The first visit to a new provider isn’t always easy, and it often stirs up many concerns. You may worry about logistics – like how much paperwork you’ll have to fill out – or fear judgment if you’ve previously experienced frustrating encounters with providers. And we know that it can be especially daunting when you’re dealing with chronic pain and searching for answers.
But one of the best ways to ease your anxiety is to know what you can expect during your first appointment with us. That’s why we’ve created a guide with everything you need to know before your visit to help you feel confident and prepared.
First Steps: What You Can Do At Home
At your first visit, our office will need information about you – and so will your provider. Because of this, we recommend doing a few things at home to speed up this process.
We ask all of our new patients to fill out a New Patient Packet, which includes documentation of your medical history, insurance information, and consent forms for our records. We have this packet available in our office, and you can arrive 30 minutes before your appointment to fill it out by hand. However, to make your appointment day less stressful, we recommend filling out the forms online and sending them to our office electronically. That way, your information is already on file with us, and all you need to do on the day of your appointment is check in and wait for your provider.
To make your conversation with your provider more efficient, we also recommend thinking beforehand of any questions and concerns you have. Your first visit can be overwhelming, and it’s natural to forget some of the questions you intended to ask. That’s why coming prepared with the specific problems you want to address is beneficial – as it ensures that none of your concerns are missed.
During Your Appointment: What You’ll Discuss With Your Provider
Your conversation with your provider will intend to address your questions and concerns, identify the underlying issues causing your pain, and determine your next steps.
Your provider will first ask you questions about your pain – what your symptoms are, the severity of your pain, and how long your pain has been occurring. This step is where your prepared list comes in handy – as it will help you answer these questions much quicker and allow for more time to discuss them further with your provider.
After discussing your pain, your physician may present several potential causes. If you are experiencing back pain, for example, there could be multiple reasons for your discomfort. These can include problems with your lumbar spine, discs, spinal cord, or the nerves around it. Your provider will go through each of these possibilities and then determine the most likely diagnosis.
Sometimes, it is clear what is causing your pain. But other times, your provider may need to do further testing. This can include referral to other specialists or additional imaging such as an MRI. In this case your provider will create this referral and what you expect.
Make Your First Appointment Great
We know that your first visit can be daunting, which is why it’s important to be as prepared as possible. Utilizing the information in this post will help you have a stress-free and better-quality visit — allowing us to give you the care you need.
Let’s Find the Right Solution For You
CNY Spine and Pain’s highly motivated team of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants wants to help find a personalized solution to your pain. To begin your pain management journey, request an appointment online or call us at (315) 451-5400 with any questions.