Will you work with my existing alternative practitioners?

The answer is yes. We welcome other disciplines and other viewpoints. In addition to consultation requests from primary care and surgical colleagues, we welcome referrals from non-traditional or allied medical providers—such as chiropractors, naturopaths, and physical therapists.  Our providers might recommend a change in course if you are not improving with treatment from another provider.

I am currently being treated for a motor vehicle accident and I have a doctor who is helping me, but I seemed to have reached a plateau. Can you provide another opinion or offer other treatment advice?

At Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine, we commonly deal with injuries related to motor vehicle accidents. After a thorough history and physical exam, we will determine whether further diagnostic tests are needed. We will review prior treatments and make further recommendations, if appropriate.

If you have reached a plateau in your recovery, we might take a fresh approach.  For example, we might recommend muscle trigger point needling to get beyond this plateau, or add medication to re-establish restful sleep, a key component to recovery. We might recommend some type of spinal injection, such as a facet joint injection for neck pain or a lumbar epidural injection for sciatica. We can help direct you to a different source for hands-on therapy including massage, physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, Feldenkrais®, or other types of care.  If your condition is more serious, we can determine if pain medication management or a surgical consultation is necessary. 
 
 

I have had an injury and I would like to make an appointment, but I don't have all my prior records. Should I wait to come in?

It is not necessary to have your outside records at the time of your initial visit. However, certain outside records are important and they provide us with valuable information about your condition. If we do not have pertinent records available, then we will have you sign a RECORD RELEASE FORM so that we may obtain outside records. If you are coming to Seattle Spine for a second opinion, we ask that you bring any prior diagnostic tests, such as imaging studies (MRI, X-ray), procedure notes and relevant blood work.

Are spinal injections painful? How many can I have on one year?

In general, spinal procedures produce only minor but tolerable discomfort. We take great care to use local anesthetic medicine (Lidocaine) to numb the skin before we perform the injection. The local anesthetic can cause a brief burning sensation, which lasts a few seconds and then quickly fades. Once the skin is numb, we then perform the spinal procedure under fluoroscopic guidance (live X-ray) so that we ensure precise placement of the medication, whether within a joint or along a nerve. For patients who are already in a great deal of discomfort, there can be further irritation during the procedure but we make every effort to minimize this.

In general, with some exceptions, you are eligible to have up to three spinal injections at a given body location per year. Please see our on-line Online Training Resources section for more information about spinal injections.
 

Are EMG/NCS (electromyography/nerve conduction study) tests painful? What do I wear for my EMG/NCS test?

This test is usually well tolerated. However, once the needle is placed in the muscle, there can be a range of responses from no pain to mild discomfort. We make every effort to minimize discomfort. If you are anxious about the procedure, call our office.  We are able to pre-medicate you to provide you with greater comfort during the procedure, but you would then need a driver for this appointment. If you experience any unpleasant sensations, we can also discontinue testing if that becomes necessary. Once the exam is over, there is usually no further discomfort. Please see our Online Training Resources section (EMG information) for more information about EMG/NCS testing. For this test, it is recommended that you wear comfortable, loose clothing.

Do I need a referral in order to make an appointment at your office?

Generally, we prefer but do not require a referral from another healthcare provider in order to be seen in our clinic. This is particularly true of longer standing injuries. You may call our office for further guidelines. Accepted INSURANCE PLANS are noted elsewhere on our web site.

Do you treat conditions other than spine related problems?

We treat many musculoskeletal and neurologic problems, including joint injuries, repetitive stress injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve injuries, work-related injuries, and a number of sports and arthritic conditions. We often include a thorough evaluation of the spine because many conditions which affect the arms and legs actually originate from or become more severe due to an underlying spinal problem. For example, most patients with “frozen shoulder” (adhesive capsulitis) actually have problems with their neck and upper-back, including poor posture, reduced mobility of the shoulder blade, and tightness of their upper-back muscles.  Physiatrists are trained specifically to look above and below the anatomic area of pain to help find the root cause of injury.  Another example is our understanding that knee pain can often be helped by strengthening and improving mobility of the hip muscles, rather than focus on the knee itself.

What is a Physiatrist?

A physiatrist is a medical doctor who is an expert at diagnosing and treating neurologic and musculoskeletal problems such as pinched nerves, carpal tunnel syndrome, and joint injuries. They are nerve, muscle, and joint experts who diagnose, treat and form an overall rehab program for injured patients.  Seattle Spine and Sports Medicine is not a ‘pain management’ office; we manage pain mostly through physical modalities, and not with strong high-dose pain medicines.   Our goal is to provide you with a working diagnosis and then offer a comprehensive treatment plan.

I had an MRI of my spine in the distant past; should I bring the MRI to my appointment even though it was so long ago?

Yes, we will review your previous imaging including prior MRI scanning and recommend whether you need further imaging studies. At Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine, our first priority is performing a careful clinical evaluation of the patient. The results of that exam are then correlated to the patient’s previous imaging studies and the possible need for additional studies. A key theme in our clinic is that imaging studies do not always reflect the health of the patient, and a thorough history and physical exam are critical for helping you.  To put this simply, we treat the “patient not the picture.”

I was injured on the job and I think I need to file for a worker's compensation injury (L&I claim). Can I do that in your office?

Yes, this is possible. Generally, injured workers are referred to our office from another provider, but we may be able to help with this process. We can also assume a consultative role or primary management of your work-related injury, depending on the nature of your condition.

I was in a motor vehicle accident recently but I think I am doing ok. Is there any value in coming in for an appointment to be evaluated?

Generally, this is decided on a case-by-case basis. Often, injuries from motor vehicle crashes can take several hours to several days to become more noticeable. A single evaluation may be indicated if you're feeling symptoms of pain or stiffness in one or more joints, or if you have signs of possible nerve injury such as weakness or tingling in the arms or legs. We are happy to provide an evaluation to ensure that you do not have any major or lingering injuries.