What occurs during an initial evaluation?
When a patient schedules an initial appointment with the General Pain Division, they receive a 5-page questionnaire. The completed form is then reviewed by the clinical team at the patient’s initial visit. A detailed history is taken, and a comprehensive examination is performed. Diagnostic studies are requested which may include laboratory work, x-rays, an MRI scan, or an EMG (a study that determines if nerve damage is present or has occurred in the past). We then arrive at a preliminary diagnosis and treatment plan which is discussed with the patient. In many cases, a diagnostic injection of local anesthetic (nerve block) is administered which helps assess if the pain is from a nerve, muscle, or joint.
