Dr. Wheaton Treats a Wide Range of Conditions
It is Dr Wheaton's treatment philosophy that patients be highly involved in their care. The better educated you are about your health, the more likely you will be to understand the process of healing and respond favorably to treatment. Therefore, he will take time to carefully explain your condition to you so that you can more fully understand the treatment options available to you.
- Whiplash injury to the neck, upper back, shoulders and low back
- Tension and migraine headaches
- TMJ syndrome
- Low back pain from lifting or work-related Injuries
- Postural strain of the neck and back
- Overuse injuries such as tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome
- Fibromyalgia and myofascial pain
- Sacroiliac joint disorders
- Muscle tightness, strain and spasm
- Arthritis pain (both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
- Herniated and degenerative discs in the neck and back
- Pinched nerves and sciatica
- Weak, loose and unstable joints (hypermobility, subluxations and dislocations)
- Athletic injuries, new and old
If you would like to learn more about various conditions and treatment options, be sure to check out our new 2009 Monthly Health Forums. Each month will feature topics of interest to our patients and the community.
What is Physiatry? [pronounced "fizz-ee-at-tree"]
Dr. Mark Wheaton is a board certified medical doctor in the field of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM & R), a specialty field of medicine sanctioned by the American Board of Medical Specialties. It is also called Physiatry (fizz-ee-a-tree) and the doctor who practices PM&R is called a physiatrist (fizz-ee-a-trist).
The area of outpatient, or ambulatory, care of patients (like Dr. Wheaton's practice), treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain is growing rapidly. The vast majority of musculoskeletal or orthopaedic problems that present to the physician's office do not require surgery. The diagnosis and treatment of these types of injuries is best termed "Physical medicine" or "Orthopaedic medicine".
There are many conditions which a physiatrist evaluates and treats. Severe neurologic injury, such as spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury and many other neurological diseases are managed in a hospital-based rehabilitation setting. A physiatrist may also oversee the rehabilitation of cardiac, pulmonary and cancer patients, in addition to amputation, musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain. A wide range of therapists are utilized along with assistive devices such as wheelchairs and orthotic/prosthetic devices. To assist in diagnosis and management, a physiatrist also relies on electromyography (EMG) and a variety of imaging studies such as x-ray, CT scan and MRI scan to further enhance diagnosis and treatment of options. Physiatrists do not perform surgery.
A variety of treatment approaches can be utilized by the physiatrist, including physical therapy, treatment modalities, therapeutic exercise, medications, a variety of injection techniques (including prolotherapy), manual therapy, orthotics and modification of activities at work and home. All treatment options, or any combination, may be utilized to treat a problem. The ultimate goal in treatment is to treat the person's pain and to improve function during daily activities as quickly as possible, whether it be work or an active lifestyle.
For more on the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation, or to discuss whether your condition is best treated by a physiatrist, please e-mail us at info@drmarkwheaton or call us at (952) 593-0500 or toll-free at 1-866-632-9203.