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Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Do I need a referral to see a physician?

A referral is only needed if required by your insurance carrier. Typically, however, our patients have already seen their primary care physician or an orthopedic specialist and are sent to one of the Spine Institute physicians for a consultative appointment. Our physicians then relay back to the referring physician the results of your appointment(s).

What is the procedure for prescription refill requests?

Once a patient has called and requested a refill on an existing prescription, that request is sent to the physician for approval. If approved we ask that you allow 24 hours for the prescription to be called in due to the volume of refill requests that flow through our clinic. If the refill request is not approved, you will hear back from one of our staff members within 2 working days.

When will my epidural steroid injection (ESI) or selective nerve root block (SNRB) appointment be scheduled?
If an ESI or SNRB is ordered by one of the Spine Institute of Louisiana physicians, the order will be forwarded to scheduling so that the procedure can be pre-certified and scheduled. You should receive a call within 5-7working days to gather any additional information necessary for your injection to be submitted for approval by your insurance company. You will also receive a call from the hospital, once scheduled, to relay arrival times and to provide details related to preparing for the procedure.

Imaging Questions

Why do we need to take xrays when patient has had an MRI?

Each modality is used to diagnose different aspects of the spine. Xrays show the kind of injury and severity which can include: fractures, arthritis, spondylolistheses, degeneration of disks, abnormalities in curvature, congenital abnormalities, bondy detail, and tumors.

Why do you take multiple images?

The body is a three dimensional structure and xray is two dimensional. Flexion and extension ben the spine to see range of motion and can also reveal deformities which can determine if it can be corrected.

How long will it take for the doctor to be able to view the images?
Images are direct capture which means the doctor gets them immediately after the exposure.
How harmful are the xrays?

We use ALARA which means the dose is as low as reasonable achievable but still acquires an excellent diagnostic image. The benefits of xrays outweigh the small but possible harmful effects. The amount of radiation received is much less than the national acceptable dose. Strict guidelines and regulations exist to ensure patient safety and protection.

Take The First Step

Request An Appointment!

Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are available to answer any questions.

Appointment Request