Pain Management & Rehabilitation Services
At Associates in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation of SW PA in Washington, Pennsylvania, our approach to pain is to find its source and treat it directly. As such, we insist on proper diagnostic testing and explaining the results to our patients. Once identified, a patient may be referred for surgery or specialized injections. Often however, if there is not a definite structural, surgically correctable problem, less invasive techniques can be successfully utilized. In these cases, there is an emphasis on physical therapy, exercise, weight loss, proper lifestyles, body mechanics and education. Soft tissue muscle and joint injections, as well as bracing, splinting may also be provided. Non-Narcotic pain medications are generally prescribed first.
Dr. Platto does not offer typical “pain management” in the sense of emphasizing injections to eliminate pain and/or providing high dose opioid medications for chronic pain. Although opioid medications are prescribed when no other treatment has been effective, opioid medications are given as a last option. When opioid medications are prescribed they are kept at the lowest dosage to avoid harmful side effects. In all cases, treatment plans will be carefully personalized based on individual needs.
Impairment & Disability Evaluations
Our practice completes Impairment Ratings and Disability Evaluations for individuals, attorneys and insurance companies.