Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center

Centers of Excellence

Kingsbrook Rehabilitation Institute

Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

The Kingsbrook Rehabilitation Institute is a comprehensive, acute-care program. Our Institute is one of the oldest and finest on the East Coast. The professional staff is committed to maximizing function and quality of life for individuals of all ages who are physically or cognitively challenged as a result of:

  • Stroke
  • Amputation
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Multiple Trauma
  • Arthritis
  • Neurological Disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s Disease or Multiple Sclerosis)
  • Congenital Deformities
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Complications of Burns
  • Bone Fractures
  • Joint Replacement
  • ...and other conditions.

Persons benefit from treatment programs that are customized for the individual and modified as progress is achieved. Fitting of artificial limbs, braces and corsets, audiometric testing, and electromyography are just some of the other services provided. The Department specializes in the treatment of patients following orthopedic surgery and cardiac surgery. In addition to physiatrists (rehabilitation doctors), the rehabilitation team includes nurses, physical, occupational and recreation therapists, speech pathologists, audiologists, vocational counselors, dietitians, neuropsychologists, and social workers/case managers.

Referrals to the Rehabilitation program can be initiated by a physician, healthcare agency nurse, social worker, discharge planner, case manager, insurance company, or by patients or family members. Treatment is offered in both inpatient and outpatient settings. A residency training program in Rehabilitation Medicine ensures an outstanding level of professionalism in the service’s rehabilitation doctors.

For more information, please call 718-604-5341. Or contact the National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation for general information about rehabilitation.

View Kingsbrook's TBI Brochure

Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (CIIRP) at Kingsbrook Rehabilitation Institute

Scope of Services

The Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (CIIRP) at Kingsbrook Rehabilitation Institute offers a holistic interdisciplinary team approach to treat the impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions of persons diagnosed with medical, neurologic, cardiac, vascular, pulmonary and/or orthopedic impairments. Medical and surgical conditions commonly treated in our program include:

  • Brain injuries
  • Stroke
  • Complete and Incomplete Spinal cord injury (due to causes such as trauma, infection or cancer) affecting all levels of the spine and conditions associated with spinal cord injury
  • Fractures of the hip
  • Cancer related impairments
  • Lower limb amputations
  • Congestive Heart Failure and myocardial infarctions
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • Medical Debility following prolonged illness

The effects of injury to the brain, spinal cord on the person served may include speech and swallowing difficulties, bowel and bladder impairment, weakness, difficulties with balance and ambulation, pain, memory loss, depression and anxiety. The effects of a lower limb amputation or a long bone fracture can include weakness, limited ambulation, impaired balance and risk of falling.

The goal of the program is to provide the person served with individualized treatments that will optimize and maximize function and deliver care in a sensitive and compassionate manner by competent clinicians who advocate for their needs.

Our staff recognizes that severe impairments due to diseases involving the brain, nerves, spinal cord and bones can affect the person served and their families. Our treatments are guided by their preferences and goals. The person served is provided with resources that emphasize wellness and an active lifestyle. Our skilled clinicians communicate and collaborate with other healthcare providers involved in the care of the person served.

The program offers a variety of services that optimize function, promote healthy lifestyles, provide psychological and coping skills, emphasize participation in life roles and educate the person served and their families.

Our program offers the following services to address these impairments:

  • Physiatry (doctors who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation)
  • Physical Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Speech Pathology
  • Neuropsychology
  • Rehabilitation Nursing
  • Recreational Therapy
  • Social work and case management
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Pain management
  • Prosthetic, Orthotic and wheelchair clinics

Persons Served are admitted to our inpatient rehabilitation facility where they receive 3 hours of individualized therapy services per day under the direct care of a physiatrist. There is medical coverage 24 hours per day, 7 days per week as well as nursing care. The typical length of stay is 10-14 days, however this may be shorter or longer depending on needs of the person served. Persons served are commonly referred from hospitals in Brooklyn and Manhattan. While in our program, persons served have access to medical specialists, surgical specialists, laboratory, pharmacy and radiologic services 24 hours per day, 7 days per week as needed.

Outcomes: Persons served in our program make functional gains and the majority of them return back to the community following discharge. For those who cannot return back to the community, our social work and case management staff work closely with them to ensure a safe discharge to the most appropriate setting.

Admission Criteria: Persons served must meet the following criteria to enter the program:

  • Medically Stable to tolerate 3 hours of therapy per day
  • Motivated to participate in the program
  • In need of rehabilitation nursing services
  • In need of close medical monitoring by a physician while undergoing the program
  • Have goals that can be met through an inpatient rehabilitation program

Discharge Criteria: Persons served are discharged if they meet one or more of the following criteria

  • Have reached the goals set by the person served and treating staff members
  • Person served cannot tolerate 3 hours of therapy services per day
  • Person served lacks the motivation to participate in the program
  • Person served does not require close medical monitoring by a physician.
  • Person served does not require rehabilitation nursing services.
  • A significant change in the medical condition of the person served that limits the ability to tolerate the rehabilitation program

Contact Information: 718-604-5341

Location: Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center 585 Schenectady Avenue Brooklyn NY 11203

About Pain Management and Integrative Medicine at KJMC

Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center Pain Management practice is part of a well known and one of the oldest Rehabilitation Institutions in the US. Patients suffering from acute and chronic painful conditions can take advantage of a comprehensive approach to treating pain, from a conservative to a more advanced interventional approach including injections or spinal cord stimulators. With Physical/ Occupational Therapy Services and Neuropsychology and Vocational specialists on site, as well as available Acupuncture and Yoga specialists by referral, our pain management practitioners can treat a wide variety of conditions, including neck and back pain, cancer pain, joint pain and pain resulting from injuries. While being aware that pain may not always be cured despite the best available treatment, the ultimate goal of our Pain Management practice is to work together with the patient to tailor an effective treatment plan to manage pain, restore function and improve quality of life.

