Dr. Lan Nguyen, MD

Dr. Lan Nguyen Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician

Dr. Lan K. Nguyen is a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician providing non-surgical care for conditions affecting the spine, joints, muscles, nerves, mobility, and physical function.

Her clinical background includes physical medicine and rehabilitation, interventional spine care, non-surgical sports medicine, pain management, and electrodiagnostic testing. Patients may visit her for back pain, neck pain, joint discomfort, nerve symptoms, muscle injuries, reduced mobility, or pain that has not improved with basic treatment.

Dr. Nguyen practises in Tomball, Texas. Her work focuses on identifying the source of pain and helping patients improve movement and everyday function without automatically moving toward surgery.

Treatment may include medication review, physical therapy, activity modification, image-guided injections, joint procedures, nerve testing, or referral to a surgeon when a structural condition requires operative care.

Patients with neurological symptoms involving the brain, memory, seizures, or movement may also read about Dr. Randall J. Wright’s neurological care.

Doctor Information

Name: Dr. Lan Kelly Nguyen, MD
Specialty: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Additional Clinical Focus: Interventional spine and sports medicine
Board Certification: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Undergraduate Education: Christian Brothers University
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Medical Degree Completed: 2002
Internship: Transitional Year, Houston Methodist Hospital
Internship Period: 2002 to 2003
Residency: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital Consortium
Residency Period: 2003 to 2006
Fellowship: Interventional Spine and Sports Medicine, The Spine and Sports Center
Fellowship Period: 2018 to 2019
Practice: GenCare Spine and Pain
Primary Location: Tomball, Texas
Hospital Affiliations: HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball and Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital
Languages Listed: English, Spanish, and Vietnamese
Accepting New Patients: Current availability should be confirmed directly with the practice

About Dr. Lan K. Nguyen

Dr. Nguyen completed undergraduate studies at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee.

She then earned her medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine in 2002.

Her postgraduate education began with a transitional internship at Houston Methodist Hospital. She continued into a physical medicine and rehabilitation residency through the Washington University, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and St. Louis Children’s Hospital consortium.

Dr. Nguyen later completed advanced fellowship training in interventional spine and sports medicine at The Spine and Sports Center.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians are often called physiatrists. They diagnose and manage conditions that interfere with movement, strength, comfort, and physical independence.

Rather than focusing on one organ, a physiatrist considers how muscles, joints, nerves, the spine, previous injuries, and daily activity work together.

Dr. Nguyen may evaluate patients whose pain comes from arthritis, a spinal disc, nerve irritation, a sports injury, a muscle or tendon problem, or several contributing conditions.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services

Dr. Nguyen may evaluate and manage concerns such as:

• Lower-back pain
• Neck pain
• Spinal arthritis
• Herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Sciatica
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Lumbar radiculopathy
• Joint pain
• Shoulder pain
• Hip pain
• Knee pain
• Muscle and tendon injuries
• Sports-related injuries
• Peripheral nerve symptoms
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Numbness and tingling
• Reduced mobility
• Pain after an accident
• Persistent pain after surgery

The correct treatment depends on the diagnosis, examination findings, imaging, previous care, medical history, and effect of symptoms on normal activities.

Understanding Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Physical medicine and rehabilitation focuses on improving function.

A patient may have pain, weakness, stiffness, reduced balance, or difficulty completing work and daily tasks. The goal is not only to describe the condition but also to understand how it affects movement and independence.

Dr. Nguyen may consider:

• The location of pain
• Movements that make symptoms worse
• Activities the patient can no longer complete
• Muscle strength
• Joint movement
• Reflexes
• Sensation
• Walking pattern
• Previous injuries
• Earlier surgery
• Current medicines
• Physical therapy results

This broad assessment helps determine whether symptoms originate mainly from a joint, muscle, tendon, spinal structure, or nerve.

Back Pain Evaluation

Lower-back pain is common and can have several causes.

