Preparing for your first visit
You will need to be referred to us by a physician or nurse-practitioner. Our contact information is under the "contact" tab. Once we have the referral, our receptionist will call you to arrange an appointment time. The first visit is a consultation and there is no fee for this visit, unless you are treated at that visit. We will take a brief history of your pain condition, review your doctor's letter, examine you and discuss different options for your treatment. We will explain the risks and benefits, and leave you with information so that if you decide on treatment we can obtain an "informed consent" from you. On occasion there may be time to start the treatment at the first visit. Other times it is better for you to consider the information given and return for treatment at a separate appointment.
Should I stop my pills?
In short, no. The only exceptions are visits specifically for prolotherapy and platelet-rich plasma injections. In these instances only, you should stop any anti-inflammatory medication 1 week before your appointment (eg. Advil/Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, Celebrex, Voltaren, full dose Aspirin). You do not need to stop baby Aspirin for heart/stroke prevention before prolotherapy. If you are coming for trigger point injections, perineural injections, please do not stop your medication. Please bring a list of your medication to your appointment. It is very important to let us know if you take steroids (prednisone), immunosuppressants or blood thinners (warfarin, Plavix, heparin, dabigatran etc).
Cancellation: Very importantly, please give us a minimum of 48 hours' notice if you cannot attend your appointments. You will be billed a missed appointment fee if you do not give us this notice.
Payment: Consultations and trigger point injections are covered by MSP although there is a fee for specialized needles and injectables used. Some treatments are not paid for by MSP and will be billed privately, for example prolotherapy, PRP or acupuncture. Our receptionist can inform you of the fees for different treatments. We accept cash, cheques, debit and credit (Master Card and Visa) cards.
Please read through the FAQs for your type of treatment. Many of your questions will be answered by doing this.
Wear loose fitting, dark clothing (you may get a little bit of blood on your clothes!)
Tank tops and loose-fitting shorts are helpful.
PLEASE bring a hair tie if you have long hair.
Should we embark on treatment, we will pre-book a series of appointments with you. These dates can always be changed should they not be convenient.
Eat a light meal or snack before you come to your appointment.
If you are having prolotherapy or platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stop anti-inflammatory medication one week before your treatment eg. Advil, full dose Aspirin, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Celebrex, Turmeric but NOT low dose Aspirin.
You do not have to stop any medication if you are having any other treatment.
Please inform us of medications you take, allergies or if you are on Coumadin, Warfarin or other "blood thinners" or Plavix.
Should I stop my pills?
In short, no. The only exceptions are visits specifically for prolotherapy and platelet-rich plasma injections. In these instances only, you should stop any anti-inflammatory medication 1 week before your appointment (eg. Advil/Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, Celebrex, Voltaren, full dose Aspirin). You do not need to stop baby Aspirin for heart/stroke prevention before prolotherapy. If you are coming for trigger point injections, perineural injections, please do not stop your medication. Please bring a list of your medication to your appointment. It is very important to let us know if you take steroids (prednisone), immunosuppressants or blood thinners (warfarin, Plavix, heparin, dabigatran etc).
Cancellation: Very importantly, please give us a minimum of 48 hours' notice if you cannot attend your appointments. You will be billed a missed appointment fee if you do not give us this notice.
Payment: Consultations and trigger point injections are covered by MSP although there is a fee for specialized needles and injectables used. Some treatments are not paid for by MSP and will be billed privately, for example prolotherapy, PRP or acupuncture. Our receptionist can inform you of the fees for different treatments. We accept cash, cheques, debit and credit (Master Card and Visa) cards.
Please read through the FAQs for your type of treatment. Many of your questions will be answered by doing this.
Wear loose fitting, dark clothing (you may get a little bit of blood on your clothes!)
Tank tops and loose-fitting shorts are helpful.
PLEASE bring a hair tie if you have long hair.
Should we embark on treatment, we will pre-book a series of appointments with you. These dates can always be changed should they not be convenient.
Eat a light meal or snack before you come to your appointment.
If you are having prolotherapy or platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stop anti-inflammatory medication one week before your treatment eg. Advil, full dose Aspirin, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Celebrex, Turmeric but NOT low dose Aspirin.
You do not have to stop any medication if you are having any other treatment.
Please inform us of medications you take, allergies or if you are on Coumadin, Warfarin or other "blood thinners" or Plavix.
Checklist:
- Bring medications you take
- Bring suitable clothes
- Bring a hair tie if needed
- Bring means of payment
- Bring your BC care card the first visit
- Bring the map or directions of how to find our clinic
- Bring or inform us of important medical information: allergies, seizures, pregnancy or blood thinners
- Bringing a driver the first injection appointment is helpful
- Stop anti-inflammatories a week prior to prolotherapy or PRP. There is no need to stop them before other treatments.
- Remember to give cancellation notice should you need to change your appointment time