What is Physiatry?

Walter – After retiring, Walter experienced pain in his lower back. Physical therapy didn’t help and his primary doctor spoke to him about a surgery that would mend the discs in his lower spine but would require the upper portion of his spine to compensate for lost flexibility after the surgery – an option the doctor didn’t recommend. Walter met with Dr. Henry Tong at MHSI and Dr. Tong performed epidural lumbar injections, and prescribed exercises that would strengthen his core muscles. Walter has used exercise to help alleviate his pain.

Penny – An active person who is involved in sports as well as home improvement activities, Penny began to experience pain in her back radiating down the leg. She met with Dr. John Marshall, who told her she had a large disc herniation, which was affecting her mobility and causing her back and leg pain. Like Penny, many patients require a second epidural steroid injection. The second injection helped to eliminate her pain long term and helped her to resume her favorite physical activities.

Diane – Diane’s back pain developed slowly, which she attributed to a fall. She had a hard time standing for long periods of time, couldn’t sit in a car or drive down bumpy roads. Diane wanted to avoid surgery. She consulted with Dr. Ingrid Chua-Manalo, who gave her a series of injections for her back pain. She has now resumed her everyday activities.