EXPERT
Dr. Dorothy Griggs, M.D.
Physiatrist (Physical Medicine)
Dr. Dorothy Griggs is a physiatrist practicing in Scottsdale, AZ. Dr. Griggs is a medical doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. As a physiatrist, Dr. Griggs focuses on a patients ability to function, and can treat multiple conditions that affect the brain, nerves, spine, bones, muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons. Dr. Griggs can diagnose and treat pain that is a result of injury, disease or a disabling condition. Physiatrists often lead a team of physical therapists, occupational therapists and physicians in a patients treatment or prevention plan.
Dr. Dorothy Griggs, M.D.
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Accepting new patients
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When should you see a doctor for foot pain?
I recommend seeing a doctor if the pain lasts more than a week without a know injury such as twisting your foot, stubbing your toe, etc. There are lots of sources for foot pain READ MORE
I recommend seeing a doctor if the pain lasts more than a week without a know injury such as twisting your foot, stubbing your toe, etc. There are lots of sources for foot pain and many are easily correctable! See an orthopedic foot specialist if you can’t get good answers from your family doc. Make sure YOU understand what they believe the source of the pain is and research it yourself as well. Treat your feet well. You are young and mechanically they need to carry you through life! Avoid surgery at all costs and follow through on recommended
treatments that may include orthotic supports, specific shoes, stretches, or physical therapy.
treatments that may include orthotic supports, specific shoes, stretches, or physical therapy.
How do I know if I need spine surgery?
Hello,
As a Physical Medicine & Rehab specialist, I have to admit I have a rather biased opinion against surgery for your back because I only see the failures. But I see a lot READ MORE
Hello,
As a Physical Medicine & Rehab specialist, I have to admit I have a rather biased opinion against surgery for your back because I only see the failures. But I see a lot of them!! My advice is to view surgery as an absolute last resort. The only reasons I send for surgery are the following:
1. Bowel and bladder changes associated with your back. This is an emergency and would require immediate surgery.
2. Loss of muscle function due to nerve compression in your spine. Because the longer a nerve is compressed the longer it takes to come back this would be a reason to see a neurosurgeon for evaluation. Let me clarify that I am not talking about a feeling of weakness. I’m talking about actual loss such as a foot drop.
3. Severe pain that has been unresponsive to every conservative measure and is so bad that you literally have no quality of life.
I have found that surgery as an option sounds very appealing because it sounds like a fix all in one quick day. This is usually not the case. And even in the best scenario you will have different anatomy if the surgery is any more invasive than micro-discectomy. It is impossible for me or any spine specialist to give more detailed information to you without knowing more details about your back, pain, and functional difficulties. My best advice is to make sure you have really adequately tried physical therapy. Not the heat, stim, and ultrasound, but the important work of stabilizing your core muscles that support your spine. It takes serious work and discipline, but I have had a lot of success with re-visiting the therapy experience. I hear that “PT didn’t work.” I hate that because this often implies that the patient thinks that the therapist has the ability to “fix” them. Only you can do that. And regardless of whether you have
surgery or not your best outcomes will occur with appropriate weight loss, and good muscular support for your core and your back and hip muscles. Walking in the water, swimming (if not painful) and non impact exercise such as stationary recumbent bike can allow you cardio without aggravating your back. Avoid pain if any of these hurt. Educate yourself! Make sure your doctor explains your X-rays and MRI so you understand what they believe is the source of your pain. Epidural steroids are used to validate the source of the pain but also to help reduce the swelling around the nerves. Physiatrists (what I do) in your area are a good choice to help you through this process. You can find one in your area at AAPMR.org. Look for a spine
and pain specialist. The North American Spine Society (NASS) is a great resource and has a lot of educational pages including the details of what most surgeries accomplish. PT, exercise, heat/ice/electrical stimulation, weight loss, smoking cessation, work on flexibility, massage, acupuncture, traction, assisted stretching and yoga in combination with medications, pain management interventions such as injections and epidurals can all help to dramatically decrease pain and improve function.
All best to you. Remember to always feel that you can communicate with your doctor and understand what they are recommending and why. Second opinions are never a bad idea as the more information you have the better!
