MEDICAL QUESTIONS
OFFICE/INSURANCE QUESTIONS
How soon can I get an appointment with your office?
What insurance plans do you accept?
Do I need a referral to see an orthopaedic physician?
How much will a visit to an orthopaedic physician cost?
MEDICAL QUESTIONS
What causes joint pain?
There are many causes of joint pain including: cartilage or ligament injury, arthritis, nerve pain, fractures, and infections. A diagnosis of the cause of joint pain should be made by consulting a physician.
What are the alternative treatments for joint pain caused by arthritis?
Alternative treatments to surgery for arthritis include over the counter medications for pain or inflammation, nutritional supplements, injections such as steroids or viscosupplementation (synthetic joint fluid), physical therapy, exercise, or bracing. A combination of these treatments may be recommended by your physician.
When should I see an orthopaedic physician for joint pain?
Consider seeing an orthopaedic surgeon when joint pain begins to interfere with your daily life.
What type of joint implant do you prefer to use and why?
I use several different types of joint implants depending on what is best suited to an individual patient’s needs.
How many joint replacement procedures to you perform each year?
I typically perform over 50 hip replacements, 15 total hip revisions, 40 total knee replacements, and 10 total knee revisions each year.
What are the typical outcomes/results of joint replacement procedures?
The vast majority of joint replacement patients have excellent long-term results.
What is the recovery time from a joint replacement procedure?
For a total hip replacement, most people recover very quickly, walking with full weight on their new hip the day of surgery or the next day. Crutches or a cane are used for six weeks for uncemented implants, with full weight-bearing, to allow your own bone to grow on the implant.
For a total knee replacement, it is very important to work on range of motion with your physical therapist; most people have full range of motion by six weeks. Full weight-bearing begins the day of surgery or the next day.
When can I drive after a joint replacement surgery?
The average return to driving is one month. Some people, especially those who have cars with automatic transmissions and left-sided surgery can return to driving much sooner.
When can I expect to return to work/activities after a joint replacement procedure?
Return to work is variable. I have seen people after total hip surgery return to work one week after surgery. However, I recommend you arrange to have six weeks off, and then if you feel well and your job is sedentary, you could return sooner.
Didn’t find the answer you were looking for? Use our Ask a Specialist Form to submit a question to our providers or visit www.aaos.org and www.aahks.org for additional information on joint pain and osteoarthritis.
OFFICE/INSURANCE QUESTIONS
How soon can I get an appointment with your office?
You can typically be seen by our providers within a few days. Call our office at 928-773-2534 to schedule an appointment or visit our Request Appointment page to have an office representative contact you.
What insurance plans do you accept?
Please see our Request Appointment page to verify if we are in network with your insurance plan.
Do I need a referral to see an orthopaedic physician?
Some insurance plans require that you obtain a referral from your primary care physician before being seen by an orthopedist. HMOs and Medicaid are examples of these. If you are in doubt about whether your insurance requires you to bring a referral to your appointment, please call the customer service number on your insurance card to verify this information.
How much will a visit to an orthopaedic physician cost?
The cost of your visit will be subject to the level of your care. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be responsible for meeting a deductible, co-insurance, or co-pay. If you have questions regarding your coverage, contact your insurance company at the number listed on your insurance card. For patients without insurance, we offer a cash discount for all services provided at our facility. |
