FAQ

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DO YOU REQUIRE A REFERRAL OR CAN  I JUST CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

PPO’s and Medicare patients don’t require a referral most of the time. Many HMO’s do require referrals from your primary care doctor. Please call us at 408-364-1616 to make an appointment. We can verify your insurance for you when you call. 

WHAT INSURANCES DO YOU ACCEPT?

We are in-network with all the major medical insurances including BC & BS, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Valley Health Plan, PMG, SCCIPA, Medicare, and Medicare supplemental plans, and Tricare.  We do not accept Medicaid. Please call us at 408-364-1616 to verify if your plan will be accepted by our group, or book online.
 

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE FIRST APPOINTMENT?

At this appointment you will meet with one of our practitioners for a comprehensive exam, where a personalized treatment plan will be developed for you. Please arrive 30 minutes early so you can fill out the paperwork. You can also request for this to be emailed to you if you would like to fill this out in advance.

HOW COULD MY PAIN BE MANAGED?

A combination of approaches, called a multidisciplinary approach, is often the best way to manage your pain. The whole focus of multidisciplinary programs is to get people functioning again. This can include: injections, regenerative medicine, physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, osteopathy, acupuncture, medications and other modalities to help improve you getting back to your daily activities.

WILL MY PAIN GET WORSE IF I AM VERY ACTIVE?

Not moving can actually worsen your pains.  Our bodies are designed to move. When we decrease activity, we lose muscle strength and flexibility, and even simple daily activities can become more difficult.   Our team’s goal is to gradually get you back functioning, and this gradual approach to activity is called pacing. If you are newly (acutely) injured, listen to your body.

 DO YOU PRESCRIBE OPIOID PAIN MEDICATIONS?

We DO NOT do solely opioids prescriptions for pain management, and this will be considered only on a case-by-case basis. Opioids are not indicated for chronic use and have long term side effects on your brain, gut, hormones and other organ systems. These side effects slowly cause damage and sometimes the damage can be irreversible. Opioids can also cause increased pain over time. 

Patients who are prescribed opioids will need to sign an Opioid Treatment Agreement, be subject to random urine tests and also need to be seen by a prescriber in person every 30 days.  Lost prescriptions will require a police report.

I WANT TO STOP OPIOIDS, BUT I NEED HELP, AND I’M WORRIED ABOUT WITHDRAWAL.

We can get you through this! Withdrawal is a common effect, and uncomfortable but not life threatening.  We can help support your withdrawal symptoms and create a manageable tapering plan. Most patients actually report having less pain after coming off of opioids. Committing to tapering is the hardest part and we can do this together!

I HAVE AN INJECTION/PROCEDURE SCHEDULED, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO BE READY?

· Make sure you have stopped all discussed blood thinners prior to your procedure.

· Please do, take your other medications, especially your diabetes and blood pressure medications. If your blood sugar or blood pressure are not within an acceptable range, your procedure may get cancelled.

· No eating or drinking for at least 8 hours prior, unless otherwise discussed with the physician.

· No creams or lotion on your skin.

· You must have a ride, unless otherwise discussed with the physician.

· Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled time of the procedure to fill out paperwork.