Services

Least Invasive First
“Do no harm.”
-Hippocrates 

Upon making a clinical diagnosis, it is then necessary to decide on a treatment plan.  As a general rule, treatments that hold the least amount of risk to the patient are preferred.  While no treatment is completely free of all risk (even aspirin can have side effects), it is our practice to try to begin minimally, in some cases with a simple medication or perhaps with careful physical therapy, depending on the problem.  Often times, these initial interventions are successful and nothing more is needed. However, in those cases where physical therapy and/or medications fail to provide the desired relief, the next step might include injection treatments of one type or another.  If that does not prove to be satisfactory, perhaps a more invasive treatment will need to be tried.  Ultimately, when all other conservative treatments are tried without success, surgery is sometimes suggested, usually as a last resort.  In this way, it is best to work in a stepwise fashion up the ladder of least invasive to more invasive treatments.

Types of Treatments Provided

Oral Medications
anti-inflammatories (aspirin, ibuprofen, Naprosyn, Lodine, Celebrex, etc.)
pain medications
muscle relaxants
sleeping medication
nerve pain medicine
antidepressants
others

Injection Therapy
cortisone injections
joint injections
tendon injections
ligament injections
fascia injections
trigger finger injections
Prolotherapy
Sclerotherapy
Trigger Point Injection
Caudal Epidural Injections
Transforminal Epidural Injections
Translaminar Epidural Injections
Facet Joint Injections
medial branch blocks
Hyalgan, Synvisc, Supartz Joint Injections
others

Procedures
IDET
Radio Frequency Nerve Ablation
Transcutaneous Disk Decompression

Physical Therapeutics
therapeutic exercises
spinal traction
spinal mobilization
joint mobilization
therapeutic modalities-heat, cold, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, etc.
home exercise program development
postural assessment and  training
training in proper body mechanics for lifting, bending, carrying etc.
general rehabilitation
athletic performance enhancement
injury prevention
ergonomic advice
other treatments

Acupuncture
traditional Chinese acupuncture
cupping
moxibustion
Chinese herbal medicine

Chiropractic
spinal evaluation
spinal adjustments
activator neck adjustments
chiropractic massage

Massage therapy
sports massage
lomi lomi
deep tissue
Swedish
Trigger Point Massage
Shiatsu

Diagnostic Services

Physiatric Consultation - A careful medical evaluation consisting of a directed history and physical exam of the patient in order to determine the patient's proper diagnosis and functional status, and to suggest further intervention, as appropriate.
On-Site X-Ray Facility
On-Site EMG and Nerve Conduction Study Lab
On-Site Diskography
On-Site Diagnostic Blocks

Legal services

Dr. Portner provides independent medical evaluations which are truly independent, fair, and accurate.  Dr. Portner has been used for over 20 years, by both plaintiff and defense, for these services.

Accepted by both state and federal courts as an expert in the areas of Orthopedic Medicine, Sports Medicine, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Portner offers expert testimony at trial and extensive experience in these areas.

Dr. Portner also provides chart review services to evaluate the merits of the case, causation, appropriateness of treatment, apportionment, functional capabilities, need for further care,  prognosis, etc.