Forrest Health Institute of Neuroscience Introduces New Service

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – (October 10, 2024) Forrest Health Institute of Neuroscience is introducing a new service for patients aimed at treating impairments or disabilities affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.

Michael Robbins, MD, who is practicing Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, will be seeing patients from his office located in the Forrest Health Institute of Neuroscience Midtown location, 2807 Arlington Loop, Hattiesburg.

By designing comprehensive, patient-centered treatment plans, Robbins’ goal is to maximize patients’ independence in activities of daily living and improve quality of life.

These treatment plans can involve a variety of methods. They include:

• Diagnostic testing and electromyography (EMG), which measures the electrical activity in muscles to determine if they are responding correctly to nerve signals, will be used to help treat some patients. During EMG, the doctor places a short, thin needle electrode into a muscle to record its electrical activity. While EMG can be uncomfortable, patients usually tolerate it well, and Robbins tries to create an environment that maximizes patient comfort.
• Through NCS or nerve conduction studies, Dr. Robbins can test how quickly electrical signals travel through nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. This involves placing surface electrodes on the skin and using a stimulator to send small electrical currents through the nerves. “Some patients describe NCS as a ‘funny feeling,’ or popping a rubber band against the skin, or similar to a TENs unit used for pain relief,” Robbins said.
• EMG and NCS are usually performed together to help determine if a patient’s symptoms are caused by a muscle or nerve disorder. The tests can help identify the location and extent of nerve and muscle damage. They can also help diagnose conditions such as mononeuropathy (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome), injury or damage to nerve roots in the area where they leave the spine, (radiculopathy), and peripheral neuropathy, when the peripheral nervous system, a network of nerves that sends signals from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body, is damaged.
• A variety of other treatment options are available for patients. They include trigger point injections which can help sooth myofascial (muscle and connective tissue) pain, especially in one’s neck, shoulder, arms, legs, and lower back.

• Ultrasound-guided injections are a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions, including: tendonitis, bursitis, arthritis, including shoulder and knee osteoarthritis, shoulder impingement, and much more.
• The ultrasound allows the physician to see the joint or tissue being injected in real-time, ensuring accuracy and minimizing the risk of complications. Injections can be used to deliver medication, such as corticosteroids, local anesthetics, and hyaluronic acid, directly to the affected area, providing relief from pain and inflammation.

Some patients may be able to receive treatment the same day based on their insurance.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 601-288-3446 or visit fhin.org.