Physiatrists Who Accept Workers’ Compensation in New York and New Jersey
Following a workplace injury, you may need to see a physiatrist to help you heal. Workers’ Comp Doctors is here to help you find a physiatrist that accepts workers’ comp, ensuring you get the treatment and care you need without worrying about how you will pay for it. Our network of physiatrists in New York and New Jersey means we can find you a reputable provider that will help you heal.
What is a Physiatrist?
Physiatry is also called Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). This specialty focuses on preventing, diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating people who are disabled from an injury, auto accident, disorder, or disease.
These rehabilitation doctors commonly treat patients who are dealing with physical injuries and pain. A physiatrist who specializes in workers’ compensation will focus on patients whose medical issues stem from injuries.
Physiatry is multidisciplinary and integrated in many ways. It treats conditions that involve the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. They treat tendons, muscles, brains, spinal cords, bones, nerves, ligaments, and joints.
This contrasts with some other specialties that focus on a single system or organ within the body. And it handles more than just your physical and medical needs. Physiatrists also address your social, vocational, and emotional needs, including any mental illness or anxiety disorders.
When to See a Rehabilitation Doctor
Now that you know what is a physiatrist, when should you see one? This comes down to understanding the conditions that physiatrists typically treat.
Following a workplace injury, your answer to when to see a physiatrist may be if you experience:
- Amputation
- Brain injury
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Dysphagia
- Spinal cord injury
- Spine pain
- Back pain
- Nerve damage
- Sprain of the upper extremities
- Whiplash
- Muscle strain
- Traumatic Muscular Injuries
- Sprained ligaments
- Chronic or acute headaches
Remember that not all physiatrists focus on workplace injuries. Many will also see patients with various disorders or diseases, including:
- Sports-related injuries
- Stroke
- Parkinson’s disease
- Movement disorders and spasticity
- Osteoarthritis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis
- Cerebral palsy
- Cancer
The fact that not all situations of when to see a physiatrist are related to workplace injuries is why it is so important to find a physiatrist that accepts workers’ comp insurance benefits. Many will not accept it, or maybe they accept it but don’t have experience accepting it. That could result in delays to your claim and documentation-related frustrations or financial burden for you.
Signs You Should See a Physiatrist
What if you don’t know that you have one of the above injuries or conditions? The following signs will help you decide when to see a physiatrist.
- You struggle to complete everyday activities. This can be due to limited function, pain, or discomfort.
- You have limited energy because of an injury or illness. They can make it harder to easily move and avoid further injury.
- You have a surgery scheduled or are recovering from one. Visiting a physiatrist before surgery can prepare your body for the procedure, while visiting one after can help you heal. These visits can improve your recovery.
- You just went through a major life change. Such life changes may not be caused by a workplace injury, but they may affect the way you work. For this reason, it is still worth knowing other reasons why you need a physiatrist. Examples of major life changes physiatrists can help with include aging, pregnancy, menopause, and childbirth.
Your Physiatrist Will Work with Other Doctors
It is important to note that, like many other specialists, physiatrists regularly work with other doctors. For example, they may coordinate your overall care with your primary care doctor. Or they may coordinate treatment and diagnoses with an orthopedic surgeon or neurologist. They also commonly work with occupational therapists and physical therapists.
Because physiatrists diagnose and treat nearly the entire body, they are experienced in working with a wide range of medical specialists.
What to Expect from the Physiatrist
Your first visit to a physiatrist that accepts workers’ comp will typically involve assessing your condition. Expect questions about your medical history and that of your family. You will also be asked to provide details about your workplace injury, including what happened and how it has affected you and your daily life. Your physiatrist will also ask about your goals for the treatment.
What Treatment Do Physiatrists Offer?
The exact treatment that your physiatrist suggests in New York or New Jersey will depend on numerous factors. The most important considerations will be the injury in question, including its severity and type, and your medical history.
Below are some of the treatments commonly used by physiatrists. Keep in mind that this list includes some treatments that are less commonly used following workplace injuries and more common when treating other patients. It is also worth noting that not all physiatrists will offer all of the following treatments.
- Pain medication
- Neurorehabilitation
- Post-operative care
- Musculoskeletal care
- Nerve conduction or EMG studies
- Ultrasound
- Fluoroscopies
- Spinal injections
- Disc decompression, discography, or vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty
- Nerve stimulators, ablation, or blocks
- Joint injections
- Spasticity treatment (including injecting Phenol and Botulinum toxins)
- Prolotherapy
- Orthotics or prosthetics
- Muscle and nerve biopsy
- Manual medicine or osteopathic treatment
- Medicolegal consulting
- Disability or impairment assessment
- Acupuncture
- Other complementary alternative medicine
Opt for a Physiatrist That Accepts Workers’ Compensation
Because physiatrists treat a range of patients, it is crucial that you find physiatrists that accept workers’ comp. This will ensure the quality of your medical care as well as the ease of filing your claim and not having to pay out of pocket.
Remember that if a physiatrist regularly deals with workplace injuries, then they have likely seen issues like yours before. This will make the diagnostic process much more accurate and efficient. It will also mean they are already familiar with which treatments and pain management techniques work best.
But the paperwork and documentation are another crucial reason to choose a workers’ comp physiatrist in New York or New Jersey. Filing a workers’ comp claim can be a complicated process and your employers’ insurance will want to deny the claim if they can.
Being treated by an experienced workers’ comp doctor like a physiatrist ensures that all of your paperwork is in order, streamlining the process. In that way, Workers’ Comp Doctors gives you one less thing to worry about. You can focus on healing and adjusting to any lifestyle changes you need to make instead of worrying about how you will pay for treatment.
