Physiatrist (Rehabilitative Physician)
Question: I am so discouraged. My new doctor (a physiatrist) questions whether I do have PPS. My PPS was diagnosed by another physiatrist who has now retired. He encouraged me not to overdue, he spoke to the PT, explained PPS and what should and should not be done. He suggested what assistive aids would help me and explained it was my decision to decide when I was ready. I got my cane, my brace, then KFO, walker and finally my scooter. When I found I could no longer work, he filled out all my papers for disability. I am thankful to him because I learned "early" not to overdue and the need to preserve.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: Physiatrists (rehabilitation medicine physicians) are not new. Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) dates back to the second world war and was really expanded, in terms of numbers of doctors and knowledge, by the polio epidemics. Polio survivors actually promoted an entire medical specialty!
Physiatrists don't want to "fix” everything by cutting, like orthopedists do, or “cover” problems over, like many pain management docs do by using narcotics. What physiatrists do is treat the cause of a problem to reduce symptoms and to make you as functional as you can be by using therapy and assistive devices, from a cane to a power wheelchair.
This article can help: What is a Physiatrist?