How long will my first appointment take?
You should expect to be here for about one and a half hours for your first visit. This includes time with the nurse to have a complete history taken, time with the physician for your physical examination and assessment as well as time for the education on the procedure and what to expect at future visits.
What do I need to bring to my first appointment?
Photo ID, insurance card(s), list of medication and the dosages (including all over-the-counter drugs and vitamins), and MRI disk.
Can I eat or drink before my appointment?
Yes you may eat and/or drink prior to your appointment unless you are scheduled for a Discogram or Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial. Patients scheduled for these procedures may not have anything to eat or drink (except a small glass of water) for 6 hours prior to their appointment.
Can I return to work after my appointment?
You should return to a quiet setting for the remainder of the day after your procedure. You may return to work or your normal activities the next day.
Will I feel sore after my injection?
You may feel soreness at the injection site. You may experience increased pain and muscle spasms for 24-48 hours after your injection due to the trauma of the injection itself.
Can I take a bath or use a hot tub/swim after my procedure?
Not for 24 hours. It is acceptable to take a shower (and remove any Band-Aid(s) or other dressings over your injection site), but do not soak in a tub, hot tub or swim for 24 hours.
If I am sick or on antibiotics can I still have a procedure done?
No. It is very important for your health and safety that we not perform a procedure if you have a current infection. Please contact our office and we will reschedule your appointment according to our office guidelines.
Does my driver need to stay the whole time for my appointment?
Yes, we ask that your driver stay during your procedure. This allows for you to be discharged as soon as you have recovered after your procedure.
Do I have to go through my referring doctor if I want to come back to see you?
No, you may contact our office directly for additional treatments (including new conditions that may arise).
What if my injury is a work injury?
We do treat patients for work related injuries. Prior to treatment we will need to obtain specific information related to the injury including whether a claim has been filed through your employer. We will get all procedures prior authorized for all visits.
What kind of follow-up will I have after my procedure?
You will receive a phone call or email through our patient portal from our nurses 7-10 days after your procedures. There are some diagnostic procedures that we will follow up with patients within 4-6 hours or up to 24 hours after the procedure.
How do I know if my insurance will pay for my injection?
Our office contacts your insurance company and verifies your insurance benefits prior to you arriving at our office. We check for coverage on pain management procedures and document this in your chart for future reference. All information regarding your insurance coverage is based on the information that we receive from your insurance company. Some insurance companies do require prior authorization or have medical policies that can delay treatment in some cases.
What is a patient portal?
A patient portal is a secure online website that gives patients convenient 24-hour access to personal health information from anywhere with an Internet connection. Using a secure username and password, patients can view health information such as: Recent doctor visits and vitals (blood pressure, weight, and temperature). A patient portal also allows for doctors and patients to communicate via email with a secure connection. PainCARE’s patient portal is called Follow My Health. It is FREE to sign up. We will sign you up at your first visit. All that is required is an email address. This will allow you to receive emails from our nurses as well as receive appointment reminders and updates about your health information. You can also sign up to have appointment reminders via text messaging.