Dr. Smith is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician that specializes in non-operative spine care such as Interventional Pain Medicine and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (EMG/NCV studies). She is one of few physicians that is board certified in three disciplines; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Electrodiagnostic Medicine and Pain Medicine.
Dr. Smith performs a diversity of procedures to treat pain by the use of Interventional Pain Medicine. Interventional Pain Medicine utilizes relatively non-invasive procedures for treatment of painful conditions. These effective techniques minimize patient discomfort while avoiding many surgical and anesthetic risks and expenses. She also performs several minimally invasive procedures including sympathetic nerve blocks, epidural injections, cervical and lumbar facet blocks, trigger point injections, SI joint injections and Radiofrequency Ablations.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is a branch of medicine that aims to enhance and to restore functional ability and quality of life to those with physical impairments or disabilities. A physician having completed training in this field is known as a Physiatrist or Rehabilitation Medicine specialist. Physiatrists specialize in restoring optimal function to people with injuries to the muscles, bones, tissues, and nervous system.
Electrodiagnostic Medicine is the study of the neuromuscular system. Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Velocity Studies (NCV) are performed to help pinpoint the location of the problem, whether it is in the muscles themselves or is originating from the spinal cord or nerves. An EMG is a test used to measure the electrical activity of a patient's muscles, where on the otherhand the NCV measures the intensity and the speed of the electrical signals that travel along the nerves, in addition to the reaction time for a response to these signals. Patients who require an EMG/NCV generally need a diagnosis relating to some sort of neuromuscular disorder.
Dr. Smith can treat a number of conditions that include; Nerve entrapment, injury or disease, Cervical and Lumbar Radiculopathy, Neuromuscular junction disorders, muscle diseases and myopathy of various causes. Whether you are looking to alleviate back and neck pain, improve movement or simply participate in everyday activities, the Spine Care Team is here to help - from an initial assessment to a customized treatment plan that is right for you. Understanding your spine and how it works can help you better understand some of the problems that occur from aging or injury.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith at the Mt. Vernon clinic, please click here.
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