Fig Lancaster Fall 2013 | vol 31 - 102
COMMUNITY SUPPORTER offering nonsurgical intervention Profile: Dr. Elliot Sterenfeld For Dr. Elliot Sterenfeld, true artistry is discovered by exploring the in-between spaces. He delights in a world painted with a richness of color and texture, in a multitude of hues. "It used to be that if you had back pain, you either had surgery or were told to rest and do nothing," he says. "And even though diagnosing pain can be a complex and grey area, we now have so many wonderful diagnostic tools and complementary techniques at our disposal." For Dr. Sterenfeld, an interventional physiatrist at Lancaster NeuroScience & Spine Associates, the most effective way to discover the source of pain, is to simply listen to patients. 102 "My greatest tools are my time and my ears," he says. "By taking the time to hear their story, to discover how the pain impacts their life, together we can explore the nature of that pain and discover appropriate treatments. Through this educational process, it gives control and a sense of empowerment back to the patients." For many patients, this simple act of thoughtful listening can reveal insights that lead to focused, effective treatments: from lifestyle changes, to acupuncture, to physical therapy, to injection procedures. "What exacerbates pain is fear, a loss of control," says Dr. Sterenfeld. "I view one of my key roles is that of a teacher to help raise awareness of a patient's own health and how to control their pain. For many patients, their pain comes from repetitive patterns in how they move." By listening, he can investigate and help identify these patterns and suggest modifications for patients to practice that may relieve or completely remove the source of pain. "We want our patients to be engaged and active partners in their health. Many patients can manage and self-treat their pain once we've investigated the source," he says. "The best outcome for me is when the lightbulb turns on for my patients..." More about Dr. Sterenfeld and his other artistic talents, including stage acting at figlancaster.com/lancasterneuroscience 1671 Crooked Oak Drive, Lancaster | 717.569.5331 | 1510 Cornwall Road, Lebanon | 717.454.0061 | lancasterneuroscience.com
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