- I think I need PT but I am not sure. Should I wait until after I have seen my doctor before starting PT? No, come get evaluated by a Physical Therapist first. A Physical Therapy evaluation or consultation can help you determine what type of treatment you need.
- Does my insurance pay for Physical Therapy provided without a prescription?
Yes, in most cases insurances will cover services provided without a doctor’s prescription. There are a few exceptions and the best way to be sure of coverage is to call us before you schedule.
3. Can I talk to a PT prior to deciding about treatment? Yes. If you have a problem and are not sure which way to turn, one of our PTs will sit down with you for a Discovery Visit. If we can help you we will propose a PT plan of care. If we think PT will not be helpful we will refer you to the appropriate doctor or other specialist.
4. How does PT help me? PT examines the muscles, joints and nervous systems which are responsible for a lot of aches and pains, especially as we get older. PTs are experts in diagnosing and treating movement and postural problems. PTs can help you manage your symptoms and live the life you want without unnecessary use of medication.
5. What should I wear for my session? Loose comfortable clothing that allows you to move comfortably and allows your PT to examine your injured areas. We recommend t-shirts, long sleeved t-shirts, shorts, walking or running shoes. Pretty much what you wear to the gym!
6. Isn’t PT for people who are badly injured or have had orthopedic surgery? No. Many people do come to PT following surgery or traumatic injury however the vast majority of people come for everyday problems like back pain, shoulder pain, knee problems etc. Taking care of these types of problems when they are minor can prevent them from becoming more serious, painful and time consuming.
7. Will I learn things I can do on my own to help my condition? Yes, often on Day One, your PT will give you some easy things to try at home. This is so that eventually, you will have the knowledge and skills to take charge of your own health.
8. How soon can I see the PT? Usually we can schedule you for your first appointment in 1 or 2 days. We also have early and late appointments for your convenience.
9. How often do I need to come to PT? That depends. Your Physical Therapist will assess your condition and recommend a plan of care for you. Most patients come in 3 times a week, some come more frequently, others less. As you get better, we may advise you to come in once a week or once a month.
10. How long does the session last? A typical session is one hour. We ask that you bring your calendar, appointment book or phone to your first appointment so we can reserve your treatment times and schedule your Physical Therapist in advance.
11. My MRI report shows three herniated discs and several bone spurs. Can PT do anything for that? PT treats the pain and movement dysfunction they find on your evaluation. The presence of spinal abnormalities do not necessarily determine the way you feel. We routinely return people to a happy healthy lifestyle despite the presence of disc herniations, bone spurs and other abnormalities found on X-ray or MRI. We always recommend you try PT first, If you don’t get the results you want then this indicates that more invasive treatments like surgery may be needed.
12. I just found out that the pain in my shoulder is caused by impingement. Do I need to have surgery to get out of pain? Not necessarily. There are a lot of things we can do in PT to reduce or eliminate impingement. In some cases, however, surgery is required. Patients who have been through a course of PT prior to surgery typically recover faster and have better results.
13. Is Dry Needling effective for back pain? Dry Needling is the best kept secret when it comes to alleviating back pain. Most patients feel significant relief on the first treatment and say things like “I can’t believe I didn’t try this before” or “this is the best I have felt in 3 months!”. If you have back pain, neck pain, sciatica or any other type of spinal pain we strongly urge you to try Dry Needling.
14. Got More Questions? If you have questions about treating anything and you don’t see it in these pages, reach out to my team at info@jonesphysicaltherapy.com and we will have one of our experts help you.
3. Can I talk to a PT prior to deciding about treatment? Yes. If you have a problem and are not sure which way to turn, one of our PTs will sit down with you for a Discovery Visit. If we can help you we will propose a PT plan of care. If we think PT will not be helpful we will refer you to the appropriate doctor or other specialist.
4. How does PT help me? PT examines the muscles, joints and nervous systems which are responsible for a lot of aches and pains, especially as we get older. PTs are experts in diagnosing and treating movement and postural problems. PTs can help you manage your symptoms and live the life you want without unnecessary use of medication.
5. What should I wear for my session? Loose comfortable clothing that allows you to move comfortably and allows your PT to examine your injured areas. We recommend t-shirts, long sleeved t-shirts, shorts, walking or running shoes. Pretty much what you wear to the gym!
6. Isn’t PT for people who are badly injured or have had orthopedic surgery? No. Many people do come to PT following surgery or traumatic injury however the vast majority of people come for everyday problems like back pain, shoulder pain, knee problems etc. Taking care of these types of problems when they are minor can prevent them from becoming more serious, painful and time consuming.
7. Will I learn things I can do on my own to help my condition? Yes, often on Day One, your PT will give you some easy things to try at home. This is so that eventually, you will have the knowledge and skills to take charge of your own health.
8. How soon can I see the PT? Usually we can schedule you for your first appointment in 1 or 2 days. We also have early and late appointments for your convenience.
9. How often do I need to come to PT? That depends. Your Physical Therapist will assess your condition and recommend a plan of care for you. Most patients come in 3 times a week, some come more frequently, others less. As you get better, we may advise you to come in once a week or once a month.
10. How long does the session last? A typical session is one hour. We ask that you bring your calendar, appointment book or phone to your first appointment so we can reserve your treatment times and schedule your Physical Therapist in advance.
11. My MRI report shows three herniated discs and several bone spurs. Can PT do anything for that? PT treats the pain and movement dysfunction they find on your evaluation. The presence of spinal abnormalities do not necessarily determine the way you feel. We routinely return people to a happy healthy lifestyle despite the presence of disc herniations, bone spurs and other abnormalities found on X-ray or MRI. We always recommend you try PT first, If you don’t get the results you want then this indicates that more invasive treatments like surgery may be needed.
12. I just found out that the pain in my shoulder is caused by impingement. Do I need to have surgery to get out of pain? Not necessarily. There are a lot of things we can do in PT to reduce or eliminate impingement. In some cases, however, surgery is required. Patients who have been through a course of PT prior to surgery typically recover faster and have better results.
13. Is Dry Needling effective for back pain? Dry Needling is the best kept secret when it comes to alleviating back pain. Most patients feel significant relief on the first treatment and say things like “I can’t believe I didn’t try this before” or “this is the best I have felt in 3 months!”. If you have back pain, neck pain, sciatica or any other type of spinal pain we strongly urge you to try Dry Needling.
14. Got More Questions? If you have questions about treating anything and you don’t see it in these pages, reach out to my team at info@jonesphysicaltherapy.com and we will have one of our experts help you.
