The team at Upper Bucks Orthopaedics at Grand View Health includes a physiatrist, Sanjay Digamber, MD, who specializes in the non-surgical management or orthopaedic patients. But many people ask, “How will a physiatrist help me?”
“We can help you diagnose and treat a wide variety of orthopaedic conditions, from back and neck pain to arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome,” Dr. Digamber says.
Here are some specific ways a physiatrist will help you:
Diagnosis
Dr. Digamber helps find the root cause of people’s pain by using:
- X-ray
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG), which identify nerve damage or disease.
Treatment
Once your orthopaedic condition is diagnosed, Dr. Digamber will talk with you and determine the best course of care, which may include:
- Helping you develop a home exercise program
- Referring you to physical therapy to work with a professional who can help you strengthen your neck or back
- Provide injections to help you manage your pain. These may include epidural steroid injections (interlaminar and transforaminal), nerve blocks, sacroiliac joint injections, trigger point injections, and hip and bursal injections. “These can provide pain relief for up to one year in some patients,” Dr. Digamber says.
- Perform a non-invasive procedure called radiofrequency ablation, which destroys nerve fibers that transmit the sensation of pain.
How often you need to see a physiatrist will depend on your health condition and treatment plan. For example, if your physiatrist recommends a home exercise plan or physical therapy and your condition improves, you may only need to see him once. If you suffer more chronic pain, you may benefit from visits every three to six months.
Dr. Digamber currently rotates between three Upper Bucks Orthopaedics locations—Harleysville, Colmar and Sellersville. He will also see patients in Quakertown in the upcoming months.
To make an appointment with Dr. Digamber, call 215-257-3700.