William J.L. Newton, DO MS 

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Mission Statement:                                                                               The mission of the Pain and Physical Medicine Department is to reduce pain and impairment in order to improve function and quality of life through the use of a multimodal and holistic approach to patient care. 

Vision:                                                                                                      To be recognized as a leader in the community and throughout Middle Tennessee in the specialties of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Management. 

Our Philosophy:                                                                                Quality of life is at the forefront of our practice philosophy.  Pain is a direct cause impairment, disability and an overall reduction in function.  We treat each patient as an individual with unique needs and goals.  Using a holistic and multimodal approach to patient evaluation and treatment is fundamental to reducing pain and improving quality of life.  We expect the patient to play an active roll in their health care plan and in return we will provide a supportive and caring practice that is honest and has the patient’s best interests in mind.

What is Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation?                              Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), also called Physiatry, is the branch of medicine emphasizing the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders – particularly related to the nerves, muscles, and bones – that may produce temporary or permanent impairment. PM&R is one of 24 medical specialties certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties. PM&R provides integrated care in the treatment of all conditions related to the brain, muscles, and bones, from traumatic brain injury to lower back pain.

How did the specialty develop?                                                            The field of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) began in the 1930s to address musculoskeletal and neurological problems, but broadened its scope considerably after World War II. As thousands of veterans came back to the United States with serious disabilities, the task of helping to restore them to productive lives became a new direction for the field. The Advisory Board of Medical Specialties granted PM&R its approval as a specialty of medicine in 1947.

What conditions do Physiatrists treat? 

What is Interventional Pain Management?
According to the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP), interventional pain management is a "discipline of medicine devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of pain related disorders." Interventional pain medicine utilizes a multidisciplinary approach, in which a team of health care professionals works together, to provide a full range of treatments and services for patients suffering from chronic and/or acute pain.

The goals of interventional pain management are to relieve, reduce, or manage pain and improve a patient's overall quality of life through minimally invasive techniques specifically designed to diagnose and treat painful conditions. Interventional pain management also strives to help patients return to their everyday activities quickly and without heavy reliance on medications.

Services:                                                                                               Our department specializes in a minimally invasive approach to pain management.  After proper evaluation our patients may be prescribed physical therapy, osteopathic manipulation and/or medications as well as different types of interventional pain management injections.  Some of these procedures include: 

Interlaminar Epidural Injections

Transforaminal Epidural Injections

Intraarticular Facet Injections

Medial Branch/Facet Joint Blocks

Sacroiliac Joint Injections

Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation (RFTC)

Provocative Discography

Intradiscal procedures

Sympathetic Blocks

Peripheral Nerve Blocks

Intercostal Nerve Blocks

Joint Viscosupplementation

Botox for headaches, pain and spasticity

Spinal Cord Stimulator Trials and implantation

When conservative care is not effective we work closely with Orthopaedic and Neurosurgeons for surgical evaluation and treatment if warranted.

SurgiCenter:                                                                                            All interventional injections are performed at the MMC SurgiCenter on Garrison Drive.  At the SurgiCenter we have a fully equipped Pain Management Suite.  Our state of the art OEC 9900 Fluoroscope provides the best spinal imaging and interfaces with our radiology department allowing us to view your MRI on the same system. 

The SurgiCenter is a convenient and comfortable environment for our patients without the cost and often inconvenient hospital setting.  The staff of the SurgiCenter is oriented towards meeting the specific needs of the patient in a caring and courteous manner. 

The SurgiCenter is licensed by the state of Tennessee and approved by Medicare.  Most private insurance carriers are also approved for payment at the SurgiCenter.