Physiatry · Nerve testing · Edmonds, WA
Nothing on the scan explains it. That doesn’t mean nothing is wrong.
I’m Dr. Kelvin Franke, a board-certified physiatrist. I spend the first hour finding out what is actually happening, then I explain it until it makes sense.
Where would you like to start?
Tell me what brought you here.
Not sure which fits? Call (425) 678-2044. My staff can help you.
After a car accidentPIP billed directly, usually no copay. Seen within a week.What to do after a crash
Hurt at workWashington L&I claims. EMGs and impairment ratings.L&I care
Nerve testingEMG and nerve conduction, performed and read by me.How nerve testing works
For providersReferrals, second opinions, free curbside consults.Refer a patient
What’s actually happening
A crash upsets three things. The scan sees only one.
In the same second, a collision strains tissue, switches on a protective alarm, and scrambles how the brain handles balance and focus. Tap each stone to steady the stack.
The stack is wobbling. Tap each stone to steady it.
The top stone · what the scan can see
Strained tissue, and pain that travels
This is the part everyone arrives talking about, and even it can hide. A knot in the scalenes sends pain down the arm. The iliacus, deep in the pelvis, can mimic a disc injury almost perfectly.
What helps
- A hands-on exam that explains the pain
- EMG and nerve conduction testing
- Trigger point needling, targeted injections, active PT
Treat all three to regain balance. Treat just one and it tumbles.
The longer version: one collision, three systems →Where you might be
You are not exaggerating, and you are not unusual.
Recoveries stall in a handful of predictable ways. If more than one sounds familiar, there is a pattern here, and patterns can be interrupted.
Lots of imaging, no unifying answer
The reports show ordinary wear. Nothing explains why you can’t sit through a meeting.
Treating what’s visible
A minor finding becomes the target. The procedures escalate, and the relief gets shorter.
Care that skips like a stone
Every office is competent. None share a goal, and you carry the messages between them.
The mind left for last
Sleep loss and dread often drive the pain after a trauma. A plan that ignores them comes up short.
Built into the schedule
Four things I can promise.
Your first appointment
Enough time for the whole story and a careful exam. Follow-ups are thirty minutes.
What happens in that hourTypical wait
For nerve testing and car accident care. Getting in quickly gets you better quickly.
EMG report turnaround
Completed and sent by the next business day after the study.
First visit to last
I take the history, do the exam, run and read the tests, and call your other providers.
“In most other practices, patients today are seen for 10 minutes… Dr. Franke is the old-fashioned Doctor that I desire for all patients.”
Who you’ll be seeing
Kelvin Franke, DO
Over twenty years in practice, first in an orthopedic group in Edmonds, then a decade of spine and sports medicine. Now back in Edmonds. Sound Injury is my own clinic, and it is small on purpose: an hour with the doctor only stays an hour if somebody protects it.
- Board certified, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Castle Connolly Top Doctor, 2014 to 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Melissa GoodnightOffice manager
Robyn JinClinical assistant
The room
A calm clinic matters.
If your nervous system has been on alert since the crash, a loud, hurried waiting room adds to the load before anyone has touched you. Here: natural light, a simple space, and nobody moving you along.
What that looks like in practice
“I had seen many doctors, therapists, PT, chiropractic… I walked out of his office in tears because I had finally experienced some relief.”
“A conscientious, caring and plain-spoken physician. He is my go-to provider for non-surgical musculoskeletal care.”
“Exceptionally skilled at using advanced electrodiagnostics (EMG/NCS) to uncover hidden nerve or mechanical issues that stall recovery, even when imaging looks completely normal.”
“Dr. Franke has been a life changer. I’ve struggled with chronic pain for over 21 years now.”
“My top choice for pain management physiatric consultation in the North Seattle and Snohomish County region.”
“Every visit is enjoyable because he listens to my concerns, helps me understand my pain, and explains the treatment plan clearly. I’ve never felt like just another patient.”
“He truly cares about his patients and does everything he can to help them.”
“When I need to refer any patient to the next level, Dr. Franke is always my top choice.”
“From EMG testing to treatment and rehabilitation, I felt well cared for every step of the way.”
“He was able to isolate three muscles that, when spasmed, reproduced the patient’s pain. Six months later this patient is pain free.”