Possible sources include:

• Muscle strain
• Spinal arthritis
• Disc degeneration
• Herniated disc
• Spinal stenosis
• Irritated spinal joints
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
• Nerve compression
• Hip conditions
• Previous injury

Dr. Nguyen may ask:

• When the pain began
• Whether it followed an injury
• Where it is located
• Whether it travels into a leg
• Whether numbness or weakness occurs
• Which positions make it worse
• Whether walking or standing is limited
• Which treatments have already been attempted

The examination may assess strength, reflexes, sensation, spinal movement, hip movement, and walking.

Imaging is not required for every episode of back pain. It may be considered when symptoms continue, neurological changes are present, or the findings suggest a structural condition requiring closer assessment.

Neck Pain

Neck pain may result from muscle tension, arthritis, disc changes, injury, posture-related strain, or nerve irritation.

Possible symptoms include:

• Neck stiffness
• Pain between the shoulders
• Pain extending into an arm
• Hand numbness
• Tingling
• Reduced grip strength
• Headaches related to neck movement
• Difficulty turning the head

Dr. Nguyen may determine whether the symptoms appear limited to the neck or involve a nerve travelling into the arm.

Treatment may include medicine, physical therapy, activity changes, targeted exercises, or an interventional procedure.

Herniated Disc

Spinal discs provide cushioning between the bones of the spine.

A herniated disc occurs when part of the softer inner material pushes through the outer portion of the disc.

The disc may irritate a nearby nerve and cause:

• Back or neck pain
• Pain travelling into an arm or leg
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Muscle weakness
• Symptoms made worse by certain positions

A disc abnormality on imaging does not always explain a patient’s pain.

Dr. Nguyen may compare imaging with the symptom pattern and neurological examination before deciding whether the disc is clinically important.

Many patients improve without surgery through time, activity modification, medication, physical therapy, or an injection.

Sciatica

Sciatica describes pain involving the sciatic nerve or its spinal nerve roots.

Symptoms may travel from the lower back or buttock into the thigh, lower leg, or foot.

A patient may experience:

• Sharp or burning pain
• Electric sensations
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Leg weakness
• Pain made worse by sitting
• Difficulty walking or standing

Possible causes include a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, arthritis, or another source of nerve compression.

Treatment depends on the cause and severity. Dr. Nguyen may recommend physical therapy, medication, an epidural injection, or surgical consultation when significant weakness or structural compression is present.

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy develops when a nerve in the neck becomes irritated or compressed.

Possible symptoms include:

• Neck pain
• Shoulder-blade discomfort
• Pain travelling down the arm
• Hand tingling
• Finger numbness
• Arm weakness
• Reduced reflexes

The pattern of symptoms may help identify which nerve is affected.

Testing may include MRI, nerve-conduction studies, or electromyography when the diagnosis remains uncertain.

Treatment may involve medication, therapy, spinal injections, or referral to a spine surgeon.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis means the space around nerves in the lower spine has narrowed.

Possible symptoms include:

• Back discomfort
• Leg pain while walking
• Leg heaviness
• Numbness
• Weakness
• Reduced walking distance
• Improvement while sitting or leaning forward

The condition is commonly connected with age-related changes involving discs, joints, and ligaments.

Treatment may begin with exercise-based therapy, medicine, and changes to activity.

An injection may be considered when inflammation around a nerve contributes to symptoms. Surgical evaluation may be appropriate when walking becomes severely limited or neurological problems progress.

Spinal Arthritis

Arthritis can affect the small joints connecting the bones of the spine.

Possible symptoms include:

• Local back or neck pain
• Stiffness
• Pain during twisting
• Discomfort while standing
• Reduced movement
• Pain that does not travel far into an arm or leg

Dr. Nguyen may use the physical examination and imaging to determine whether a spinal joint is a likely source of pain.

Treatment may include therapy, medication, activity changes, joint injections, or selected nerve procedures.

Interventional Spine Care

Interventional spine care uses image-guided procedures to identify or treat certain sources of spinal pain.

