FAQs
How do I know when and what type of appointment I should schedule?
Following up with your medical team after any procedure is important. Feeling better is wonderful, and that is our goal for all of our patients. But we want you to keep feeling better. That may also require functional rehabilitation and strengthening in order to avoid future injury.
Why does Boston Advanced Medicine provide sedation for injections?
For injections, many patients elect to have a small amount of sedation. We have found that our patients are more comfortable and relaxed during injections when given sedation. If you would prefer not to have anesthesia medications during your procedure, it is not required. Please talk to your Boston Advanced Medicine physician if you have any questions or concerns about your procedure. Our objective is for you to be as comfortable as you can be.
Do I need a referral from my primary care physician?
If your insurance plan usually requires a referral to see a specialist, then you will need a referral to come to Boston Advanced Medicine.
Will I be able to get a prescription at my first appointment?
Our physicians may provide prescriptions for non-opioid medications on your first visit. Prescriptions for opioid medications will not be provided.
How many physicians work at Boston Advanced Medicine? What are their specialties?
We currently have 9 physicians on our staff. Their specialties include Pain Management, Anesthesiology, Neurology, Internal Medicine, Chiropractic, and Psychiatry. We also have other specialists on staff including advanced practice nurses, and nurse anesthetists who support and treat our patients as well.
Does Boston Advanced Medicine treat headaches?
Yes. Our Boston Advanced Medicine, headed by Dr. Egilius Spierings, MD, PhD, treats headaches. We also treat patients who suffer from neuralgia, TMJ, and other head, neck, and facial pain conditions.
What do we mean by an interdisciplinary or integrated practice?
Our practice is designed to treat chronic pain in all of its forms. However, pain is caused by a variety of different ailments and conditions. Instead of having patients travel to multiple specialists for individual treatments that may not be coordinated, we have a facility that has all of the relevant specialists under one roof. This allows our specialists to work closely together as a team to coordinate your care.
My pain specialist recommended that I have an injection to treat my back pain. Will I feel better right away?
An Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) may provide some immediate relief to the patient as anesthetic medication is injected in addition to steroid medication. Some patients do not receive long-term relief from the steroids with a single injection. Often 2 or 3 injections, spaced several weeks apart, are required.
Zygapophyseal Joint Denervation (Facet) is another type of treatment that is routinely performed. It is used as both a treatment and as a diagnostic tool. A patient may feel some immediate relief with this injection, but it may take up to a week for patients to achieve maximum improvement.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RF) procedures can offer longer lasting relief for patients with facet joint pain. After an RF procedure, however, patients may feel a temporary increase in their pain during the first week. This is normal. After the first week, their pain level will begin to decrease.
Is there a limit on the number of injections that I can have?
Every patient is different and may require a different number of injections to alleviate their pain. Some patients have one Epidural Steroid Injection and feel great for an indefinite period of time. Others need more frequent injections. Our pain specialists will recommend a variety of treatments that work together to help improve your pain.
