- Joined
- Jul 16, 2012
- Messages
- 44
- Reaction score
- 0
Sometimes diabetes causes one symptoms
Last edited:
What are some drawback of PM&R?
- Thread starter DrizzyDrake
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2009
- Messages
- 17,237
- Reaction score
- 13,034
You might want to try the PM&R forum here on SDN, but I would say one drawback that some people find is that you're dealing with chronic conditions in which you may not be able to get someone back to 100% full functional status. You have to be able to enjoy the small victories and the ups and downs of treatment and management. For some, that can be quite frustrating.
You may also want to research on how much it is possible to switch between jobs in different states as physiatry is a specialized field, and some places have cutback on Rehabilitation services due to reimbursement difficulties.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/753184
-99% of general public will either ask "what is that?" Or "oh, you're a physical therapist?" when you tell them what you do.
-Pay is similar to primary care unless you go into pain, which is a pretty competitive fellowship and a field that has been getting a lot of cuts in recent years.
-Lots and lots of paperwork.
-Outpatient pmr relies heavily on referrals because again, the general public don't know what physiatrists do.
-You're going to be doing a ton of rectal exams during your residency. Look up bulbocavernosus reflex.
On the pro side, the patients in inpatient tend to be in better mood than acutely ill patients. You become very good at musculoskeletal pathologies. Work hours are cushy during residency (although not as cushy as non direct patient care like path or diagnostic rad).
-Pay is similar to primary care unless you go into pain, which is a pretty competitive fellowship and a field that has been getting a lot of cuts in recent years.
-Lots and lots of paperwork.
-Outpatient pmr relies heavily on referrals because again, the general public don't know what physiatrists do.
-You're going to be doing a ton of rectal exams during your residency. Look up bulbocavernosus reflex.
On the pro side, the patients in inpatient tend to be in better mood than acutely ill patients. You become very good at musculoskeletal pathologies. Work hours are cushy during residency (although not as cushy as non direct patient care like path or diagnostic rad).
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2011
- Messages
- 571
- Reaction score
- 303
Yep. My dad is in PM&R, specializing in brain injury. Some of his patients make amazing recoveries. Some make a partial recovery, but some do not regain much function or don't recover a vital brain function (like end up with permanent memory loss) and it can be devastating for their families. He really likes his job, but if you were to do that side of PM&R, I agree with DermViser. I think some people could definitely be frustrated or depressed by the more chronic cases. In his specific specialization, there's also a lot of internal med type management. My dad is kind-of the stereotype of internal med... likes to think about complex problems and obsess over details. LOL
ETA: Plus side of that is he is able to form close long-term relationships with his patients and families since he follows them for so long, and is able to be there for them for the small (and big!) victories.
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2009
- Messages
- 17,237
- Reaction score
- 13,034
Oh yes, I'm sure it's a rewarding field. I believe you can even do PM&R fellowship with children. I think getting a good night's sleep is the cherry on top, but there will always be people for whom PM&R doesn't click with them, just like they're some medical students who love to do Surgery and could do nothing else.