Depending on the diagnosis and current procedural services, Dr. Nguyen may perform or coordinate:

• Epidural steroid injections
• Selective nerve-root injections
• Facet-joint injections
• Medial branch blocks
• Radiofrequency treatment
• Sacroiliac joint injections
• Trigger-point injections

A procedure should be selected according to a specific diagnosis rather than used as a general treatment for every type of back pain.

The expected benefit, limits, possible risks, and alternatives should be discussed before treatment.

Epidural Steroid Injections

An epidural steroid injection places anti-inflammatory medicine into the area around spinal nerves.

It may be considered for pain caused by:

• A herniated disc
• Lumbar radiculopathy
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Spinal stenosis
• Inflammation around a nerve

The goal is to reduce inflammation and allow the patient to move, sleep, and participate more effectively in rehabilitation.

An injection does not repair a damaged disc or permanently enlarge a narrowed spinal canal.

Relief varies between patients. Some experience meaningful improvement, while others have limited or temporary benefit.

Facet-Joint Pain

Facet joints connect the bones at the back of the spine.

Arthritis or irritation in these joints may cause local neck or back pain.

Symptoms may worsen with:

• Standing
• Bending backward
• Twisting
• Repeated extension
• Prolonged activity

A diagnostic injection may help determine whether a particular facet joint or its nerve supply is contributing to pain.

If temporary numbing produces clear improvement, another procedure may be considered for longer-lasting relief.

Medial Branch Blocks

Medial branch nerves carry pain signals from the spinal facet joints.

A medial branch block uses a small amount of numbing medicine near these nerves.

The procedure is primarily diagnostic. It helps determine whether facet-joint nerves are a significant source of pain.

Patients may be asked to record pain and activity during the hours after the procedure.

A clear but temporary response may support consideration of radiofrequency treatment.

Radiofrequency Treatment

Radiofrequency ablation uses controlled energy to reduce pain signals from selected small nerves.

It may be considered when:

• Facet-joint pain is suspected
• Diagnostic nerve blocks produced meaningful temporary relief
• Conservative treatment has not provided enough improvement
• The patient meets procedural requirements

The treated nerves can recover over time, so relief is not necessarily permanent.

The procedure does not treat every type of spinal pain and is not intended for symptoms caused mainly by a compressed spinal nerve.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain

The sacroiliac joints connect the lower spine to the pelvis.

Pain may occur near one side of the lower back or buttock and can be confused with lumbar or hip conditions.

Possible symptoms include:

• Buttock pain
• Lower-back discomfort
• Pain while standing from a chair
• Discomfort during stairs
• Pain while rolling in bed
• Symptoms during prolonged standing

Dr. Nguyen may use examination techniques and imaging to assess the joint.

Treatment may include physical therapy, stabilising exercises, medication, or an image-guided injection.

Joint Pain

Joint pain may result from arthritis, injury, inflammation, cartilage changes, tendon problems, or altered movement.

Dr. Nguyen may evaluate pain involving the:

• Shoulder
• Elbow
• Wrist
• Hand
• Hip
• Knee
• Ankle
• Foot

The assessment may include joint movement, strength, stability, tenderness, swelling, and the effect of activity.

Imaging or laboratory testing may be used when the diagnosis is unclear.

Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain may originate from:

• Rotator cuff tendons
• Biceps tendon
• Shoulder arthritis
• Bursitis
• Joint instability
• Frozen shoulder
• Neck-related nerve symptoms
• Previous injury

The location of discomfort and movements that trigger it can help identify the likely source.

Treatment may include activity modification, physical therapy, medicine, or a targeted injection.

Surgical referral may be appropriate when a major tear, fracture, severe arthritis, or another structural condition is present.

Knee Pain

Knee pain may result from:

• Osteoarthritis
• Meniscus injury
• Ligament injury
• Tendon irritation
• Bursitis
• Kneecap tracking problems
• Previous trauma

Dr. Nguyen may assess swelling, stability, movement, strength, and walking.

Treatment may include exercises, physical therapy, temporary activity changes, medication, bracing, or injections.

