Here are a list of commonly asked questions.
We are now accepting Medicare and some commercial plans. Please contact the office to find out more.
Check with your insurance plan to see if your plan requires a referral to a specialist before you make an appointment with us.
Yes, but more as an exception than the rule. We do not take over monthly opioid pain management contracts. Opioids would be used on a very short-term basis if needed, to help you stick to your treatment plan and post-procedure protocol when other medications have not helped.
We firmly believe that you are the expert of your own life, and you should be in control of your journey to better health. After identifying shared goals, we empower you to take charge of setting the direction, focusing on the factors that are most likely contributing to your pain. Our role is to provide evidence-based medical expertise, guide you through the goal-setting process and connect you with the resources and support you need to succeed. Together we'll create a personalized path to healing that puts you in the driver's seat.
Loose clothing that can easily expose the area needing treatment is best.
Get adequate rest and hydrate to prepare your body for treatment. If your procedure is an office-based regional trigger point injection, you may eat a light meal or snack, nothing heavy. Arrange for a driver if you will be taking any medications that could affect your reaction time. Clear your schedule for the rest of the day so that you can focus on your post-procedure protocol.
If your procedure is at the surgery center, you will likely need to be fasting the day of the procedure. You will be given additional pre-procedure instructions when the procedure is scheduled. Please contact us if you have lingering questions.
Everyone feels pain at a different threshold. While we cannot guarantee that the procedures are completely painless, it is well tolerated by most. We work hard to make it as painless and tolerable for each patient, including a soothing spa-like treatment room with music of the patient’s preferred genre. The injectate has a short-acting anesthetic, much like the Novocain you get at the dentist. If requested, we also can utilize a cold spray which numbs the skin, and pre-medications, under special circumstances.
The medications injected will at times need to be adjusted depending on patient allergy, intolerance, strong objection or previous response. That being said, the most common medication cocktail injected includes long and short acting anesthetics and a small amount of cortisone. These medications help decrease pain and inflammatory response, during and after treatments, allowing the patient to focus on the post-procedure protocol and stretching program.
After treatment sessions you should plan to take it easy. The muscles have undergone microscopic muscle injury to break up the trigger points and fascial adhesions and need rest. No lifting or unnecessary use of the muscles treated is advised.
You will be provided a stretching program for the muscles treated. It is very important for you to apply pressure massage and stretch this area as directed while it seeks to heal from the treatment.
The use of heat and ice on the treated area can be a bit controversial. Heat may increase inflammation in the treatment area and potentially spread the injectate into the bloodstream, while ice can sometimes worsen muscle tension and spasms. However, some patients find relief from pain using heat and ice. As a general guideline, we recommend avoiding heat or ice on the area after treatment, if possible. But if you feel it's necessary for pain relief, it is typically safe to use them in moderation.
Common possible side effects can include: increased pain at the injection site, flushing, swelling, temporary increase in blood pressure or blood sugar levels, or skin color changes near the injection site.
Cortisone can temporarily lower your body’s immune response, making you more susceptible to infection or making it harder for your body to fight an infection. If you are sick or have a vaccination scheduled within two weeks, we will need to reschedule cortisone injections.
Complications are rare as utmost precautions are taken to avoid them, including use of ultrasound for needle guidance. Possible complications are usually mild and rare and include: bleeding, infection, bruising, allergic reaction to anesthetic, and a temporary numbness, weakness, or burning sensation. Very rarely, despite precautions, a small lung puncture may occur, which usually resolves on its own within a few hours.
Timing of relief can vary with individuals depending on how long the myofascial pain has persisted. Some patients feel relief right away and stay feeling improved. Most commonly patients feel increased soreness for a few days, especially after the initial treatment, followed by improvement for 1-2 weeks, then a gradual recurrence to some extent. Most often, patients still feel much better than they did prior to their treatment when they come to their second treatment appointment. This cyclical post-procedure pattern may repeat with progressively decreasing pain levels as the treatment continues.
