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Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Physical medicine and rehabilitation to help you feel your best

Healing from injuries, acute and chronic conditions or surgeries can be physically, emotionally and mentally taxing. Our medical experts work together to provide each patient with an individualized plan, centered on healing and supported with compassion. Our therapists, nurses, pathologists, audiologists and social workers ensure the unique treatment you need is available.

Whether you are recovering from a medical, cancer, neurologic, cardiac, vascular, pulmonary and/or orthopedic ailment or surgery, our goal is to get you moving as quickly and safely as possible so you can feel your best. We also provide in-patient and outpatient rehabilitation services at our Kingsbrook Rehabilitation Center, which offers programs to support patients and their caretakers.

Explore medical providers and find rehabilitation locations across Brooklyn closest to you.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation services:

Pain Management
Physical Therapy
Psychiatry
Occupational Therapy
Recreational Therapy
Speech-Language Pathology

About Pain Management and Integrative Medicine at One Brooklyn Health

One Brooklyn Health’s Pain Management and Rehabilitation Center is part of a well known and one of the oldest Rehabilitation Institutions in the US. Patients suffering from acute and chronic painful conditions can take advantage of a comprehensive approach to treating pain, from a conservative to a more advanced interventional approach including injections or spinal cord stimulators. With Physical/ Occupational Therapy Services our pain management practitioners can treat a wide variety of conditions, including

neck and back pain, cancer pain, joint pain and pain resulting from injuries. While being aware that pain may not always be cured despite the best available treatment, the ultimate goal of our Pain Management practice is to work together with the patient to tailor an effective treatment plan to manage pain, restore function and improve quality of life.

One Brooklyn Health’s Pain Management and Integrative Medicine specialists are trained and skilled to treat a wide spectrum of pain conditions, including the following:

HEAD & NECK PAIN

Cervical Radiculopathy Spinal nerve root disease resulting in neck pain with radiation to the arms with tingling, numbness and weakness in the hands.
Cervical Myelopathy. Spinal cord damage may result in neck, shoulder and arm pain, sensory disturbance and weakness.
Cervicogenic & occipital headache. Headache that usually starts in the back of the neck.
Migraine Headache. Daily headache, sometimes accompanied by light and sound sensitivity.
Tension Headache. Constant headache and pressure, especially after a long day of work, linked to stress and neck muscle tension.
Torticollis. Neck muscle contraction causes the head to turn to one side, resulting in pain and stiffness.
Trigeminal Neuralgia. Severe, episodic, shock-like pain in one side of the face.

BACK PAIN

Lumbar Radiculopathy. Spinal nerve root disease resulting in back pain radiating to the legs with tingling, numbness and weakness in the feet.
Degenerative Disc Disease. Deterioration of the discs of the spine, resulting in pain in the neck, back, buttocks or thighs.
Herniated Disc. Bulging of a disc of the spine that can cause pain and numbness in the neck, back or extremities.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome. Pain that originates in the soft tissues of the body such as muscles and fasciae.
Post Laminectomy Syndrome (Failed Back Syndrome). Pain that may persist or occur after spine surgery
Sacroiliac Joint Pain. Pain in the lower back and buttocks caused by a derangement of the joints between the spine and the pelvic bones.
Spinal Stenosis. Narrowing of the spinal canal results in pain or weakness in the lower back or legs.
Spondylolysis & Vertebral Fracture. Fracture of a vertebra in the lower back, causing local pain in the spine.
Spondylolisthesis. Displacement of a vertebra that can cause nerve impingement with pain, numbness or weakness in a certain body part.

SHOULDER, ARM, ELBOW & HAND PAIN

Calcific Tendonitis of the Shoulder. Calcium deposits in the tendons of the shoulder, causing painful inflammation and stiffness.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Compression of a nerve in the wrist, resulting in tingling sensation, numbness or pain in the hand
Frozen Shoulder. Tightening of the shoulder joint result in shoulder pain and stiffness.
Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis). Pain over the inner elbow caused by overuse injuries.
Shoulder Impingement. Narrowing of the space between the bony structures of the shoulder leads to painful inflammation of the tendons and bursae.
Shoulder Sprain. Stretching or partial tearing of the ligaments that stabilize the shoulder, which can cause pain and limitation in the shoulder motion.
Shoulder Tendinopathy/ Rotator cuff tear. Damage to the tendons of the shoulder causing pain, swelling and weakness of the shoulder.
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis). Pain over the outer elbow caused by overuse injuries.
Wrist Sprain. Stretching or partial tearing of the ligaments that stabilize the wrist, resulting in pain, swelling and limiting motion

LEG & FOOT PAIN

Ankle Sprain. Stretching or tearing of the ligaments supporting the ankle, resulting in pain, swelling and limiting motion
Knee Arthritis. Knee pain worse during or after walking, exercise or movement, changes in weather.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. Pain around the knee cap that is worse with standing, walking or climbing stairs especially after a period of rest.
Sciatica (Lumbar radiculopathy). An irritation of the nerves which leave the spine and go down the back of the thigh, causing shooting pain and numbness in one leg.

CHEST & ABDOMINAL PAIN

Costochondritis. Pain felt in the chest wall, worse with taking deep breaths in.
Pelvic Pain. Chronic pain in the lower abdomen, originating from the intestines, bladder, or reproductive organs.
Post Mastectomy or Thoracotomy Pain. Sharp, shooting, stabbing, or burning pain in the chest or ribs after breast surgery or thoracic surgery.
Post Hernia Repair Pain. Pain in the lower abdomen after hernia repair.

