Interventional Physiatry
Your backbone is made up of several bones, called vertebrae, and the cushions between them, called intervertebral discs. The spine protects your spinal cord and allows you to stand and bend. A number of problems can change the structure of the spine or damage the vertebrae and surrounding tissue. Arthritis or disc problems in the spine, for example, can cause pain in the back. Other spine conditions may “pinch nerves”, which can lead to pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs.
What is an Interventional Physiatrist?
Interventional Physiatrists are medical doctors who focus on acute and chronic problems of the musculoskeletal system and treat a spectrum of spine disorders. They take a non-surgical approach to spinal care to relieve pain and restore function.
At OAH, we are proud to have two leading physiatrists on our team, Dr. Pietro Memmo and Dr. Vincent Codispoti. Each is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and has additional fellowship training in Interventional Pain Management. Dr. Memmo and Dr. Codispoti are responsible for diagnosing and treating painful spinal conditions in a conservative, non-operative fashion, with minimal use of opioids. Their approach to patient care includes:
- Diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal conditions
- Prescribing physical therapy and medications
- Performing ultrasound-guided injections in an office setting
- Conducting the most advanced, fluoroscopically-guided, minimally invasive spinal injections at one of our ambulatory surgical centers in either Hartford, Glastonbury or Rocky Hill
- Performing electrodiagnostic studies as part of the evaluation of patients with disorders of the peripheral nervous or musculoskeletal systems
At OAH, we have performed over 30,000 spinal procedures accurately, safely, and without issue. These minimally invasive procedures are done in state-of-the-art surgical centers, under sterile conditions, with fluoroscopy (a live X-ray machine) and with a dedicated and compassionate nursing staff.