As a Physical Medicine & Rehab specialist, I have to admit I have a rather biased opinion against surgery for your back because I only see the failures. But I see a lot of them!! My advice is to view surgery as an absolute last resort. The only reasons I send for surgery are the following:
1. Bowel and bladder changes associated with your back. This is an emergency and would require immediate surgery.
2. Loss of muscle function due to nerve compression in your spine. Because the longer a nerve is compressed the longer it takes to come back this would be a reason to see a neurosurgeon for evaluation. Let me clarify that I am not talking about a feeling of weakness. I’m talking about actual loss such as a foot drop.
3. Severe pain that has been unresponsive to every conservative measure and is so bad that you literally have no quality of life.
I have found that surgery as an option sounds very appealing because it sounds like a fix all in one quick day. This is usually not the case. And even in the best scenario you will have different anatomy if the surgery is any more invasive than micro-discectomy. It is impossible for me or any spine specialist to give more detailed information to you without knowing more details about your back, pain, and functional difficulties. My best advice is to make sure you have really adequately tried physical therapy. Not the heat, stim, and ultrasound, but the important work of stabilizing your core muscles that support your spine. It takes serious work and discipline, but I have had a lot of success with re-visiting the therapy experience. I hear that “PT didn’t work.” I hate that because this often implies that the patient thinks that the therapist has the ability to “fix” them. Only you can do that. And regardless of whether you have
surgery or not your best outcomes will occur with appropriate weight loss, and good muscular support for your core and your back and hip muscles. Walking in the water, swimming (if not painful) and non impact exercise such as stationary recumbent bike can allow you cardio without aggravating your back. Avoid pain if any of these hurt. Educate yourself! Make sure your doctor explains your X-rays and MRI so you understand what they believe is the source of your pain. Epidural steroids are used to validate the source of the pain but also to help reduce the swelling around the nerves. Physiatrists (what I do) in your area are a good choice to help you through this process. You can find one in your area at AAPMR.org. Look for a spine
and pain specialist. The North American Spine Society (NASS) is a great resource and has a lot of educational pages including the details of what most surgeries accomplish. PT, exercise, heat/ice/electrical stimulation, weight loss, smoking cessation, work on flexibility, massage, acupuncture, traction, assisted stretching and yoga in combination with medications, pain management interventions such as injections and epidurals can all help to dramatically decrease pain and improve function.
All best to you. Remember to always feel that you can communicate with your doctor and understand what they are recommending and why. Second opinions are never a bad idea as the more information you have the better!
How can I deal with arthritis knee pain?
Although there are a lot of things that can help in my experience the best long term help short of a knee replacement is to address the mechanics of your knee. Are you overweight? READ MORE
Although there are a lot of things that can help in my experience the best long term help short of a knee replacement is to address the mechanics of your knee. Are you overweight? There is a lot of pressure placed mechanically on the knee and every pound you weigh exerts up to 8 x more force mechanically at the knee! Even losing a few pounds might help. Exercise to strengthen the muscles around the knee is also very helpful. P.T.'s are experts at helping you learn a few basic stretches and exercises that can help significantly. You can even find simple exercises posted on line for knee strengthening. Often the hip muscles are also weak which can contribute to poor mechanical control at the knee and a P.T. can evaluate you for that as well. I recommend avoiding impact exercise such as jogging, treadmill or any jumping because of the pressure this places on the knee. Water exercise is perfect because you get to strengthen without the impact.. If that is not available anything that keeps your feet inn contact with the floor or exercise surface such as an elliptical is easier on the knees. Additionally use of heat for brief periods, ice, TENS unit (can now be purchased online), and topical anti-inflammatory such as aspercream can help. If none of these things is working adequately a physical medicine specialist such as myself or an orthopedic specialist can offer you more treatment options.
Do physiatrists prescribe meds?
Yes! All Physical Medicine and Rehabilitations specialists who are board certified can write for all medications.
Should I see a physiatrist for my muscle pain?
Yes. A physical Medicine and rehabilitation physician is the perfect choice for this. The initial evaluation should help answer many questions about what the likely source for READ MORE
Yes. A physical Medicine and rehabilitation physician is the perfect choice for this. The initial evaluation should help answer many questions about what the likely source for your pain is and if necessary refer to other specialists such as spine or neurology. That is important because the treatment varies significantly based on what the source of the problem is. An initial exam should be very thorough and they should ask you a lot of questions as well as assess everything from your reflexes and sensation to your muscle strength and areas of pain. Once your doc has an idea of what the source of the pain is there will likely be tests such as an x-ray or perhaps referral to physical therapy or treatment offered directly from your provider. You can find more information at AAPMR.org, the site for the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with some useful links there as well.
