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Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD

Specializes in: Physiatry (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation)
University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine
Professional interests include: shoulder instability, rotator cuff injury, spinal cord injury, and more.
32840 Pacific Coast Highway
Dana Point, CA 92629

Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD is a physiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA specializing in physiatry (physical medicine & rehabilitation). He graduated from University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD is affiliated with Providence, MemorialCare, MemorialCare Medical Group, Providence Mission Hospital - Laguna Beach and Providence Mission Hospital - Mission Viejo.

View Doctor's Full Profile (949) 770-2794

Office Locations

Providence Mission Hospital - Mission Viejo

25982 Pala Suite 170
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
(949) 770-2794
open_in_new
32840 Pacific Coast Highway
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 770-2794
(949) 305-3380
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MemorialCare Medical Group

32840 Pacific Coast Highway Suite E
Dana Point, CA
(949) 770-2794
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Some issues Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD can help you with:

Joint Injections

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.

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury medicine is a branch of medicine that treats damage to the spinal cord from an injury or a nontraumatic myelopathy, which is any disorder that affects the spinal area. The spinal cord is a section of nerve tissue protected by the vertebrae (spinal bones). Trauma to the spinal cord, typically caused by compression or bent vertebrae, prevents the body and brain from communicating. This can result in pain, loss of sensation, and impaired physical function and movement. Acute spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are a leading cause of permanent disability. Spinal cord injuries may develop from accidents or myelopathies, disorders that provoke spinal compression. Traumatic incidents such as falls, sports injuries, vehicle accidents, and bullet or stab wounds can cause an acute spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury medicine seeks to stabilize the spine and to alleviate the symptoms of spine damage. Practitioners of spinal cord injury medicine are called spinal cord injury specialists. Spinal cord injury medicine is an interdisciplinary field, meaning physicians of various specialties may be trained to treat spinal cord injuries.

Damage to the spinal cord may initially be diagnosed through X-ray, MRI, or CT scans. Patients can also undergo spinal exams to evaluate their sensory ability and strength. Injuries to the spinal cord can be complete (no feeling or sensation) or incomplete (some feeling or sensation remains). Conditions spinal cord injury medicine specialists may treat include:

  • Paralysis, such as paraplegia (loss of function in the legs), or quadriplegia (loss of function from the neck down)
  • Spine fracture or trauma, which can lead to impairment and/or significant pain
  • Spinal infections
  • Myelopathies, such as herniated disks, spinal tumors, and rheumatoid arthritis
  • Inflammatory diseases such as ankylosing spondylosis, and degenerative conditions like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)

Treatment for spinal cord injuries often involves surgery, either directly after an injury occurs or at a later date. Surgery for spine injuries is intended to ease spinal compression and stabilize the spine. Surgical procedures can involve shifting vertebrae, removing bone, or altering spinal placement with implantable devices. Patients with significant spinal trauma may require urgent surgical intervention.

Surgical treatments can be complemented by rehabilitative physical therapy to improve mobility. Spinal cord injury specialists also treat complications arising from a spinal injury, such as respiratory or bladder conditions. Some patients with spinal cord injuries may require lifelong treatment. Spinal cord injury specialists aim to help these patients successfully adjust and lead an improved quality of life. An emerging treatment for spinal cord injuries is neural prosthetics, which replicate patients' lost nerve function. Neural prostheses may be used as artificial body parts or assistive devices that patients may cognitively control. Other assistive devices include wheelchairs and scooters.

Spinal cord injury specialists may collaborate with physical therapists, radiologists, neurologists, urologists, and orthopedists.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD treated as a physiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care, nerve block and pain management.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 204
hospital care 733
injections 27
inpatient care 733
nerve block 27
pain management 27
spinal procedures 27

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD treated as a physiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA during 2013 were hospital care, inpatient care, injections and nerve block.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 169
hospital care 875
injections 38
inpatient care 875
nerve block 22
pain management 22
spinal procedures 22

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD.

Gender
Male 168
Female 207
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 330
Black 0
Hispanic 14
Asian 16
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 145
From 75 to 84 131
85 and over 82
Less than 65 17

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD in 2013

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 71
Stroke 39
Ischemic Heart Disease 51
Depression 30
Chronic Kidney Disease 40
Asthma 12
Osteoperosis 19
Atrial Fibrilation 28
Heart Failure 31
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 18
Diabetes 32
Dementia 14
Cancer 18

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD treated as a physiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA during 2014 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 154
hospital care 892
inpatient care 892

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD.

Gender
Male 184
Female 174
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 321
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 16
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 142
From 75 to 84 110
85 and over 86
Less than 65 20

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD in 2014

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 69
Stroke 34
Ischemic Heart Disease 52
Depression 37
Chronic Kidney Disease 38
Asthma 8
Osteoperosis 15
Atrial Fibrilation 26
Heart Failure 27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 15
Diabetes 35
Dementia 18
Cancer 18

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD treated as a physiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA during 2015 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 79
hospital care 955
inpatient care 955

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD.

