As a spine specialist, Dr. Kountis finds that patients come to him after years of dealing with their pain and having seen many physicians but having minimal improvement in their symptoms. As the source of pain becomes a chronic problem, it starts to affect other aspects of a patient’s health. The social, emotional and psychological impacts of chronic pain start to play a role in the perception of pain and thus start adding to the impact of pain in a person’s daily life and routine.

Limiting activity, restricting social engagements, and the stress and barriers that severe pain imposes start to change a patient’s outlook on improvement and hope for a pain free future. There are actually well documented physical and chemical changes that occur in a patient with chronic pain. Changes are seen in circulating cortisol levels, along with other neurotransmitters involved with sleep cycles and mood.

Dr. Kountis understands that not everyone wants to run a marathon, but he operates under the belief that everyone wants to, and deserves to, live a full life that is free of pain. That’s why he carefully evaluates each patient’s condition, as well as their goals, and prescribes customized treatment plans that effectively meet each individual’s unique need

He is an expert at assessing all types of painful injuries – work, sports, fracture or arthritis related – and spends time listening closely to each patient, providing a thorough assessment, and if necessary referring patients for additional testing, in order to get to the bottom of what is causing the pain. He is also certified in musculoskeletal ultrasound and doesn’t hesitate to use it for accurate diagnosis of underlying pathologic conditions or to precisely place biologic and synthetic agents to heal an injury.

Dr. Kountis is a spine specialist who treats with a multidisciplinary team approach for the prevention and treatment of spine and other painful musculoskeletal conditions. He offers patients a spectrum of non-invasive and minimally invasive spine procedures for the effective diagnosis and treatment of a variety of musculoskeletal disorders.

Dr. Kountis is a spine specialist who utilizes the most advanced spine practices and techniques to maximize function and quality of life, despite often severe neurologic and/or orthopedic conditions.

Dr. Kountis is an abstract reviewer for the PM&R journal and was a teaching faculty member at New York University Medical Center.

Dr. Kountis is also involved with several scientific organizations including The North American Spine Society, Spinal Intervention Society and the American Osteopathic Association as well as The American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

Specialty:
Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Interventional Spine
Pain Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine

Degrees Held:
BS,  Long Island University
DO,  Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
DO,  University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ
DO,  University of Minnesota
DO,  Richard WOLF Endoscopic Spine
DO,  Elliquence Endoscopic Spine

Publications:
Subcutaneous Botulinum Toxin Injections for the Treatment of Chronically Painful Post-Craniotomy Scars: A Case Report of Two Patients Treated Successfully for More Than Eight Years(2017, Dykstra, Dennis D; Kimmerle, Carlton; Kountis, Vasilios; Baxter, Tanya. Interventional pain management reports. 2017. 1 (1): 39-42)
Rehabilitation of patients in critical care settings [WebSite](2015, Schretzman-Mortimer, Diane; Dvorak, James; Salehi, Parisa; Kountis, Vasilios. PM&R knowledge NOW.)

Hospital Affiliations:
NYU Langone Medical Center 550 First Avenue – New York, NY 10016

Associations:
North American Spine Society
American Osteopathic Association
Medical State Society of New York
Spine Intervention Society
NYS Workers’ Compensation

Languages Spoken:
Greek
English