Frequently Asked Questions - Inova Comprehensive Pain Centers

How can a comprehensive multidisciplinary pain center help relieve my pain? Expand Content Multidisciplinary pain management focuses on a nonsurgical, nonopioid, comprehensive approach to diagnosing, treating and controlling pain. It uses a multipronged and individualized treatment plan to coordinate safe and effective options that can address the physical, emotional, social and psychological aspects of pain. We take a balanced approach to pain management at Inova Comprehensive Pain Centers. That means people living with pain, along with their family members and caregivers, learn to manage the pain in the most safe, effective, responsible and healthy way to improve or maintain overall well-being. Components of a balanced pain management plan may include: Minimally invasive, injection-based therapies Physical therapy and rehabilitation Psychological counseling Medication Coordination with diagnostic testing and providers outside of our center to ensure an integrated approach Surgical consultation (if more conservative measures fail to provide adequate pain relief) Instead of patients managing many providers themselves, we help to ensure patients have a smooth approach across their care needs for pain management and follow up once we have assessed patients’ individual case and needs. What is a pain management specialist? Expand Content Our doctors at the Inova Comprehensive Pain Centers earned a college degree, completed four years of medical school and four years of residency training in anesthesiology, and another year of fellowship training in pain management specifically. What medical specialties are a part of the pain center, and how is this helpful to me? Expand Content In addition to fellowship-trained pain management specialists, Inova Comprehensive Pain Centers have clinical psychologists and psychiatrists with offices at the center. Inova also has physical therapists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists, all of whom are located at the Inova Center for Personalized Health and connected through the same electronic medical record system. In a visit with a behavioral health provider and/or counselor, what forms may I need to review? Expand Content Please check with your provider to see which forms may be required for your visit. Acknowledgement of Community Group Rules Acknowledgement of Patient Rights Authorization for Claims Payment and Review Care Coordination Human Rights (English & Spanish) Informed Consent Form Notice of Privacy Practices (available in 8 languages) Release of Information - Medical Records Request (available in 6 languages) What is a Pain Management Plan? Expand Content Instead of patients managing many providers themselves, we help to ensure patients have a smooth approach across their care needs for pain management and follow up once we have assessed patients’ individual case and needs. Components of a balanced pain management plan may include: Minimally invasive, injection-based therapies Physical therapy and rehabilitation Psychological counseling Medication Coordination with diagnostic testing and providers outside of our center to ensure an integrated approach Surgical consultation (if more conservative measures fail to provide adequate pain relief) When would I choose to consult with a pain medicine doctor? Expand Content Most patients seek out a pain management physician if their pain does not improve with medications, rehabilitative therapies and time. Another common reason is when patients are unable to participate in physical therapy because their pain is too severe. Do pain management procedures require sedation? Expand Content Most procedures are performed with local anesthesia alone and do not require sedation. Do I need a ride home if I am having a pain management procedure? Expand Content Since most procedures do not require sedation, patients generally do not have to have a ride home. However, if you do not have a ride, you may need to stay in the recovery area longer. We recommend you have someone drive you home if this is your first procedure. Do I need to stop taking any medications before my procedure? Expand Content You will need to stop taking any blood thinning medications prior to spinal procedures. When to stop taking the blood thinner varies depending on the medication. Please call our office, and we will let you know how many days before the procedure to stop taking the medication. Are epidural steroid injections safe? Expand Content Epidural steroid injections are minimally invasive and generally low risk. An estimated 9 million epidural steroid injections are performed every year in the United States. Risks of more serious complications occur if you are taking blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder or have uncontrolled diabetes. Please tell your doctor if any of this applies to you or if you have an allergy to iodine, as iodine contrast is typically used during the procedure. What should I expect during the epidural procedure? Expand Content Most pain management procedures are performed with small needles and use image guidance, either X-rays (fluoroscopy) or ultrasound. The first step is to clean the patient’s skin with an antiseptic. The doctor will then inject a local anesthetic into the skin, which causes temporary discomfort. Pressure from the needle is common, but typically patients do not experience much pain during the procedure. We monitor patients after the procedure until it is safe to go home. What should I expect after the epidural procedure in terms of pain relief? Expand Content This will vary depending on the procedure and what medication we used. Please review our additional information about epidural procedures. What should I bring to my first appointment? Expand Content For your first appointment, please bring: A completed personal history form Any results of relevant diagnostic studies (MRI, CT scans, bone scans, EMG reports) or physical therapy and rehabilitation discharge paperwork, if applicable A list of your current medications and allergies to medications A list of all medications that you have used to treat your pain and whether they were effective A list of all other treatments you have received to help with your pain including injections, surgery, physical therapy, chiropractic or other treatments Your driver's license, insurance card and copayment Any medical records that have not already been faxed What can I expect at my first visit and after? Expand Content This will vary depending on your condition. Some patients are sent for a specific procedure from their referring physician and may not need an extensive evaluation. Depending on your insurance, you may need an evaluation by one of the pain management providers prior to having a procedure – even if your referring doctor has recommended a specific procedure. For those patients with more complicated pain issues, the initial evaluation will take longer. Please try to arrive 20 minutes early for your first pain management appointment and allow additional time to park and access our building and clinic suite. What follow-up appointments should I expect to have after my first visit? Expand Content This will vary depending on your specific situation and condition, but you should typically expect to have a follow-up appointment within a month of your first visit. If your insurance requires a prior authorization, the timing of the follow-up visit will depend on insurance authorization. Do I have to be referred by a physician? Expand Content Most patients are referred to Inova Comprehensive Pain Centers by their primary doctor or their surgeon, but we also see “self-referrals” — all by appointment only. We do not see “walk-ins.” Does insurance cover the cost of being treated for pain management? Expand Content Most insurances cover clinical evaluations and procedures to treat pain. We accept most forms of insurance. A staff member can tell you if our clinic accepts your specific insurance provider. Do you offer wheelchair assistance? Expand Content The Inova Center for Personalized Health has wheelchair assistance at the front entrance.