Pain Conditions We Treat

Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center Pain Management and Integrative Medicine specialists are trained and skilled to treat a wide spectrum of pain conditions, including the following:

Head and Neck Pain

  • Cervical Myelopathy. Spinal cord damage that may result in neck, shoulder and arm pain, sensory disturbance and weakness.
  • Cervicogenic & occipital headache. Headache that usually starts in the back of the neck.
  • Migraine Headache. Daily headache, sometimes accompanied by light and sound sensitivity.
  • Tension Headache. Constant headache and pressure, especially after a long day of work, linked to stress and neck muscle tension.
  • Torticollis. Neck muscle contraction causing the head to turn to one side, resulting in pain and stiffness.
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia. Severe, episodic, shock-like pain in one side of the face.

Back Pain

  • Degenerative Disc Disease. Deterioration of the discs of the spine, resulting in pain in the neck, back, buttocks or thighs.
  • Herniated Disc. Bulging of a disc of the spine that can cause pain and numbness in the neck, back or extremities.
  • Myofascial Pain Syndrome. Pain that originates in the soft tissues of the body such as muscles and fasciae.
  • Post Laminectomy Syndrome (Failed Back Syndrome). Pain that may persist or occur after spine surgery
  • Sacroiliac Joint Pain. Pain in the lower back and buttocks caused by a derangement of the joints between the spine and the pelvic bones.
  • Spinal Stenosis. Narrowing of the spinal canal that results in pain or weakness in the lower back or legs.
  • Spondylolysis & Vertebral Fracture. Fracture of a vertebra in the lower back, causing localized pain in the spine.
  • Spondylolisthesis. Displacement of a vertebra that can cause nerve impingement with pain, numbness or weakness in a certain body part.

Shoulder, Arm, Elbow and Hand Pain

  • Calcific Tendonitis of the Shoulder. Calcium deposits in the tendons of the shoulder, causing painful inflammation and stiffness
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Compression of a nerve in the wrist, resulting in tingling sensation, numbness or pain in the hand
  • Frozen Shoulder. Tightening of the shoulder joint resulting in shoulder pain and stiffness.
  • Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis). Pain over the inner elbow caused by overuse injuries
  • Shoulder Impingement. Narrowing of the space between the bony structures of the shoulder that leads to painful inflammation of the tendons and bursae.
  • Shoulder Sprain. Stretching or partial tearing of the ligaments that stabilize the shoulder, which can cause pain and limitation in the shoulder motion.
  • Shoulder Tendinopathy/ Rotator cuff tear. Damage to the tendons of the shoulder causing pain, swelling and weakness of the shoulder.
  • Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis). Pain over the outer elbow caused by overuse injuries.
  • Wrist Sprain. Stretching or partial tearing of the ligaments that stabilize the wrist, resulting in pain, swelling and limiting motion

Leg and Foot Pain

  • Ankle Sprain. Stretching or tearing of the ligaments supporting the ankle, resulting in pain, swelling and limiting motion
  • Knee Arthritis. Knee pain worse during or after walking, exercise or movement, changes in weather.
  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. Pain around the kneecap that is worse with standing, walking or climbing stairs especially after a period of rest.
  • Sciatica (Lumbar radiculopathy). An irritation of the nerves which leave the spine and go down the back of the thigh, causing shooting pain and numbness in one leg.

Chest and Abdominal Pain

  • Costochondritis. Pain felt in the chest wall, worse with taking deep breaths in.
  • Pelvic Pain. Chronic pain in the lower abdomen, originating from the intestines, bladder, or reproductive organs
  • Post Mastectomy or Thoracotomy Pain. Sharp, shooting, stabbing, or burning pain in the chest or ribs after breast surgery or thoracic surgery.
  • Post Hernia Repair Pain. Pain in the lower abdomen after hernia repair.

General Body Pains

  • Cancer Pain. Pain caused by a compressing tumor, or as a result of chemo- or radiation therapy.
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Pain, swelling and discoloration in one or more extremities, linked to a disturbance of the nerves and blood vessels within that extremity.
  • Diabetic Neuropathy. Pins and needles or burning sensation and numbness in the hands and feet due to nerve damage caused by diabetes.
  • Muscle Strain. Stretching and partial tear of a muscle or tendon resulting in pain, swelling and bruising.
  • Phantom Pain. Pain that is perceived in a limb that has already been amputated.

