Dr. Shomstein and Dr. Mekler did an accredited fellowship in pain medicine but what gives them an edge over other pain management physicians such as anesthesia is their additional 4 years of extensive training in the musculoskeletal system through their Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency. This makes Dr. Shomstein and Dr. Mekler proficient diagnosticians who are uniquely qualified for diagnosing and treating your pain. Below you can find a short summary of what PM&R is and why it is an ideal specialty for you.  

 

"Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), also known as physiatry or rehabilitation medicine, aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life to those with physical impairments or disabilities affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. A physician having completed training in this field is referred to as a physiatrist. Unlike other medical specialties that focus on a medical “cure,” the goals of the physiatrist are to maximize patients’ independence in activities of daily living and improve quality of life. By taking the whole body into account, they are able to accurately pinpoint problems and enhance performance without surgery.

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Physiatrists are experts in designing comprehensive, patient-centered treatment plans, and are integral members of the care team. They utilize cutting-edge as well as time-tested treatments to maximize function and quality of life for their patients, who can range in age from infants to octogenarians."

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PM&R is the most ideal specialty for treating acute and chronic pain due to our extensive knowledge of muscle and skeletal issues. Our entire training encompasses dealing with over use injuries, sports injuries, neurologic injuries and much more. This speciality compounded with additional specialization in pain medicine, creates the most optimal ability to identify the source of our patients' pain accurately and treat it effectively. 

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Referenced from American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Please click on the link above for more information.

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