GENERAL BODY PAIN

Cancer Pain. Pain caused by a compressing tumor, or as a result of chemo- or radiation therapy.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Pain, swelling and discoloration in one or more extremities, linked to a disturbance of the nerves and blood vessels within that extremity.
Diabetic Neuropathy. Pins and needles or burning sensation and numbness in the hands and feet due to nerve damage caused by diabetes.
Muscle Strain. Stretching and partial tear of a muscle or tendon resulting in pain, swelling and bruising.
Phantom Pain. Pain that is perceived in a limb that has already been amputated.

PAIN MANAGEMENT SERVICES & TREATMENTS

One Brooklyn Health’s Pain Management and Integrative Medicine practice offers a wide range of diagnostic services and traditional and complementary therapies which include the following:

Electrodiagnostic Studies: an electrodiagnostic study is usually a two-step study which includes:

- A Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) - a test which uses small electrical shocks to a particular nerve and recorded by an electrode attached to the skin. It helps the physician to determine the health state of the nerve.

- An Electromyography (EMG) - a test which uses a small needle that is inserted in the muscle to measure and record its electrical activity. It helps the physician to evaluate the condition of muscles, nerves and the connection between the nerves and muscles.

This test can be very helpful in identifying the source of the pain, whether being an injury closer to the spine, or more to the periphery.

Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine

Our approach to treating pain begins with using a wide variety of conservative and complementary treatment options — including physical and occupational therapy, modalities such as heat, cold, ultrasound and transcutaneous electrical stimulation, as well as referrals to acupuncture, gua sha, yoga, tai chi or hypnotherapy — before considering medications, injections or other surgical interventions.

MODALITIES

Heat modalities (moist hot packs, paraffin, fluidotherapy, hydrotherapy, therapeutic ultrasound, etc), cold modalities (cold packs, ice massage, vapocoolant sprays, contrast baths, etc), electrotherapy (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or neuromuscular electrical stimulation), massage are some of the treatment modalities offered by our certified therapists, to alleviate pain.

PHYSICAL & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Our experienced therapists on site, work with the patient one to one to improve strength, balance, coordination, range of motion, gait, or stair navigation, and help identify effective ways to perform activities of daily living in the setting of the patient’s physical limitations and tolerance.

Interventional Pain Procedures Under Ultrasound or X-Ray Guidance

There are a myriad of interventional procedures used to treat pain conditions. Many of these techniques are performed under Ultrasound or X-Ray guidance, which helps the physician deliver the therapy to the exact source of the pain.

Our Pain Management and Integrative Medicine practice is pleased to provide a range of interventional treatments, including the following.

EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTIONS

An Epidural Steroid Injection is a minimally invasive procedure performed under live X-Ray guidance that is used to treat pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, upper and lower back, buttocks, and legs. A variety of conditions such as herniated disc, degenerative disc disease and arthritis can cause a narrowing of the openings through which nerves exit the spine, which results in irritation of the nerves. By injecting low doses of corticosteroids (potent anti-inflammatory pain medications) directly to the source of the pain (instead of much larger oral or intravenous doses) this inflammation can be decreased, providing pain relief.

These procedures take a few minutes to perform and may be done under either local anesthesia or comfortable sedation.

MEDIAL BRANCH BLOCKS / FACET JOIN INJECTIONS

Medial Branch Blocks and Facet Joint Injections are minimally invasive procedures performed via X-Ray guidance used to diagnose and treat pain from the small joints of the spine (facet joints). When these joints are affected by acute injuries or by chronic conditions such as arthritis, one can experience pain in the neck, upper and lower back or buttocks. By injecting low doses of long-lasting corticosteroids and local anesthetics directly to the source of the pain the discomfort may be alleviated.

These procedures take a few minutes to perform and may be done either under local anesthesia or comfortable sedation.

RADIO

FREQUENCY NERVE ABLATIONS

Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure performed via X-Ray guidance to treat back and neck pain using controlled heat to temporarily disable nerves responsible for pain. The procedure involves inserting a specialized needle with a heated tip near the problematic nerve, where the heat interrupts the nerve's ability to send pain signals.

JOINT INJECTONS (SHOULDER, HIP, KNEE)

Joint injections are minimally invasive procedures performed either via X-Ray or Ultrasound guidance to treat pain from a variety of causes, including osteoarthritis. Medications such as corticosteroids, local anesthetics, or hyaluronan (i.e. Synvisc, Hyalgan, etc.) are injected directly into the joint to provide pain relief.

This office-based procedure takes about 10 minutes to perform.

OCCIPITAL NERVE BLOCKS

Occipital Nerve Blocks are safe, office-based procedures used to treat various types of headaches, including migraines. Local anesthetic with or without a small dose of corticosteroid is used in this injection, which is administered to the back of the head near the greater and lesser occipital nerves.

Muscle and Joint Injections Under Ultrasound Guidance

· The injection of medication into a painful muscle or joint is used to relieve discomfort associated with a wide range of conditions, from neck pain to tennis elbow. By using an ultrasound machine, the physician is able to visualize in real time the exact source of pain and guide the needle used for injection right to the target. The medication is usually a local anesthetic or a low dose of steroid.

Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a reversible, state-of-the-art treatment for alleviating chronic pain in the extremities or back, omitting the use of major surgery or medications, which is usually reserved for patients who have not responded to other treatments. SCS involves the implantation of thin flexible wires under the skin, along with a small stimulator device. The stimulator device can be programmed to deliver electrical energy that change the unpleasant perception of pain into a benign background tingling.

SCS is typically considered after more conservative treatments—such as injections and medications—prove ineffective. It is most often used to treat Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (also called Post Laminectomy Syndrome), which is a pain condition that can develop after spine surgery, as well as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which occurs when the body fails to heal properly after an injury.