a more conservative aproach leaning towards rehabilitation instead of recovery? Wouldn't a person best chance at recovery/regeneration be with a neurologist. After 2 yrs of seeing a PMR I feel I do most of my own reasearch, evaluations & diagnostics. I consult with him he then writes a scrip or sends me to a specialist. Is my PMR just to overbooked?

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01-14-2004, 11:53 PM	#2
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 29,463	Sporto, this question is probably more appropriate for the Care or Cure forums, but I will move it to Care for now. Click here There are good an bad physiatrists, just as there are good and bad neurologists. In my experience, neurologists have little experience or expertise in rehabilitation, and often fairly negative attitudes about people with SCI or about patients being real partners in their care. I think physiatrists have more training in this area, and many are involved in keeping up to date on the latest cure research. Right now though (at least in the USA) there is little that either a physiatrist or a neurologist can offer that will actually be effective in causing any neurologic return or cure. As new therapies emerge, we may see these provided by a multidisciplinary team that may combine a neurosurgeon, neurologist, interventional radiologist, immunologist physiatrist and other specialists. If you are not happy with your current physician, I would encourage you to interview other physicians and ask very direct questions about what you feel you need, and also about how informed and up-to-date the physician is on the latest in SCI care and treatment. (KLD) [This message was edited by SCI-Nurse on 01-15-04 at 02:09 AM.]