While your physician is an expert on medical care, you are the expert on yourself. By acting as a partner with your doctor, you can help choose a treatment option that best fits your values, beliefs and lifestyle. This can make you feel more confident about carrying out the treatment you have chosen. Keep in mind, being prepared for your visit will help you get the most out of your appointment.
Your Visit
What to Bring
Please complete the forms appropriate for the doctor you will be seeing prior to your arrival at the office if at all possible. If you have been evaluated previously for this or any related condition, please bring all applicable materials with you:
- Medical records, including surgery notes if applicable
- X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, nerve studies
- List of medications that you currently take and any medical problems you have
Note that patients under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
You can also help your doctor by being prepared to answer the following questions:
- What are your main symptoms?
- How long have you had your symptoms?
- What were you doing when your symptoms started?
- Have you had this problem in the past?
- What was the diagnosis?
- How was it treated?
- How and when did an injury occur? How was it treated?
- Have you had any injuries in the past to the same area? Do you have any continuing problems because of the previous injury?
- Have you ever had surgery in that area?
- What activities related to sports, work or your lifestyle make your symptoms better or worse?
- Do you think that activities related to your job or hobbies caused your symptoms?
- What home treatment measures have you tried? Did they help?
- What nonprescription medicines have you taken? Did they help?