An Interventional Physiatrist is a specialized Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physician who has advanced training in minimally invasive, image-guided procedures for diagnosing and treating spine and musculoskeletal conditions. These specialists combine the comprehensive rehabilitation approach of physiatry with interventional techniques to treat pain and improve function through targeted treatments.

Advanced Training and Expertise

Interventional Physiatrists who have completed a fellowship have undergone rigorous additional training specifically designed to develop expertise in:

• Advanced diagnostic procedures for complex spine conditions

• Precision needle placement techniques using fluoroscopic and ultrasound guidance

• Comprehensive understanding of spinal biomechanics and pathophysiology

• Evidence-based approaches to interventional pain management

• Multidisciplinary treatment planning for complex cases

Specialized Procedures

Interventional Physiatrists are equipped to perform a wide range of advanced procedures with use of X-ray (flouroscopy) and Ultrasound, including:

Diagnostic Procedures

• Diagnostic selective nerve root blocks

• Medial branch blocks

• Diagnostic joint injections

• Advanced electrodiagnostic testing

Therapeutic Interventions

• Epidural steroid injections (interlaminar, transforaminal, and caudal approaches)

• Facet joint interventions (intra-articular injections and radiofrequency ablation)

• Sacroiliac joint injections

• Peripheral joint injections

• Regenerative medicine, orthobiologics (platelet-rich plasma)

Interventional Physiatrists follow a comprehensive approach that:

• Emphasizes accurate diagnosis before intervention

• Prioritizes the least invasive effective treatments

• Integrates interventional techniques with rehabilitation strategies

• Focuses on functional improvement alongside pain reduction

• Utilizes the latest evidence-based approaches

• Coordinates care within a multidisciplinary framework

• Provides long-term management for chronic conditions

When to See an Interventional Physiatrist

An Interventional Physiatrist may be particularly beneficial for patients with:

• Persistent spine pain that hasn't responded to conservative treatment (oral medications, physical therapy, activity modification)

• Radiating pain (“Sciatica” from nerve compression or irritation

• Joint or muscle pain requiring precise diagnosis

• Need for alternatives to surgery or long-term medication

• Complex pain conditions requiring specialized management (CRPS, Centralized pain, Hypermobility, etc)

• Desire for minimally invasive approaches to pain management and sports medicine

By combining the holistic rehabilitation perspective of physiatry with advanced interventional techniques, these specialists offer a unique approach to treating pain and improving function for patients with spine and musculoskeletal conditions.