Guillermo J. Bernal, MD

Meet Dr. Guillermo Bernal

My interest in medicine is partly due to my family – my father and brother are both physicians, as are a number of my friends. I also played a lot of sports growing up, so I became interested in musculoskeletal health. Initially I thought I wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon, but then I realized I didn’t want to perform surgeries all the time. I wanted to treat and interact with patients on a regular basis and be involved in their care and recovery. I found physical medicine and rehabilitation to be a good fit for me because it is a non-surgical specialty that deals with musculoskeletal issues. I help people with day-to-day bodily function which has a big impact on quality of life. I really enjoy that.

In my practice, I use medications, injections, and other technologies when treating patients with musculoskeletal injuries presenting with pain. I also see stroke patients and amputees who may need help with balance, walking or daily self-care. They may require an assisted device, bracing or special equipment in the home to achieve independence. I provide non-surgical care such as Botox injections to treat patients with chronic migraines and dystonias, as well as to treat spasticity in patients with stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy or other neuromuscular conditions. I also perform joint injections and other injections for those to treat bursitis, tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as trigger point injections for myofascial pain.

As part of my practice, I perform both Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS), to diagnose patients with diseases that damage muscle tissue, nerves, or the points where nerve and muscle join; as well as determine the cause of weakness, paralysis, involuntary muscle twitching or other symptoms. Both studies can be done in my office and offer valuable information as to whether problems in a muscle, the nerves controlling a muscle, the spinal cord or the brain are causing the patient’s symptoms.

People would probably describe me as happy-go-lucky. I’m easy-going, caring, and a good listener. I spend a lot of time listening to my patients and performing a comprehensive evaluation so I can understand their condition and exactly how the pain or dysfunction interferes with their daily life. I like treating patients in a comprehensive, holistic way.

Though I was born in Philadelphia, my family is from Puerto Rico where I grew up. When I returned to Philadelphia for college, I met my wife. I returned to Puerto Rico for medical school and thought I’d be practicing there but we came back to the area when we got married. We’ve been married for 37 years and have three grown daughters. Our first grandchild was born in 2022.

In my free time I enjoy playing tennis 3-4 times per week. I also enjoy movies, art galleries, and fine dining.

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