PM&R: What It is and Why It is Important in Orthopaedics
When most people think about orthopaedic care, they think of surgery, repairing a torn ACL, replacing a worn-out hip or fixing a broken bone. While surgery is an important part of orthopaedics, many patients can improve their pain, mobility and quality of life without ever stepping into an operating room. That is where Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, commonly known as PM&R, plays a critical role.
PM&R is a medical specialty focused on restoring function, reducing pain and improving movement through nonsurgical treatment options. Physicians who specialize in PM&R are trained to evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries and conditions affecting the muscles, joints, nerves, tendons, ligaments, neck and spine.
PM&R is often confused with physical therapy, but physiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose the root cause of pain and functional limitations while helping patients improve movement and quality of life.
PM&R physicians commonly treat chronic back and neck pain, sports injuries, arthritis, nerve pain, sciatica, spinal stenosis and joint conditions. One of the key goals of PM&R is helping patients avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible. Treatment plans may include exercise programs, injections, medications, EMG and nerve studies, ultrasound-guided procedures and coordinated therapy services. Additional testing, including Epidermal Nerve Fiber Density testing, can help detect small fiber neuropathy and guide more precise treatment plans.
Today, advances in minimally invasive spine and pain procedures are giving patients even more options for long-lasting relief without major surgery.
Innovative procedures now available include mild®, which relieves pressure caused by spinal stenosis, Intracept®, which treats vertebrogenic low back pain and Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS), which interrupts pain signals before they reach the brain.
Additional minimally invasive procedures include kyphoplasty, which treats painful spinal compression fractures by stabilizing the vertebra and minimally invasive SI joint fusion, designed to reduce chronic sacroiliac joint pain by stabilizing the joint. These outpatient procedures often involve little to no downtime and can provide long-lasting relief for appropriate patients.
Other minimally invasive treatments include Epidural Steroid Injections (ESIs), Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), all designed to reduce pain and help patients stay active without surgery when possible.
For patients who require surgery, PM&R also plays an important role in recovery by helping patients regain mobility, rebuild strength and safely return to daily activities.
At Flagstaff Bone & Joint, PM&R is an important part of providing comprehensive orthopaedic care for patients throughout Northern Arizona. Our doctors are board certified and fellowship trained leaders in minimally invasive spine and pain procedures and are highly experienced in delivering precise, effective care.
Flagstaff Bone & Joint is the only practice in Flagstaff performing the Intracept® procedure and we have completed more of these procedures than any other provider in Arizona. While the goal is often to treat pain without surgery, some conditions still require operative intervention. In those cases, patients also have access to our fellowship-trained spine surgeon Dr. Jones as part of our integrated spine team.
In active communities like Flagstaff, PM&R helps patients return to the activities they enjoy while improving long-term mobility and function.
As healthcare continues to evolve, this rehabilitation-focused approach is playing an increasingly important role in helping patients reduce pain, restore movement and maintain active lifestyles through personalized, nonsurgical care.
Drs. Marshall Meier and Nathan Swain are PM&R physicians at Flagstaff Bone & Joint, where they focus on non-operative care, rehabilitation and performance-focused treatment for orthopaedic and spine conditions.
For additional information or to schedule an appointment with a Flagstaff Bone and Joint specialist, schedule online at www.flagstaffboneandjoint.com, call 928-773-2280, or text 928-628-6391. Flagstaff Bone and Joint: Flagstaff’s only independent orthopaedic practice. Faster access. Fewer barriers. Care focused on you.