Overview
Dr. Christopher Plastaras specializes in non-surgical treatments of low back pain, neck pain, sciatica, lumbar spinal stenosis, and other musculoskeletal injuries including shoulder pain, hip pain, knee pain, and foot/ankle pain.
Therapeutic Approach
For each patient a specific complete and accurate diagnosis is made. Treatment is individualized - neck and back pain are not treated generically. Understanding the person is critical in regaining function. A holistic approach is emphasized. Kinetic chain biomechanical analyses and mind-body principles also are integrated into patient care with focus on return to function, work, and play. Fundamental concepts of the program are reliance on the judicious use of passive modalities, concentration on reactivation of the patient to the fullest extent possible using exercise, physical therapeutics, mind-body medicine, injection care, minimally invasive interventional techniques. Spine problems rarely require surgery so spine surgery consultations are made only when absolutely necessary. All rehabilitation and non-opioid medication treatment options are thoroughly explored.
Injection & Minimally Invasive Interventional Procedures
Interventional spine procedures through a needle include fluoroscopically guided spinal injections including zygapophysial (facet) joint injections, epidural injections, medial branch nerve injections, selective spinal nerve injections, sacroiliac joint injections, discograms, peripheral nerve injections, shoulder/knee/hip joint injections, radiofrequency ablation procedures and intradiscal procedures.
Academic Mission
As part of Dr. Plastaras' mission, he educates and empowers the next generation of physical medicine & rehabilitation doctors (physiatrists).
