Neuro vs PM&R: Differences

[medsRus]

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Does PM&R pay better than Neuro? What are the differences (not is terms of scope of patients, but work hours, openings, ease of getting fellowships, academic career prospects, etc.? Thanks!

 

[Llenroc]

Neurology is better known and better respected than PM&R, hands down. But otherwise I think PM&R wins in every other category:

1) Income
2) Hours
3) Available procedures
4) Stress

Neurology can lead to the same end point as PM&R. I've heard of Neurology guys staffing rehab. wards, which is usually done by Physiatrists. Neurologists also do procedures like EMGs (though they need extra training beyond residency for this) and even interventional pain.

If that's the case though, why not just do PM&R to begin with?

 

[medsRus]

Is there a lot of clinical research in PM&R like neuro?

 

[Llenroc]

If you like the egghead stuff stick with Neuro, though there are plenty of research opportunities in PM&R.

 

[ShrikeMD]

If you like the egghead stuff stick with Neuro, though there are plenty of research opportunities in PM&R.

There are extensive clinical research opportunities in Neurology, Neurorehabilitation, and in the non-neurorehab aspects of PMR. Right now, there is more research opportunity in Neurology than in clinical PM&R. As our field matures, the imbalance will shift somewhat.

I would NOT characterize the clinical research opportunities in Neurology as "egghead stuff". We all have our respective contributions to make, and hopefully we can work collaboratively in some research areas (not many, I am sure).

 

[Ludicolo]

What's wrong with being an egghead?

You will have the opportunities to do clinical research in either field. Although opportunities are probably better in neuro, I will say that the need for quality clinical research is greater in PM&R.

 

[ShrikeMD]

... I will say that the need for quality clinical research is greater in PM&R.

Amen to that.

 

[medsRus]

Amen to that.

So, having a graduate degree and research experience is a major plus for PM&R top programs?

 

[ShrikeMD]

So, having a graduate degree and research experience is a major plus for PM&R top programs?

It won't hurt. Some programs will award more points for this than others.

That being said, PMR is a clinical field, and I don't know how much such a background will help most clinicians.

 

[medsRus]

I've heard that there is a pressing need for researcher in PM&R and many programs have special tracks. Is that true?

 

[Ludicolo]

I've heard that there is a pressing need for researcher in PM&R and many programs have special tracks. Is that true?

There is an option called the Clinical Investigator Pathway, for those really interested in research and academic PM&R, which requires a resident to do a 5-year residency, with an additional 12 months of research integrated into the clinical PM&R training. You don't need to do this pathway though to go into academia. The ABPMR website (under Resources/Booklets of Information/Certification) should have some starting info if you are interested.

What kind of research background/interests do you have, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[axm397]

K12 program - http://www.physiatry.org/Research_RMSTP_K12.cfm

 

[Howser]

Never have worked with PM & R guys before. What types of procedures do they do on a day to day basis?

 

[Taus]

Never have worked with PM & R guys before. What types of procedures do they do on a day to day basis?

It depends on what area of PM&R they practice.

Neurorehab (brain injury, spinal cord injury, etc), Pediatric and Neuromuscular PM&R docs may do EMG/NCS and botox/phenol/alcohol chemodenervation procedures for spasticity.

Musculoskeletal/Sports PM&R docs vary in what they may do. Some do solely peripheral joint injections and EMG/NCS. Others add fluoroscopically guided spinal procedures (ie epidurals, facets, radio-freq ablation of medial branches, etc) and/or Musculoskeletal Ultrasound to their peripheral injections

With a fellowship in Pain Medicine many do a laundry list of procedures typical for a full-spectrum Pain Physician. Some of those include the above procedures in the cervical/thoracic/lumbar spine, intradiscal procedures, vertebro/kyphoplasty, implantable neuromodulation (ie spinal cord stimulators), implantable intra-thecal pumps for pain medicine, sympathetic and other nerve blocks and many others.