Medical Services related to Sean Robinson Smith MD

Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation

The Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation team assists patients in returning to an independent and productive life. The team consists of the patient, nurses, doctors, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, rehabilitation engineers, recreational therapists, social workers and speech language pathologists. The team collaborates to develop and implement an individualized rehabilitation care plan.  They meet weekly to coordinate and facilitate recovery by collaborating with patients and their families regarding the next step in the patient’s care plan.

Bone and Soft Tissue Cancers

Musculoskeletal cancer is often referred to as bone cancer, but also includes cancer of the soft tissue. If the cancer begins in any of the body's supporting tissue, such as the muscles, tendons, blood vessels, or fat, it's defined as soft tissue cancer. Musculoskeletal tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Malignant tumors of the bone and soft tissue are referred to as sarcomas and are rare.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Lumbar degenerative disc disease is a chronic (ongoing) degenerative condition of the lumbar spine that affects the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs of the low back. The discs lose water content and shrink, and spurs often form as osteoarthritis develops. 

Herniated Disc

A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner nucleus of the vertebral disc in the spine pushes through the outer wall. The condition usually occurs in the lower back but it can also occur in the neck. The herniation can result in a large bulge that can press against nearby nerve roots causing pain.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain

The sacroiliac joint (SI joint) is the joint that connects the spine to the pelvis and serves primarily for weight bearing.  When the SI joint is painful, activities such as walking, sitting and standing can stress it, causing worsening pain.  

Sarcoma

The kind of bone cancer that originates in the bone is more specifically referred to as a sarcoma.

Another kind of bone cancer is caused when cancer that started in an organ (like the liver) spreads into the bone.

Sarcomas are rare and affect less than one percent of adults who have cancer. That means, if you have a sarcoma, you need a hospital that has a dedicated sarcoma program, capable of diagnosing and effectively treating this type of cancer. The University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center's Multidisciplinary Sarcoma Clinic cares for more than 250 new patients every year. By contrast, most community-based practices see fewer than 10 patients a year.

Secondary bone cancer is also treated at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. Since it is not actually bone cancer, but a particular type of cancer that spread into bone, it's treated by whatever clinic specializes in the original cancer.  For more information, please contact the Cancer AnswerLine at 800-865-1125.

Scarred Nerves

After a trauma, a large cut or surgery around the nerves, scar tissue forms. Scar tissue is both good and bad. It helps the nerve attach to nearby structures, but when the patient moves, pressure is placed on the nerve because the scar tissue can pull on the nerve. Even without movement, the scar tissue can reduce the nerve's blood supply. All of this can cause significant nerve pain.

Sciatica (Lumbar or Sacral Radiculopathy)

Sciatica is a common form of back pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. Irritation of any of the nerve roots that contribute to it can lead to back pain that travels through the buttock and into the lower extremity.