What is the process to become a patient at Pain Care?

First, you will need to have a treating physician refer you to the office.  The referring physician will need to send over the demographics, last 4 office notes, and the most recent labs, x-rays and MRI reports on the patient.  After the treating physician has sent over the referral and all the other information requested, we will mail the patient one of our New Patient Packets to complete.  Once the packet is completed and returned to our office we will call and verify the patients insurance.  Once that has been done, we will call and schedule you for a New Patient appointment.

My insurance does not require a referral so do I still need one from my doctor?

Yes, even though your insurance does not require a referral, our physicians do.  The reason our physicians require a referral is so that they will have an idea of what they will be treating you for.

Do I have to have insurance in order to see a doctor at Pain Care or can I be a cash pay only patient?

Yes, insurance is usually required to be a patient at Pain Care.

What methods or approaches are used to treat and manage pain?

 The treatment plans are individualized for each patient based on their specific needs in order to give them a better quality of life.

What types of pain do you treat?

Neck, Back, Arthritic, and Joint Pain.

Are Pain doctors considered primary care doctors?

No,  we treat patients with chronic pain and we are not an urgent care facility.

Will I have to pay the office visit co-pay or the specialist co-pay amount on my insurance card?

You will have to pay the specialist amount at each visit because our doctors are specialists.

How much do you charge to get a copy of my medical records?

 Medical records pages 1-25 are $1.00 per page, pages 26-350 are $.50 per page, and pages 351 and up are $.25 per page.

What is the differnce between a Selective Nerve Root Block (SNRB) and Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI)?

Both use steroid medicatons. The SNRB targets a specific nerve distribution where as the ESI covers a wider area.

Why is getting an injection a good option before deciding on having surgery?

Injections have been shown to help alleviate pain and improve function in a large proportion.  Also, a significant number of patients avoid surgery after experiencing improvements with injections.  Surgeons often request injections on their patients to clarify a diagnosis prior to surgery.