Excelsior Orthopaedics expands pain management program

Welcomes Dr. John Swinarski to its staff

By Patrick J. Bradley
Senior Contributing Reporter

Excelsior Orthopaedics, a regional provider of orthopedic medical care with an office in Niagara Falls, has expanded its pain management offerings with the addition of a fellowship-trained physician who is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Dr. John P Swinarski, DO, is a Western New York native and graduate of SUNY Niagara (then Niagara County Community College), Buffalo University (then SUNY Buffalo) and the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. After serving residencies at the nationally ranked Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the prestigious Johns Hopkins University, Swinarski chose to return Western New York with his wife and four children.

“I chose to practice in Western New York because I grew up in Western New York and really enjoyed it here,” he said. “It’s a great place to raise the family. I also enjoy the change in seasons and, of course, cheering for the Buffalo sports teams.”

Osteopaths, or DOs, receive the same medical education as MDs. In addition, they receive training in the use of use of osteopathic manual therapy (OMT), which is a hands-on manipulation of the soft tissue similar to chiropractic.

“We do perform the adjustments that the chiropractors do, but there are also other manual treatments that we perform,” Swinarski explained.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Swinarski’s area of expertise, consists of nonsurgical care for the management of acute or chronic pain caused by an injury or medical condition. It takes a holistic approach that addresses a patient’s physical, emotional, medical, vocational and social needs. Physical medicine includes cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine procedures, epidurals, joint injections, and spinal cord stimulation.

“We learn how the body is functioning normally and what may happen to the body due to trauma or injury that causes damage to the body,” Swinarski said. “We use our skills and knowledge to evaluate the injury and how the patient is compensating for it.”

The rehabilitation component of care focuses on restoring the function patients had prior to their injury or trauma.

“Every time I’m able to help somebody and they say, ‘I feel back to myself,’ or ‘I feel 80-90% better,’ no matter how bad their pain was, (it) makes me feel better and want to continue to do this as a practice,” he added.

Swinarski joins Dr. James Behr as the second such specialist to join Excelsior’s team of physicians in their efforts to meet the community’s need for progressive pain management therapies.

Swinarski is accepting new patients at Excelsior Orthopedics offices in Orchard Park, Amherst and East Amherst. To learn more, visit excelsiorortho.com. To schedule an appointment, call 716-250-9999.

More about Excelsior Orthopaedics

Established in 2002, Excelsior Orthopedics provides surgical, nonsurgical and rehabilitative care, with offices in Buffalo, Amherst, East Amherst, Orchard Park, Elma and Niagara Falls.

Its recently expanded Niagara Falls center is located at 10195 Niagara Falls Blvd., across from the Niagara Falls International Airport.

To learn more, visit excelsiorortho.com or call 716-250-9999.