electives that complement PM&R

[spitfire5454]

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hello all. im an MS3 finishing up my IM rotation. im interested in PM&R, and am trying to schedule my electives. can you recommend an elective or two that would prepare me for my rotation in PM&R. i really want to shine in this one, b/c it is where i want to do residency. any suggestions? thank you.

 

[lobelsteve]

Ortho, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Social Worker

 

[Llenroc]

Ortho, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Social Worker

I've done 3 rotations in PM&R so far. Some (actually too many) of the residents I've met said that they wanted to do Orthopedic Surgery, but did PM&R instead because they didn't like the lifestyle/had lower board scores/tried to match but couldn't/etc. As pathetic as that is (especially since some of these folks are at a top 10 program), it's gotta suck because in my - admittedly limited - experience PM&R has zero in common with Orthopedic Surgery. You don't even see that many post-Orthopedic Surgery patients, since the PT for most of their procedures is so well defined on an outpatient basis. I was once on a General Rehab/Ortho service, and I think we saw maybe 3 post-orthopedic surgery patients the entire month. 😴

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

it's gotta suck because in my - admittedly limited - experience PM&R has zero in common with Orthopedic Surgery. You don't even see that many post-Orthopedic Surgery patients, since the PT for most of their procedures is so well defined on an outpatient basis. I was once on a General Rehab/Ortho service, and I think we saw maybe 3 post-orthopedic surgery patients the entire month. 😴

Inpatient - yes. Few ortho patients need inpatient rehab - insurances don't allow for it and the 75% rule deters it. Those that do get admitted are only for a few days, unless they were a multi-trauma.

Outpatient - quite the opposite. We complement and/or compete with ortho extensively. Joint and muscle problems, neuro (ortho's do a lot of nerve releases e.g. CTS) are seen by us both. That's what makes us such a good match for an ortho clinic - we handle the non-op problems, they get more OR time.

Just wait for your outpatient rotations and you'll see.

When I was a med student, I did PM&R first (still got as glowing LOR) then ortho, neuro, sports med then a PM&R rotation at an outside facility (I was at U of Ill, did that one at Marionjoy). Wish I had done rheum but I did that as an intern.

 

[paindefender]

Ortho, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Social Worker

I think a 1 year rotation in social work should be mandatory

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

I think a 1 year rotation in social work should be mandatory

Nahhh, your first year of inpt rehab is mostly social work. 😀

 

[njdevil]

a urologist who does a lot with upper motor neuron dz, seeing CMGs and medication management for neurogenic bladder.

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

a urologist who does a lot with upper motor neuron dz, seeing CMGs and medication management for neurogenic bladder.

Good one! I did that as an intern too - very helpful.

On our SCI rotation, we occasionally had urology residents do a month with us. That was our toughest rotation, their vacation one...

 

[lobelsteve]

I've done 3 rotations in PM&R so far. Some of the residents I've met said that they wanted to do Orthopedic Surgery, but did PM&R instead because they didn't like the lifestyle/had lower board scores/tried to match but couldn't/etc. As pathetic as that is (especially since some of these folks are at a top 10 program), it's gotta suck because in my - admittedly limited - experience PM&R has zero in common with Orthopedic Surgery. You don't even see that many post-Orthopedic Surgery patients, since the PT for most of their procedures is so well defined on an outpatient basis. I was once on a General Rehab/Ortho service, and I think we saw maybe 3 post-orthopedic surgery patients the entire month. 😴

Uselss for inpatient, invaluable for musculoskeletal, pain, sports, my practice...

 

[ShrikeMD]

Ortho, neurol, neurosurg, would all be useful experiences prior to a pmr elective, particularly if the physiatry elective does not specify a subspecialization.

Depending upon your perspective, one of the nice things about our field is that most prior medical educational experience has some potential utility in physiatry.

 

[topwise]

I wish I had taken an elective that focused on neuroradiology and/or orthopedic radiology, if such a thing exists...

 

[melancholy]

I've done 3 rotations in PM&R so far. Some (actually too many) of the residents I've met said that they wanted to do Orthopedic Surgery, but did PM&R instead because they didn't like the lifestyle/had lower board scores/tried to match but couldn't/etc. As pathetic as that is (especially since some of these folks are at a top 10 program), it's gotta suck because in my - admittedly limited - experience PM&R has zero in common with Orthopedic Surgery. You don't even see that many post-Orthopedic Surgery patients, since the PT for most of their procedures is so well defined on an outpatient basis. I was once on a General Rehab/Ortho service, and I think we saw maybe 3 post-orthopedic surgery patients the entire month. 😴

I have seen a few s/p laminectomy patients with acute rehab needs, so there are some ortho spine cases there. Otherwise, just the occasional bilateral hip or knee.