The goal is to improve comfort and function without suggesting that every knee abnormality requires surgery.

Hip Pain

Hip symptoms may arise from the joint, tendons, bursa, muscles, lower spine, or sacroiliac region.

Possible symptoms include:

• Groin pain
• Outer-hip discomfort
• Buttock pain
• Stiffness
• Difficulty walking
• Pain while lying on one side
• Reduced range of motion

Dr. Nguyen may compare hip movement with the neurological and spinal examination.

This distinction is important because lower-back nerve irritation can sometimes feel like a hip condition.

Sports Medicine

Dr. Nguyen completed fellowship training in interventional spine and sports medicine.

Non-surgical sports medicine may involve assessment of:

• Muscle strains
• Tendon injuries
• Joint sprains
• Overuse conditions
• Shoulder injuries
• Knee pain
• Hip pain
• Back pain related to activity
• Difficulties returning to exercise

Care should be adapted to the patient’s age, activity, diagnosis, and physical goals.

The treatment plan may include rehabilitation, temporary activity changes, targeted exercises, bracing, medicine, or a procedure.

Muscle and Tendon Injuries

Muscles and tendons may become injured through sudden force, repeated use, or gradual wear.

Possible symptoms include:

• Local pain
• Tenderness
• Weakness
• Swelling
• Reduced movement
• Pain during a specific action

Ultrasound or MRI may be considered when the examination suggests a significant tear or when symptoms do not improve as expected.

Recovery often requires progressive rehabilitation rather than complete inactivity for a long period.

Trigger Points and Muscle Pain

Trigger points are sensitive areas within a muscle that may contribute to local or referred discomfort.

They may develop alongside:

• Muscle overuse
• Repetitive activity
• Injury
• Reduced movement
• Postural strain
• Stress-related muscle tension

Treatment may include stretching, physical therapy, movement correction, heat, medicine, or trigger-point injections.

An injection should be combined with a plan addressing the activity or movement pattern contributing to repeated muscle irritation.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy affects nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

Symptoms may include:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Burning pain
• Electric sensations
• Reduced balance
• Foot weakness
• Hand weakness
• Reduced awareness of injury

Possible causes include diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, medication, autoimmune disease, inherited conditions, or nerve compression.

Dr. Nguyen may use laboratory results and electrodiagnostic testing to help determine the cause.

Treatment focuses on the underlying condition when possible and may also include medicine, therapy, and strategies to protect mobility.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when the median nerve becomes compressed at the wrist.

Possible symptoms include:

• Numbness in the thumb and nearby fingers
• Tingling at night
• Hand weakness
• Dropping objects
• Symptoms during driving or phone use
• Discomfort extending toward the forearm

Dr. Nguyen may use nerve-conduction testing to confirm the diagnosis and assess severity.

Treatment may include wrist splinting, activity changes, injection, or referral for surgery when nerve compression is advanced.

Electromyography and Nerve-Conduction Studies

Dr. Nguyen’s clinical work includes electrodiagnostic testing.

Nerve-conduction studies measure how quickly and strongly electrical signals travel through selected nerves.

Electromyography measures electrical activity within muscles using a small needle electrode.

These tests may help evaluate:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Pinched spinal nerves
• Nerve injury
• Muscle disease
• Unexplained weakness
• Numbness or tingling

The results help identify whether symptoms involve a peripheral nerve, spinal nerve root, muscle, or another part of the neuromuscular system.

Testing findings should be interpreted alongside the physical examination and symptom history.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is an important part of many rehabilitation plans.

A programme may address:

• Strength
• Flexibility
• Joint movement
• Posture
• Balance
• Walking
• Body mechanics
• Return to work
• Return to sport
• Confidence during movement

The programme should match the diagnosis and current level of function.

Exercises that are suitable for one spinal or joint condition may not be appropriate for another.

Dr. Nguyen may review whether therapy is helping and whether the programme needs to be adjusted.

