General
How do I make an appointment?
Simply call us at ext 102. Our office hours are 8:00AM- 5:00PM, Monday through Friday.
Do I need a referral to make an appointment?
Most medical specialists will accept only referred patients. This is mainly to try to ensure that the specialist you are seeing is appropriate for you and your condition. Check with your insurance company to see if a referral is necessary.
What to bring for your initial consultation?
For your initial consultation you will need to bring a referral letter from your physician if required. Here is a checklist for your initial consultation:
- Driver’s License or a valid ID
- Insurance information
- Referral Letter (if required)
- Reports, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, etc. and any other relevant information
- List of medications (if any)
- A pair of shorts for examination. If you wear a dress, shorts must be worn underneath.
We encourage you to come to your initial consultation with a written list of questions to ensure you don’t forget to ask them when you visit the doctor.
Are my medical records kept private and confidential?
Your medical file is handled with the utmost respect for your privacy. Our staff is bound by strict confidentiality requirements as a condition of employment regarding your medical records. We will not release the contents of your medical file without your consent.
How long do I need time off work after the surgery?
The post operative recovery period varies based on the surgery. Dr. Klimisch will discuss the recovery period of the procedure that you are indicated for at the time of your appointment.
How long before I can resume driving?
You should not be driving until cleared by one of our physicians at your post operative appointments. The effects of anesthetic and surgery can affect judgment and reflexes during the first week following your surgery. This will depend on how your recovery progresses.
When can I resume exercise?
Your doctor will instruct you about post-treatment exercises - the type and the duration to be followed. You may be referred to a physical therapist to help with strengthening and range of motion exercises following surgery.
How do I contact after hours?
There will be a point of contact 24 hours a day for any concerns you may have. You will be provided with contact details following your treatment.
Medical
What are the non-surgical treatment options?
The non-surgical treatment options include rest, medications including analgesics and antibiotics, injections, and physical/occupational therapy.
Dr. Klimisch may prescribe physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, topical antiinflammatories, or hyaluronic acid injections. Our office does not prescribe pain medications outside of the surgical recovery period.
Will physical therapy be required after surgery?
Getting full range of motion, strength, and flexibility back after surgery usually takes time. That is where preoperative exercise, education, and post operative physical therapy programs come in – to ensure you are physically and emotionally prepared for surgery and to maximize your recovery after surgery.
What are the risks associated with surgery?
As with any surgery, risks include reactions to anesthesia, bleeding, infection, stiffness and nerve damage. Your doctor will discuss the risks associated with your specific procedure.
When can I return to daily activities?
This will be addressed in your post operative appointments. This varies depending on the type of procedure undergone, and can range from a few days to a few months. Returning to all activities, sports and exercise can take up to four to six months.
What can happen if surgery is avoided?
Some complications of not undergoing an orthopedic surgery for your condition include pain, loss of joint motion, joint weakness, numbness and an early onset of arthritis.
What are the most common injuries?
The most common orthopedic injuries are sprains and strains, fractures and dislocations. Injuries can occur when playing indoor or outdoor sports or while exercising. Sports injuries can result from accidents, inadequate training, improper use of protective devices, or insufficient stretching or warm-up exercises.
Anti-Embolism Stockings (compression stockings)...
After your surgery, you will need to wear these 23 hours a day for the first 2 weeks after surgery. The stockings are meant to be somewhat tight and may cause initial discomfort, but they are vital to your safe recovery and quality care. If you need another pair for any reason, you may purchase them with us for 50$ or find them with an online retailer.
After your appointment
I just received a steroid (cortisone) injection, what are my next steps?
If you receive adequate pain relief from the injection, it may be repeated in as soon as 3 months.
If you are still experiencing pain after 6 weeks after the injection, we may need to move forward with a different plan of care. For questions, you can call Gracie (MA) at ext. 118 or Alexandra (MA) at ext. 175.
I was recommended for hyaluronic acid injections (Gelsyn-3, Orthovisc, Etc.)
We will order these for you and you can expect to hear from the pharmacy for any consent and copay needed in the upcoming week(s). These injection series can be repeated every 6 months. For more information, please see the handout that was given to you at your appointment. If you have already reviewed the handout and still have questions, please call Megan at ext. 161.
I was told that an MRI would be ordered for my Hip/Knee/ Lumbar Spine...
MRI orders are sent out and authorized usually within 1-2 days of your appointment. These are done automatically through our electronic medical record system. Please contact the facility if you have not heard from them. You should have received a handout with more information. If there are any issues, or the facility needs more information, feel free to call Ashley at ext.144.
Dr. Klimisch indicated me for surgery...
You should have received a packet at your appointment with various information about hip/ knee replacement. Please refer to the packet for any questions regarding your surgery. If you did not speak with Amanda Escareno, our surgical coordinator, she should be calling you to schedule your appointment within 2-3 days. If you still have questions after reading the packet, please call ext. 129. This is for questions regarding surgery only.
What if I have a weight goal?
Dr. Klimisch may have given you a weight goal in order to proceed with surgery safely. This goal is calculated from your height and weight and we are unable to schedule you for surgery until you reach this goal. You are welcome to come into our office and get weighed throughout this process.
I have already had surgery and I have questions regarding post-operative care...
Please ALWAYS refer to your packet. This is the best way to get information for all of your surgery questions pre and post operative. After your surgery has been performed, all questions should be directed to our nurse or medical assistants. Please do not call our surgical coordinator as she only deals with preoperative questions and scheduling for surgery.
Medications are always sent in the morning of surgery by our nurse. Please call your pharmacy before contacting us, if there are any issues please call ext. 144.
Home health is sent out a week prior to your surgery. If you haven’t heard from the home health agency 2-3 days prior to surgery, please call them directly. If anything else needs to be addressed by us, please call ext. 144.
For case by case issues that may not be addressed in the packet, or for specific questions, please call Gracie (MA) at ext. 118 or Alexandra (MA) at ext. 175.
