Partner With Your Doctor

Spine Education

A well informed patient regarding their condition or disease has a better chance of recovery, improved pain tollerance, and a greater capacity to remain compliant during their treatment process.

The success of surgery or conservative treatment is in part dependent on the motivation and compliance of the patient and not just the skill of the surgeon or other medical professionals managing the patients care.

It is important for all patient who are considering any treatment for their problem to become familiar with their problem. Our intent in this section is to provide accurate and informative yet basic patient focused education that will serve to start your research.

We hope you find it informative and helpful as you move toward recovery.

Your Health

We strive to provide the very best care for our patients. It is important for the patient to have all of the information needed to make an intelligent decision regarding both conservative medical management and surgical care to relieve your pain and suffering. Your doctor is an expert in his field, but you know yourself and there is often more than one choice for diagnosing and treating patients. When you are a partner with your doctor, you can help decide what is best for you, your values, beliefs, and lifestyle. You will also feel more confident about carrying out the chosen treatment.

Build a Relationship

• Tell the doctor that you want to be a partner in your health care and what your expectations are.
• Find a doctor with whom you think you can build a long-term, comfortable relationship. It is important to find a doctor who will support this partnership.
• Establish a long-term and comfortable relationship with your doctor. The relationship you have will greatly influence your ability to make wise health decisions. It can also affect the results you get from your care.

Actively Participate

• Listen carefully to what the doctor says. Make sure you understand what you are told about your diagnosis or treatment.
• Come prepared with a list of questions you want answered and a list of medications and supplements you are taking.
• Ask questions. If you do not understand something, ask the doctor or nurse to repeat it in a different way.
• Ask for instructions. Before you leave the doctor’s office, make sure you know what you are supposed to do to care for yourself. Ask for written information or instructions.