Your doctor will begin by getting your complete health history, followed by a physical examination. The history and physical examination are needed before your condition can be accurately diagnosed or treated. By getting this information, your doctor can begin to determine the source of your problem.
To help get your physical history, your doctor may ask you some questions about your pain and symptoms. The information you give can help your doctor determine your diagnosis. Examples of the questions that you may be asked include:
- When did your pain first begin?
- Was there an injury that may have caused your pain?
- Are you aware of work postures or other factors that may be causing your pain?
- Where do you feel the pain? What is the intensity?
- Does the pain radiate to other parts of your body?
- What makes the pain feel better or worse?
- Have you had problems with your bladder or bowels?
You will undergo a very thorough initial evaluation by the doctor during your first appointment. Further testing may be required – however, for many conditions the doctor may recommend conservative therapy in order to avoid surgery.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL that you bring the following information with you for your first appointment to ensure the most complete evaluation:
CT scans, angiograms, myelograms and any other X-rays from ALL physicians or other healthcare professionals you have seen regarding your problem. We need to see the ACTUAL PICTURES – not just the reports.
Copies of all related office visits to physicians or other healthcare professionals, hospital records, X-ray reports and pathology reports.
We know your time is valuable, so we make every effort to have the doctor see you on time. However, please understand that emergencies occur periodically and can cause delays. We will do our best to inform you as far in advance as possible of any delays or the need to reschedule your appointment.