Before Your Visit

• Prepare questions in advance, write them down and bring them with you
• Ask a relative or friend to come with you to the visit. A second set of ears may be helpful
• Gather all your medications, vitamins and supplements in a bag to bring to your visit or at least write them all down
• Download our forms in advance and bring with any summary of your health history
• Bring other medical information and test results, such as lab work, x-rays, and MRIs and bring with CDs or films if you have
• Bring a list of the doctors you want us to update about your medical condition. Be sure to include their telephone, fax numbers, and addresses
• Bring your insurance card and referral, if needed
• Realize if your current medical condition is any way related to any type of accident at work, in a car, or from a slip and fall make sure to let our office know - this can very directly impact your insurance coverage for the visit

On the Day of Your Visit

• Plan to arrive early to complete any forms that may be needed. (These can be downloaded in advance from this website) If you do not understand the questions or forms, please ask for help

As neurological/pain conditions tend to be complicated and complex its important that we spend the necessary time with you to arrive at the proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

• Please give us any information about your symptoms or condition, even though you may feel that it may be unimportant or embarrassing
• Take notes or have your companion take notes on what we tell you. If you don't understand the anything, please don't be afraid to ask for more information
• Ask us the questions you wrote down before the visit, even if you may feel the questions are not important
• Make sure you leave with handouts and Internet information that our office provides so you can share with your family or review when you are at home
• Make sure that you schedule all tests ordered and make sure you also make a follow-up appointment, our office will continue to care for you and plan on continuing to see you and treat you until your problem has been fully diagnosed and treated (and ultimately you feel and actually are better!) - We aren't done until your 100% clear what's going on and all better!!

The office policy is to call patients ONLY with emergent and highly abnormal test results, routine results are generally discussed at the follow-up visit which is designed to give the provider a chance to reevaluate you after time has passed, treatment has begun and test results become available to further clarify your condition and diagnosis.

Know What the Next Steps Are in Your Care

If we prescribe medication, make sure you fully understand:

• What has been prescribed and what it should do for you
• If there is a generic substitution that is acceptable
• Exactly when and how long you are to take your medication(s)
• The potential side effects of the medications and what to do if they occur

Our office generally prescribes the best available medication for your condition and while we try to be sensitive to realities of pharmacy coverage limitations with the health insurance plans, we also understand that most patients expect more than the generic non prescription medication they have likely already tried at home and have easy access to at their pharmacy

Please realize that it has become routine for us to prescribe what we can at first and then expect to adjust this FIRST LINE THERAPY for what your insurance will cover - much of our clerical support staff spends hours daily working on trying to get approval and coordinate getting you the medication you need and would be best for you!!

Back at Home

• Review the information you got from the neurologist's office. If you can't remember or don't understand something you were told, call the office to get the information you need
• Follow the neurologist's instructions. Managing your disorder is a partnership between you and your neurologist
• Make sure any medication you get at the pharmacy or through your mail order pharmacy benefits plan is what has been prescribed for you

Call your neurologist's office if:

• There are any complications or changes in your condition
• You experience any side effects from the medications
• You need to follow up on your test results