Medication Management

Medicines used for musculoskeletal or nerve-related symptoms may include:

• Non-prescription pain relievers
• Anti-inflammatory medicines
• Muscle-relaxing medicine
• Nerve-pain treatments
• Topical medicine
• Other prescriptions selected for the diagnosis

Dr. Nguyen may consider kidney function, stomach problems, heart risks, blood pressure, sedation, and interactions with other medicines.

Patients should provide a full list of prescriptions, supplements, and non-prescription products.

Medication is usually most useful when combined with rehabilitation and treatment of the underlying condition.

Imaging Review

Spine and joint imaging may include:

• X-rays
• MRI
• CT scans
• Ultrasound

An imaging report can describe arthritis, disc changes, narrowing, tears, or other findings.

However, some abnormalities are common in people without pain.

Dr. Nguyen may compare the images with symptoms and examination findings before deciding whether an abnormality is responsible for the patient’s condition.

Patients should bring actual imaging files when possible, not only the written report.

Non-Surgical Spine Care

Many spinal conditions improve without surgery.

Non-surgical treatment may include:

• Education about the diagnosis
• Temporary activity modification
• Physical therapy
• Home exercises
• Medication
• Posture or movement adjustments
• Image-guided injections
• Monitoring over time

Surgical evaluation may become appropriate when pain remains severe, weakness progresses, walking becomes significantly limited, or imaging shows a condition unlikely to improve through conservative care alone.

Patients needing a surgical opinion may also review Dr. Daniel H. Kim’s neurosurgical and spine care.

Preparing for a Spine or Pain Appointment

Patients can prepare by bringing:

• A current medicine list
• Previous spine or joint records
• MRI or CT images
• Written imaging reports
• Physical therapy notes
• Injection records
• Surgical reports
• Nerve-test results
• A list of medicine allergies
• Questions about treatment

It may help to record:

• When symptoms began
• Where the pain travels
• Whether numbness or weakness occurs
• Which movements worsen symptoms
• How long the patient can sit, stand, or walk
• Which treatments have already been attempted
• How symptoms affect work, sleep, or daily activity

Clear functional information can be as important as the pain rating.

Preparing for an Injection

Before an interventional procedure, patients should tell the practice about:

• Blood thinners
• Diabetes
• Active infection
• Fever
• Medicine allergies
• Previous contrast reactions
• Pregnancy
• Earlier reactions to injections
• Current antibiotic treatment

Preparation may include medicine instructions, temporary food restrictions, transportation planning, or checking blood glucose.

Patients should not stop prescribed medicine without specific guidance from the procedural and prescribing teams.

Recovery After a Spine or Joint Injection

Instructions may address:

• Temporary soreness
• Activity on the day of treatment
• Bathing
• Driving
• Medicine use
• Blood-glucose monitoring
• Physical therapy
• Follow-up timing

Pain relief may not occur immediately. A numbing medicine may provide temporary improvement before the anti-inflammatory treatment takes effect.

Patients may be asked to record how symptoms and activity change after the procedure.

Coordinated Rehabilitation Care

Musculoskeletal and nerve conditions may require cooperation with:

• Primary care physicians
• Physical therapists
• Neurologists
• Orthopedic surgeons
• Neurosurgeons
• Rheumatologists
• Sports medicine professionals
• Occupational therapists
• Radiologists

Coordination is useful when a patient has several possible sources of pain or when symptoms continue despite an appropriate non-surgical treatment plan.

Patients with nerve symptoms requiring broader neurological assessment may also review Dr. Zachary I. Smith’s neurological profile.

Patient-Centered Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Dr. Nguyen provides physical medicine and rehabilitation care based on each patient’s symptoms, physical examination, imaging, nerve-test results, previous treatment, and functional goals.

Her clinical work may include non-surgical spine care, joint-pain evaluation, sports injury management, electrodiagnostic testing, physical therapy coordination, and image-guided spinal or joint procedures.

Patients should confirm current appointment availability, accepted insurance plans, language services, hospital participation, procedure locations, and referral requirements directly with GenCare Spine and Pain.