Gender
Male 316
Female 378
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 610
Black 0
Hispanic 40
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 242
From 75 to 84 242
85 and over 156
Less than 65 54

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD in 2015

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 72
Stroke 47
Ischemic Heart Disease 51
Depression 38
Chronic Kidney Disease 41
Asthma 16
Osteoperosis 20
Atrial Fibrilation 28
Heart Failure 30
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 20
Diabetes 31
Dementia 19
Cancer 18

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD treated as a physiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA during 2016 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 18
hospital care 858
inpatient care 858

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD.

Gender
Male 126
Female 138
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 233
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 14
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 99
From 75 to 84 98
85 and over 55
Less than 65 12

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD in 2016

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 47
Ischemic Heart Disease 53
Depression 48
Chronic Kidney Disease 46
Asthma 25
Osteoperosis 18
Atrial Fibrilation 27
Heart Failure 29
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 19
Diabetes 31
Dementia 31
Cancer 20

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD treated as a physiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA during 2017 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 803
inpatient care 803

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD.

Gender
Male 125
Female 112
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 197
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 21
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 75
From 75 to 84 86
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD in 2017

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 58
Ischemic Heart Disease 54
Depression 47
Chronic Kidney Disease 50
Asthma 9
Osteoperosis 20
Atrial Fibrilation 31
Heart Failure 38
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 22
Diabetes 35
Dementia 31
Cancer 22

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD treated as a physiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA during 2018 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 1009
inpatient care 1009

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD.

Gender
Male 150
Female 131
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 235
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 22
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 75
From 75 to 84 133
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD in 2018

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 52
Ischemic Heart Disease 52
Depression 44
Chronic Kidney Disease 50
Asthma 12
Osteoperosis 20
Atrial Fibrilation 30
Heart Failure 35
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 20
Diabetes 35
Dementia 30
Cancer 23

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD treated as a physiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA during 2019 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 1045
inpatient care 1045

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD.

Gender
Male 162
Female 160
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 254
Black 0
Hispanic 27
Asian 19
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 110
From 75 to 84 120
85 and over 81
Less than 65 11

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD in 2019

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 46
Ischemic Heart Disease 54
Depression 37
Chronic Kidney Disease 54
Asthma 10
Osteoperosis 21
Atrial Fibrilation 36
Heart Failure 40
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 21
Diabetes 34
Dementia 32
Cancer 24

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD treated as a physiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA during 2020 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 1120
inpatient care 1120

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD.

Gender
Male 157
Female 139
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 252
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 20
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 125
85 and over 91
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD in 2020

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 43
Ischemic Heart Disease 57
Depression 41
Chronic Kidney Disease 58
Asthma 12
Osteoperosis 18
Atrial Fibrilation 34
Heart Failure 33
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 21
Diabetes 35
Dementia 33
Cancer 24

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD treated as a physiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA during 2021 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 1037
inpatient care 1037

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD.

Gender
Male 162
Female 147
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 263
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 19
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 135
85 and over 84
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD in 2021

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 53
Ischemic Heart Disease 57
Depression 37
Chronic Kidney Disease 55
Asthma 14
Osteoperosis 17
Atrial Fibrilation 38
Heart Failure 36
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 19
Diabetes 38
Dementia 33
Cancer 23

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD treated as a physiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA during 2022 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 918
inpatient care 918

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD.

Gender
Male 157
Female 122
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 241
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 15
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 92
From 75 to 84 125
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD in 2022

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 56
Ischemic Heart Disease 42
Depression 38
Chronic Kidney Disease 43
Asthma 12
Osteoperosis 18
Atrial Fibrilation 46
Heart Failure 37
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 24
Diabetes 36
Dementia 22
Cancer 26

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD treated as a physiatrist in Mission Viejo, CA were hospital care, inpatient care, injections and nerve block.

doctor visit 124
hospital care 931
injections 32
inpatient care 931
nerve block 24
pain management 24
spinal procedures 24

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD.

Gender
Male 155
Female 155
Ethnicity
Black / African American 0
Asian / Pacific Islander 14
Non-Hispanic White 266
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Hispanic 7
Other 0
Age
75 to 84 118
85 and over 57
Less than 65 10
65 to 74 89

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension 68
High Cholesterol 67
Stroke 43
Ischemic Heart Disease 47
Depression 36
Chronic Kidney Disease 43
Asthma 11
Osteoporosis 16
Heart Failure 30
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 18
Diabetes 31
Atrial Fibrillation 29
Dementia 23
Cancer 19

Education & Training

Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD graduated from University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. He completed residency at University of California, Irvine Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and has a state license in California.

Medical School: University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine

Residency: University of California, Irvine Affiliated Hospitals (1988)

Board Certification: American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Licensed In: California

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Providence
MemorialCare
MemorialCare Medical Group
Providence Mission Hospital - Laguna Beach
Providence Mission Hospital - Mission Viejo

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 1 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Christopher Mark Lawler, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Mission Viejo, CA. 

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Overall Rating
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Biography

Dr. Christopher Lawler specializes in physiatry (physical medicine & rehabilitation). His areas of expertise include the following: shoulder instability, sports health, and carpal tunnel syndrome. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Providence and MemorialCare Medical Group. After completing medical school at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Dr. Lawler performed his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Irvine.

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