Q & A
Q. Is there any special preparation for my appointment?
A. No. When you are a new patient, your first visit with Dr. Kourtu or Alicia will consist of reviewing your current condition and results of any diagnostic testing you may have had done. (such as an MRI, or a prior procedures). Together you will discuss your treatment options and what can be expected from the treatments that you may be a candidate for.
Q. Is there anything I need to bring to my appointment?
A. Yes. We would like you to bring a list of your current medication including herbal supplements, the doses and how often you take them.
Q. Is there any special preparation for my procedure day?
A. Yes. You will need someone to come with you to drive you home. We don’t want you to eat any solid food 6 hours before your appointment. You can have clear liquids (coffee, tea without milk, soda, apple juice, Jell-O or broth) until two hours before your appointment, then nothing to eat or drink. The driver must check in at the front desk with you and must be present when you are ready to go home. There may be some medications that will need to be held prior to your procedure. Our office staff can answer any questions you may have about stopping medications.
Q. I’m on a blood thinner can I still have a procedure done?
A. Yes. Your first visit will be a consult. Depending on the blood thinner you are on and the procedure recommended, we will contact your doctor to see if it is safe for you to discontinue your blood thinner for a week before your scheduled procedure. Dr. Kourtu will
give you any special instructions regarding holding medications and lab testing that may or may not need to be done. If you are on Coumadin, we will take a blood sample the day of your procedure to make sure your blood is not too thin to safely continue with the procedure.
Q. I’m diabetic. Will this effect my treatment?
A. Not if your diabetes is under control. You will need to check your blood sugar the morning of the procedure. If it is >200, call us before you leave home. Steroids can cause a temporary increase in blood sugar, so we ask you monitor your blood sugars closely for
a week after your procedure. If it does increase, you should contact your primary care physician to explain you had a steroid injection and your blood sugars are elevated. He will adjust your diabetic medicine if necessary.
Q. What about my daily medications?
A. You can take all of your daily medications, including pain medicine, except for blood thinners. Contact our office for instructions about your blood thinners.
Q. Will there be any limits on my activity?
A. With routine pain procedures, you can resume your normal activities the next day. You are not to drive or operate machinery the day of the procedure. You will receive special instructions regarding your recommended activity level before you leave office.
Q. Do you prescribe medications for pain?
A. Yes. The providers will monitor your condition very closely and discuss pain management options with you and your primary health care provider. Pain medication is not a long term treatment to chronic pain management.