Pain Management Services and Treatments

Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center Pain Management and Integrative Medicine practice offers a wide range of diagnostic services and traditional and complementary therapies which include the following:

  • Electrodiagnostic Studies
  • An electrodiagnostic study is usually a two-step study which includes:
    • A Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) - a test which uses small electrical shocks to a particular nerve and recorded by an electrode attached to the skin. It helps the physician to determine the health state of the nerve.
    • An Electromyography (EMG) - a test which uses a small needle that is inserted in the muscle to measure and record its electrical activity. It helps the physician to evaluate the condition of muscles, nerves and the connection between the nerves and muscles.
  • This test can be very helpful in identifying the source of the pain, whether being an injury closer to the spine, or more to the periphery.
  • Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine
    • Our approach to treating pain begins with using a wide variety of conservative and complementary treatment options — including physical and occupational therapy, modalities such as heat, cold, ultrasound and transcutaneous electrical stimulation, as well as referrals to acupuncture, gua sha, yoga, tai chi or hypnotherapy — before considering medications, injections or other surgical interventions.

Modalities

Heat modalities (moist hot packs, paraffin, fluidotherapy, hydrotherapy, therapeutic ultrasound, etc), cold modalities (cold packs, ice massage, vapocoolant sprays, contrast baths, etc), electrotherapy (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or neuromuscular electrical stimulation), massage are some of the treatment modalities offered by our certified therapists, to alleviate pain.

Physical and Occupational Therapy

Our experienced therapists on site, work with the patient one to one to improve strength, balance, coordination, range of motion, gait, or stair navigation, and help identify effective ways to perform activities of daily living in the setting of the patient’s physical limitations and tolerance.

  • Interventional Pain Procedures Under Ultrasound or X-Ray Guidance

There are a myriad of interventional procedures used to treat pain conditions. Many of these techniques are performed under Ultrasound or X-Ray guidance, which helps the physician deliver the therapy to the exact source of the pain.

Our Pain Management and Integrative Medicine practice is pleased to provide a range of interventional treatments, including the following.

Epidural Steroid Injections

An Epidural Steroid Injection is a minimally invasive procedure performed under live X-Ray guidance that is used to treat pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, upper and lower back, buttocks, and legs. A variety of conditions such as herniated disc, degenerative disc disease and arthritis can cause a narrowing of the openings through which nerves exit the spine, which results in irritation of the nerves. By injecting low doses of corticosteroids (potent anti-inflammatory pain medications) directly to the source of the pain (instead of much larger oral or intravenous doses) this inflammation can be decreased, providing pain relief.

These procedures take a few minutes to perform and may be done under either local anesthesia or comfortable sedation.

Medial Branch Blocks / Facet Joint Injections

Medial Branch Blocks and Facet Joint Injections are minimally invasive procedures performed via X-Ray guidance used to diagnose and treat pain from the small joints of the spine (facet joints). When these joints are affected by acute injuries or by chronic conditions such as arthritis, one can experience pain in the neck, upper and lower back or buttocks. By injecting low doses of long-lasting corticosteroids and local anesthetics directly to the source of the pain the discomfort may be alleviated.

These procedures take a few minutes to perform and may be done either under local anesthesia or comfortable sedation.

Radiofrequency Nerve Ablations

Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure performed via X-Ray guidance to treat back and neck pain using controlled heat to temporarily disable nerves responsible for pain. The procedure involves inserting a specialized needle with a heated tip near the problematic nerve, where the heat interrupts the nerve's ability to send pain signals.

Joint Injections (Shoulder, Hip, Knee)

Joint injections are minimally invasive procedures performed either via X-Ray or Ultrasound guidance to treat pain from a variety of causes, including osteoarthritis. Medications such as corticosteroids, local anesthetics, or hyaluronan (i.e. Synvisc, Hyalgan, etc.) are injected directly into the joint to provide pain relief.

This office-based procedure takes about 10 minutes to perform.

Occipital Nerve Blocks

Occipital Nerve Blocks are safe, office-based procedures used to treat various types of headaches, including migraines. Local anesthetic with or without a small dose of corticosteroid is used in this injection, which is administered to the back of the head near the greater and lesser occipital nerves.

  • Muscle and Joint Injections Under Ultrasound Guidance
  • The injection of medication into a painful muscle or joint is used to relieve discomfort associated with a wide range of conditions, from neck pain to tennis elbow. By using an ultrasound machine, the physician is able to visualize in real time the exact source of pain and guide the needle used for injection right to the target. The medication is usually a local anesthetic or a low dose of steroid.
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a reversible, state-of-the-art treatment for alleviating chronic pain in the extremities or back, omitting the use of major surgery or medications, which is usually reserved for patients who have not responded to other treatments. SCS involves the implantation of thin flexible wires under the skin, along with a small stimulator device. The stimulator device can be programmed to deliver electrical energy that change the unpleasant perception of pain into a benign background tingling.

SCS is typically considered after more conservative treatments—such as injections and medications—prove ineffective. It is most often used to treat Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (also called Post Laminectomy Syndrome), which is a pain condition that can develop after spine surgery, as well as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which occurs when the body fails to heal properly after an injury.