Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

The Ochsner physical medicine and rehabilitation team treats conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, muscles and joints. No matter the condition, our team strives to help patients reach their health goals and live their best life.

In inpatient settings, we frequently work with people recovering from an amputation, cardiac condition, joint replacement, spinal cord injury or stroke. Many of these patients continue to see a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician in an outpatient clinic once they transition home.

Our outpatient clinics treat patients with conditions including:

• Achilles tendonitis — a rupture that affects the back of the lower leg

• Deconditioning following cancer treatment — when patients may lose physical or mental changes after a period of inactivity

• Fibromyalgia — widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body

• Multiple sclerosis — a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system

• Osteoarthritis

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Rotator cuff injury

• Spina bifida — a birth defect that affects the spine

• Traumatic brain injury

Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians are also an essential part of our teams that treat:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

• Back and spine conditions

• Concussions

• Sports injuries

Children can also see a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at one of our pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation locations.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors perform diagnostic tests and provide nonsurgical treatments. The testing or treatment you receive will be specific to your medical condition and how it’s affecting your life.

Common diagnostic tests include:

• Electromyography, or EMG: This test measures electrical signals from the muscles. It’s used to determine if weakness is due to a condition affecting muscles or nerves.
• Nerve conduction study: This test checks for nerve damage by measuring how fast signals travel from the brain to specific nerves.

Ochsner physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors offer several cutting-edge treatment options, including:

• Advanced injection therapies, including platelet-rich plasma and stem cell injection therapies: These treatments use natural materials from your blood or bone marrow to alleviate pain and stimulate healing.

• MedX Lumbar and Cervical Extension machines: These specially designed machines connect with software to test the strength of muscles that support the spine. The results are used to create a customized, dynamic exercise program that you do on the same machines.

• Prolotherapy: This treatment consists of injections into an injured joint over several weeks. The shots contain a substance that irritates the joint slightly to stimulate the body’s natural healing process.

• Tenex: This quick, minimally invasive procedure helps heal injured tendons. Ultrasound imaging allows the doctor to look inside the joint during the procedure. Then, ultrasonic energy is used to remove damaged tissue.

Other treatments might include:

• Botox injections to address spasticity in the muscles due to cerebral palsy, stroke or other neurological condition

• Cold or heat therapies

• Corticosteroid injections

• Massage

• Medication

Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists often prescribe treatment provided by allied healthcare professionals who support your daily life and improve functionality, including:

• Occupational therapists

• Physical therapists

• Speech and language pathologists

Your care team may also recommend equipment to improve your independence or safety, including:

• Adaptive equipment and assistive technology

• Braces or splints

• Communication devices

• Durable medical equipment, such as a bedside commode or shower chair

• Mobility devices, such as a cane, walker or wheelchair

• Prosthetics

After making their recommendations, your physician will refer you to specialists who can ensure you get equipment that fits you well and meets your unique needs.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors also partner with interventional pain management doctors when needed.