Patient Resources
How to make one appointment count
A neuromodulation evaluation is mostly a conversation. What you bring to it — records, imaging, and a clear account of your pain — determines how much can actually be decided that day.
What You'll Learn
Approx. 8 min min read- Assemble the records and imaging that make an evaluation productive
- Describe your pain in the terms that distinguish neuropathic from mechanical
- Understand what the appointment can and cannot settle
- Leave with the right questions asked, not just answered
What this appointment is
An evaluation, not a sales visit.
The purpose of the first appointment is to work out whether neuromodulation is a reasonable option for your pain — and if so, which kind. That means the conversation starts with your history, your imaging and what you have already tried. It does not start with a device, and no manufacturer is chosen in the first ten minutes.
A useful outcome of a first appointment is sometimes 'no'. If your pain pattern points somewhere else, the honest answer is to say so rather than to trial something unlikely to work. That is not a wasted visit.
Bring With You
The documents that change the conversation
Ask the office where you plan to be seen which records it can request and how long that may take.
- Recent imaging on disc, not just the reportMRI of the relevant spine region if available, plus any CT or X-rays. The images matter more than the radiologist's summary.
- Operative reports from any spine surgeryWhat was done, at what levels, and when. Hardware present in the spine affects lead placement.
- A current medication list with dosesInclude anything for pain, sleep, mood and blood thinning. Anticoagulants directly affect procedure planning.
- A record of what you have already triedPhysical therapy, injections, ablations, medications, surgery — with rough dates and what each one did or did not do.
- Your insurance card and any prior authorisation correspondence
- The name and contact details of your referring physician
- A list of your questions, written downAppointments compress. Written questions survive that compression; remembered ones often do not.
Do not send records or imaging through this website or a directory listing. Ask your clinician's office how to transfer them securely once an appointment is scheduled.
Describing Your Pain
Four things worth being precise about
These four details do more diagnostic work than a pain score on its own.
Where it is, and where it goes
Pain confined to the low back behaves very differently from pain that travels into a buttock, thigh or foot. Draw it if that is easier than describing it.
What it feels like
Burning, electric, shooting, pins-and-needles and numbness point toward nerve pain. Aching, grinding and pain that worsens with load point toward mechanical pain. The words genuinely matter.
What makes it better or worse
Standing, sitting, walking distance, leaning on a shopping trolley, time of day, weather. Patterns of provocation and relief narrow the differential quickly.
What you have stopped doing
Function tells the story a number cannot. Being unable to stand long enough to cook, or waking four times a night, is more informative than 'it's an eight'.
The most useful sentence a patient can say is not how bad the pain is. It is what the pain has taken away.
During The Visit
What generally happens
- 01
History
A detailed account of the pain, its course, prior treatment and how it affects daily function.
- 02
Examination
A focused neurological and musculoskeletal examination, looking for signs that match or contradict the history.
- 03
Imaging review
Your images are reviewed alongside the examination. Imaging findings that do not match your symptoms are as important as ones that do.
- 04
Candidacy discussion
Whether neuromodulation is reasonable, which target and waveform make sense, and what the realistic expectation is.
- 05
Next steps
If it makes sense to proceed: psychological evaluation, insurance authorisation, and scheduling the trial.
Ask These
Questions worth asking before you agree to anything
A good answer to each of these should be available on the day.
Candidacy
Why do you think this would work for my pain?
The answer should reference your specific pain pattern and imaging, not general statistics.
Expectation
What does success look like for me, concretely?
A realistic target should be a percentage of relief and a functional change, not the elimination of pain.
Alternatives
What else should be tried first, or instead?
Neuromodulation is one option among several. The reasoning for choosing it over the alternatives should be explicit.
Risk
What are the specific risks in my case?
Lead migration, infection and loss of effect are the common ones. Prior surgery, diabetes and smoking change the numbers.
Device
Will I need MRI access in the future?
Raise this early. MRI labeling varies meaningfully between platforms and is difficult to change afterwards.
Practicalities
Recharging, device size, and what I have to wear
These are lifestyle questions, and they are legitimately yours to weigh in on.
Bring someone with you
A second person hears things you will not, particularly in a long appointment about a decision that matters. If that is not possible, ask whether you may take notes or record the summary portion of the conversation.
Common Questions
Before your visit
Ready to discuss your questions with a clinician?
This site does not arrange appointments. If you are in the U.S., the physician directory offers unverified listings as a starting point; confirm details with an office directly.