Making an appointment is simple, fast and convenient. Either give us a call at 844-434-SOAR (7627) or request an appointment online.

In most cases, YES, you will need a referral to schedule an appointment. Referrals ensure that you are getting the proper care, from the right specialist.

Part of receiving the care you need is taking the right preparatory steps for your initial consultation. Here is a quick checklist of everything you will need for your first trip in:

• A referral letter (if necessary)
• A valid form of identification
• Your insurance information
• Have your relevant medical history with you or faxed over from any previous providers
• A list of any and all medications you are taking
• Important details regarding your specific symptoms, the timeline for your injuries and any relevant events that could provide necessary insight into your condition
• A written list of any important questions you may have to better understand your condition and how best to limit your symptoms
• List of current medications

Yes! Our entire staff is required by law to adhere to strict confidentiality requirements as it pertains to patient records. Employers, friends and family will not be given any information without your written consent.

Depending upon the severity and type of injury you have and surgery you have undergone, your activity level will be limited for a short time following surgery. Physical therapy exercises may be a part of your recovery plan. Regular exercise, especially any rigorous movements, will need to be approved by your doctor before they are attempted to avoid the risk of post-operative complications.

If your surgery required the use of anesthesia or heavy medications, you will need to make arrangements for getting home from the facility after you have been released. If medications are required for your recovery, obtain from driving as instructed. Otherwise, patients should be able to resume driving, as long as they are physically capable of confidently operating a vehicle. Patients in slings and braces may not have the full use of their limbs to safely operate a car.

As with driving and exercise, each patient’s ability to withstand regular activity will vary. In the case of work, factors such as the type of surgery that was performed and the type of occupation that you have, will inform the doctor of a realistic timeline for returning to work safely.

Following your treatment, we have representatives available to answer your calls 24/7 for ongoing guidance and support. If you are worried that your health is at risk, you should consider calling 911 for any potentially life-threatening or severe situations.

Likely, the first thing anyone should do after an injury is utilize the RICE approach (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation). Resting limits your susceptibility to further injury and allows the body to conduct its natural healing process and ice, compression and elevation all work to reduce swelling, which can cause pain and infection. Other non-surgical options include pain reducing or anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy. These nonsurgical options will be used, if at all possible, to limit your exposure to potential risks.

The recovery period for different surgeries can vary from hours to months. If the patient is healthy and takes the right steps before and after surgery, they can limit the risk for complications and promote the body’s natural healing process. That being said, many surgeries will require at least a 24 to 48 hour period of minimal activity, if not bed rest. From there, you will regularly follow up with your surgeon to monitor your progress and discuss the best rehabilitative approach to take to get you back to your normal daily routines as soon as possible.

For fractures, dislocations, sprains and tears, it is highly advised, if not required, to undergo physical therapy to not only promote fast healing but ensure that the body is fully recovered from any joint or soft-tissue injuries. While this may seem inconvenient, patients will appreciate the assistance that physical therapists provide both physically and mentally while recovering from a serious surgery.

In certain cases, patients may choose to opt-out of surgery and let their bodies heal naturally. Through diagnostics scans and tests, surgeons will have a complete understanding of the patient’s condition and how it can progress. If surgery is recommended, it is very likely that the patient’s condition will worsen, or at least be highly susceptible to further deterioration.

For certain injuries, the body may have to overcompensate to provide stability and balance. This can lead to additional injuries and deformities over time. Injuries like fractures may heal improperly, or incompletely without the assistance of surgery. In the case of a spine injury, deterioration or unrelieved pressure on the spine can lead to progressive pain, weakness and paralysis.

Any surgery carries a certain degree of risk, though diagnostic scans and choosing the right surgical team can limit the potential for post-operative complications. Potential risk factors include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Blood clots
• Nerve damage
• Infection

Injury rates vary from person to person depending on age and lifestyle. For athletes, sprains and strains are highly common. In elderly patients, degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis and slip and fall injuries are quite common. In our realm we deal with injuries caused by motor accidents, such as whiplash, compression fractures, etc.