“Knowledgeable, highly skilled, patient, supportive, and kind. I highly recommend Dr. Franke and his team.”
“He is a provider I trust to care for my patients.”
“Thank you for taking such great care of me after my car accident. My only regret is not coming to you sooner.”
“His understanding of neuromuscular and soft tissue dynamics is outstanding, and his respect for interdisciplinary collaboration directly improves patient outcomes.”
“So much eagerness, knowledge and passion to figure out the root problem. Ten out of ten for sure.”
“The professionalism of the whole team. He is knowledgeable, pleasant and is a good listener.”
How I treat
Services, and the conditions I see most
Services
- Car accident care
Whiplash, concussion and nerve injury after a crash. PIP accepted, no referral needed.
- Whiplash and concussion
Neck pain, headaches, dizziness and brain fog after a motor vehicle accident.
- EMG and nerve conduction testing
I perform and read the study myself. Usually within a week, with the report out by the next business day.
- L&I consultations and EMG
Consulting physiatrist for Washington L&I claims, including cases that have stalled.
- Targeted injections
Fluoroscopy-guided joint and spine injections and trigger point injections, guided by an accurate diagnosis.
- Mind–body recovery
Tissue injury and a sensitized nervous system, treated together.
- Collaborative care
Your physical therapist, chiropractor and counselor working from one medical diagnosis.
Conditions I treat
- Neck and back pain
Facet, disc, myofascial and nerve root pain after a car accident or work injury.
- Nerve pain and radiculopathy
Numbness, tingling and weakness. Testing separates true nerve compression from muscle referral.
- Myofascial pain and trigger points
Muscle pain that refers elsewhere and can mimic nerve damage.
- Joint pain and stiffness
Post-traumatic pain in the sacroiliac joint, shoulders and spinal facets.
- Post-traumatic stress and pain
When the nervous system stays on alert after a crash and amplifies the pain.
- Concussion and brain injury
Brain fog, light and noise sensitivity, and cognitive fatigue after an accident.
For chiropractors, PTs and physicians
Another set of eyes on a difficult case.
Diagnostic clarity, EMG and nerve conduction, second opinions, and co-management of cases that have stopped moving. Patients are usually contacted within a business day. Curbside consults are free.
With an emailed referral, include the initial exam note, the most recent note, and any imaging reports, or complete the request form on your patient’s behalf. Nerve testing is typically scheduled within the week, the EMG report is completed and sent within one business day of the study, and I return provider calls the same day where I can.
Practical questions
Insurance, referrals and what to expect
Do I need a referral to be seen?
No. If you have PIP coverage after a car accident, or you are paying out of pocket, you can book directly.
Referrals from physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists and counselors are welcome. For Washington L&I claims I often work as a consultant to your attending provider.
What insurance do you take?
Car accident PIP is billed directly and pays regardless of fault, usually with no copay or deductible. Washington L&I work injury claims are accepted. Self-pay is welcome, with no referral needed.
Commercial insurance is handled case by case. Call the front desk at (425) 678-2044 and they will tell you what is being accepted.
How fast can I get an EMG, and when will the report arrive?
Testing is often done within a week. I perform the study and do the interpretation. I complete the report and send it out by the next business day.
Referrals from physicians, chiropractors and other providers are always welcome.
What is a physiatrist?
A physician who specializes in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Medical school, a four-year PM&R residency, and board certification through the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Physiatrists restore function after injury. Rather than surgery, the emphasis is on accurate diagnosis, rehabilitation, coordinating the people treating you, and getting you back to work and ordinary life.
What is a D.O.?
A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is a fully licensed physician with the same training, licensing and practice rights as an M.D. Four years of medical school, a four-year residency, the same board certifications.
The difference is emphasis. Osteopathic medicine treats the whole person, and D.O.s get additional training in osteopathic manual medicine, which is where the hands-on part of this work comes from.
Care that looks below the surface.
Finding the clinic in Edmonds
If you knew us in Lynnwood, we are five minutes west of the old office, with the same phone number and the same front desk.
Address
7631 212th St SW, Suite B-105
Edmonds, WA 98026
Across from Edmonds-Woodway High School
Hours
Monday to Friday
8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Paying
PIP, Washington L&I and self-pay. Commercial insurance case by case.
