Picking Your Provider: Why It Matters in Rehabilitative Medicine

The Importance of Proper Care

Chronic pain affects a significant portion of the U.S. population, with the CDC reporting that 20.9% of adults experience ongoing pain and an additional 7% suffer from high-impact pain that disrupts daily life. Managing these conditions can be challenging and often requires a comprehensive approach, combining therapies that may include physical rehabilitation, prescription medications, and even advanced interventions. Rehabilitative medicine aims to restore function, improve quality of life, and support overall well-being for individuals living with various types of musculoskeletal discomfort. When it comes to finding relief, selecting the right provider can be a game-changer.

What Is Rehabilitative Medicine?

Rehabilitative medicine focuses on helping individuals achieve optimal levels of health and function—especially if they are dealing with pain, injuries, chronic conditions, or disabilities. While this field offers multiple treatment avenues, individualized care is vital for getting the best results. A provider who understands your unique needs can tailor therapies, monitor progress, and adjust plans accordingly. This personalized approach often leads to better pain control, improved mobility, and enhanced day-to-day functioning.

Types of Pain Management

Because every patient’s situation is unique, approaches to pain management vary widely. Treatment plans may include not only direct interventions for pain but also strategies to improve overall function, prevent complications, and guide lifestyle adjustments. Potential options include:

Holistic and Naturalistic: Holistic methods focus on treating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. These may feature massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, holistic psychotherapy, and meditation. By aiming to reduce stress and improve emotional well-being, such therapies can complement more conventional treatments.
Prescription Forward: Prescription medications or stronger interventions (compared to over-the-counter pain relievers) can be recommended if standard remedies are insufficient. While they may offer targeted relief, side effects like nausea or drowsiness must be taken into account.
Physical Therapy: Whether the pain is chronic or acute, physical therapy may help restore strength, mobility, and range of motion through customized exercises. These routines often prevent further injury and support ongoing recovery.
Medical Procedures: Interventional treatments, such as image-guided injections or minimally invasive procedures, can address specific pain sources, improving comfort and function. These are typically performed by an interventional pain medicine specialist.

Because no single therapy works for everyone, it is common for providers to combine multiple approaches, such as exercise plus medication, or holistic techniques alongside physical therapy. Results often depend on the complexity of the condition, the individual’s overall health, and the strength of their support network.

Why Choosing the Right Provider Matters

It is not uncommon for people to default to seeing their primary care physician as a first step in addressing pain. While this can work for some, others may benefit from consulting specialists who focus on areas like orthopedics, physical therapy, or interventional pain medicine. The choice of provider can significantly shape the treatment plan, making it essential to find a professional who aligns with your goals and approach to care.

Below are some specialized providers:

Physical Therapist: A physical therapist crafts personalized exercises to enhance mobility and reduce discomfort. Their expertise is crucial in rehabilitation, particularly for those recovering from injuries or surgeries. By emphasizing posture and safe movement, they often help patients regain independence.
Pain Management Specialist: A pain management specialist addresses pain relief through medications, nerve blocks, or interventional procedures like epidural injections. Their expertise can be especially beneficial for individuals facing chronic pain that requires targeted strategies.
Regenexx Providers: Regenexx providers are specialists in advanced regenerative medicine, utilizing proprietary techniques designed to harness the body’s natural healing abilities. Therapies such as PRP and Same-Day Bone Marrow Concentrate by Regenexx are non-surgical alternatives available to qualifying patients.

In addition to selecting the right specialty, there are other factors worth considering:

Location
Appointment availability
Areas of expertise
Medical education and background

Evaluating these details can help ensure that you receive care that fits your lifestyle, schedule, and long-term health objectives.

Ospina Medical

At Ospina Medical, we provide a variety of cutting-edge, minimally invasive treatments for both acute and chronic pain. Our practice was founded by Dr. Matthew Kohler, a double board-certified pain management specialist and certified Regenexx provider. Dr. Kohler has undergone exclusive Regenexx training focused on innovative, research-backed biologic therapies, allowing him to develop personalized regenerative treatment plans that may offer long-term relief for musculoskeletal pain. By leveraging advanced therapies such as PRP by Regenexx and Bone Marrow Concentrate which contains stem cells, as well as other non-surgical interventions, Dr. Kohler and our team at Ospina Medical prioritize patient-specific solutions that promote healing, reduce inflammation, and improve overall function.

Our team’s patient-centered philosophy means we focus on innovative technology and personalized treatment plans. With a convenient Midtown Manhattan location, Ospina Medical can help you access effective, custom-tailored pain relief when you need it most.

Making the Right Choice

Rehabilitative medicine may present a wide range of therapies—holistic practices, medications, physical therapy, or interventional procedures—to tackle complex or persistent pain. The key to success often lies in choosing the right provider for your condition, treatment goals, and personal preferences. Factors such as location, a provider’s area of specialization, and their background can all influence your experience. If you are in need of customized care for pain or mobility challenges, consider exploring the services at Ospina Medical. We are dedicated to delivering advanced care that supports recovery, function, and a higher quality of life.

Written By: Kaitlyn Tsai

Edited By: Camden Rowe

Medically Reviewed By: Matthew Kohler, MD