Meet Your Houston Pelvic Pain Specialist: Dr. Erika Moody
Dr. Erika Moody is a physiatrist and an expert in women's and men's health and sexual health. Possessing a double board certification in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Interventional Pain Medicine. Dr. Moody takes a holistic approach to pelvic pain, incorporating several non-pharmacological options, including nutrition, physical therapy, and mindfulness practices.GET TO KNOW YOUR DOCTOR
WHY DID YOU BECOME A DOCTOR?
I have always been fascinated by the workings of the human body and enjoyed being able to help people be healthier and happier. What appealed to me about physical medicine and rehabilitation was how the specialty incorporates several disciplines and draws in a lot of different techniques to treat the patient as a whole, not just a collection of symptoms.WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF YOUR APPROACH TO TREATMENT?
I want to use every tool at our disposal. Treating pain requires a multifaceted approach for recovery. It can require pharmaceutical options in some cases but it’s also physical therapy, nutrition, and mind/body approaches. The goal is to relieve pain and help people feel better, as well as focusing on meeting measurable goals in improving physical function.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
I really value the relationship I have with my patients – partnering with people to help them have less pain, better function, and a higher quality of life. One of the most important things I can do is to make my patients really feel like they’re being heard and to empower them to play an active role in their recovery.WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT PELVIC HEALTH?
Pelvic dysfunction is not normal, but it is common. I feel like people can feel alone because these issues are not talked about a lot. Often people with pelvic pain and dysfunction are embarrassed by their symptoms. People should know that there are many treatment solutions outside of medications and surgeries, and if what you’ve tried in the past hasn’t worked, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t more tools available which could help.EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
After receiving her master's degree in biological science at Drexel University, Dr. Moody attended medical school at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She was drawn to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation because of its multidisciplinary nature and did her residency in PM&R at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Dr. Moody then brought her focus to pelvic pain, completing a fellowship with San Antonio’s University of Texas Health Science Center, during which she was an invited co-author of a review entitled “Interventional Management for Pelvic Pain.” Dr. Moody practiced in Houston for three years with a particular focus on pain management, using advanced treatment modalities such as ultrasound-guided pain injections. She has completed a 300+ hour medical acupuncture certification through the Integrated Structural Acupuncture course. She joined the team at Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine in 2021.Professional Medical Association Memberships
