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Dr. Jason Lin Chang, MD is a physiatrist in New York, NY specializing in physiatry (physical medicine & rehabilitation) and general practice. He graduated from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Jason Lin Chang, MD is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian, ColumbiaDoctors, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, CUIMC/Harkness Pavilion, TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK and STATE OF NEW YORK COMPTROLLERS OFFICE.
Joint Aspiration
A joint is any area of the body where two bones connect. Due to injury or disease, the space between the two bones can sometimes become swollen and inflamed, which leads to pain and a loss of mobility. Injection and aspiration are two tools that physicians use to treat joint pain locally without needing to perform surgery.
Both injection and aspiration are techniques that involve inserting a needle connected to a syringe directly into the joint. Aspiration involves the removal of excess fluid, and injection is the placement of medication directly into the joint space via the needle. Both procedures may be performed at the same time. In both cases a local anesthetic may be used, the skin will be cleaned and disinfected, and then the needle will be inserted. In some cases, especially if the injection or aspiration is in a large and deep joint such as the hip or spine, ultrasound may be used to guide the needle to the exact location desired.
In some cases, irritation to the joint can cause fluid to build up so significantly that the joint hurts and can no longer move well. Aspiration removes some of the excess fluid and relieves the pressure. In addition, aspiration can be used to provide a sample of joint fluid if it needs to be examined microscopically for the presence of white blood cells, bacteria, or crystal formations.
Certain injuries and diseases that affect joints are inflammatory in nature, such as rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis or gout. These diseases may be helped by the local injection of anti-inflammatory medications directly into the affected joint. In this case, corticosteroids such as methylprednisone are usually used. Relief from the pain may be felt right away and may last for weeks or even months.
In some cases, such as with osteoarthritis, the cartilage buffer between the two bones wears down and pain comes from bones rubbing against each other. In this case, injection of a lubricating agent such as hyaluronic acid may be beneficial. It provides a slippery cushion between the bones to relieve pain that can last for months.
Shoulder Arthritis
Shoulder arthritis is a very common condition that causes pain, stiffness, or a grinding sensation in the shoulder. Some patients may hear a clicking or popping noise, and all symptoms are more noticeable when moving. Arthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions joints becomes damaged.
Normally, when two bones come together inside a joint, they are separated by a layer of tough, smooth cartilage. The cartilage allows the bones to glide across each other, which makes movement easier. Cartilage can be damaged by an injury, by an illness such as rheumatoid arthritis, or by simple wear and tear (osteoarthritis). In the shoulder, the two joints most commonly affected are the AC joint (where the shoulder blade and collarbone connect at the outside edge of the shoulder), and the glenohumeral joint (where the arm bone meets the shoulder blade).
Treatment for shoulder arthritis may include:
Surgical treatments include the removal of inflamed tissue and joint reconstruction. The type of arthritis and severity of the damage will determine which treatment is most appropriate.
Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
If conservative treatment options and other spine surgeries have failed to provide someone pain relief, they may be a candidate for spinal cord stimulation. Spinal cord stimulation is a treatment for chronic back or leg pain. A spinal cord stimulator, which is surgically implanted underneath the skin (subcutaneously), can deliver electrical pulses to the area of pain. These pulses will reach the brain before the pain signals can, so instead of pain, patients will experience a tingling sensation.
To determine if spinal cord stimulation may benefit someone, they will first undergo a trial period. During this period, a temporary electrode lead is placed subcutaneously above the spinal cord, and it is connected to an external stimulator that they will carry with them. The procedure is typically completed within an hour, and patients may return home the same day. After a few days or weeks, the trial stimulator will be assessed for effectiveness. If the trial is unsuccessful, patients may undergo a second trial period, or the leads will be removed, and other treatment options will be considered. If, instead, a patient's pain is relieved during the trial, they will undergo surgery for implantation of a permanent stimulator and leads.
The components of a spinal cord stimulation system include the stimulator, the leads, and the wire that connects the two. Implantation of permanent leads may be percutaneous (through the skin) or involve a surgical incision. The spinal cord stimulator is implanted subcutaneously in the abdomen or buttock. The stimulator is battery-powered and may be rechargeable. If the battery is not rechargeable, it will last around 2-5 years, and a patient will need surgery to replace it.Their doctor will program the neurostimulator following the procedure.
After spinal cord stimulator surgery, patients may be released from the hospital the same day or the next one. In the weeks following the operation, patients will need to work with their doctors to find the optimal settings for their neurostimulator. Activities such as driving, twisting, bending, raising one's arms, sleeping on one's stomach, or lifting heavy objects should be limited.
Dr. Jason Lin Chang, MD graduated from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine. He completed residency at NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He is certified by the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and has a state license in New York.
Medical School: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine
Residency: NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Board Certification: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Licensed In: New York
Dr. Jason Lin Chang, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Jason Lin Chang, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: VNSNY CHOICE, CIGNA, Local 1199, Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, RiverSpring, Emblem/GHI, Medicare, Affinity Health Plan, Amida Care, UnitedHealthcare, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthplus, Emblem/Hip, Fidelis Care, MVP Health Care, WellCare, World Trade Center Health Plan, Magnacare (National), AETNA, Multiplan, Healthfirst, MultiPlan, United Healthcare POS, United Healthcare HMO, Aetna POS, MVP Health Care, MagnaCare, Vytra, Great-West Healthcare, Healthfirst, Aetna EPO, Aetna PPO, Aetna HMO, GHI PPO, Group Health Incorporated (GHI), Aetna Signature Administrators, CIGNA PPO, CIGNA POS, CIGNA HMO, CIGNA EPO, EmblemHealth, WellCare, Medicaid Managed Care, Blue Shield PPO, Blue Shield HMO, Blue Shield EPO, UnitedHealthcare, Affinity Health Plan, United Healthcare, Medicare, Medicaid, Railroad Medicare, Cigna, 1199SEIU, Oxford HMO, Fidelis Care, HIP PPO, HIP POS, HIP EPO, HIP HMO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield HMO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield PPO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, Healthfirst - Leaf (Exchange), AETNA - Student Health, MVP Health Care - Child/Family Health Plus, Healthfirst - Child/Family Health Plus, Empire Blue Cross - EPO, AETNA - NY Signature, Amida Care - Special Needs, AETNA - Medicare Managed Care, Healthfirst - Medicare Managed Care, VNSNY CHOICE - SelectHealth, VNSNY CHOICE - Medicare Managed Care, MVP Health Care - Essential Plan, RiverSpring - Special Needs, World Trade Center Health Plan - World Trade Center Health Plan, Medicare - Traditional Medicare, VNSNY CHOICE - Special Needs and MVP Health Care - HMO.
According to our sources, Dr. Jason Lin Chang, MD accepts the following insurance providers:
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Dr. Jason Chang's areas of specialization are physiatry (physical medicine & rehabilitation) and general practice. His areas of expertise include the following: frozen shoulder, knee arthritis, and elbow pain. Dr. Chang is affiliated with ColumbiaDoctors. He is an in-network provider for several insurance carriers, including UnitedHealthcare, Blue California, and Empire BlueCross BlueShield. His practice in New York, NY is open to new patients as reported by ColumbiaDoctors. Dr. Chang studied medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine. He speaks the following foreign languages: Mandarin and Taiwanese.
