Welcome to Complete Care,
the Office of Dr. Aric Hausknecht

In general, a first visit starts with a conversation about your symptoms, your medical history, and how the problem is affecting your daily activities, followed by a physical and neurological examination. Your Provider will then discuss their initial impressions, whether any testing may be needed, and possible treatment options.

Bring a photo ID, your insurance card, a list of the medications you take, and any prior imaging, test results, or reports related to the problem — including the disc or CD if you have one. If your visit relates to a car accident or a job injury, bring the claim number and adjuster information as well.

An EMG with nerve conduction studies measures the electrical activity of your nerves and muscles and may help show whether, where, and to what degree a nerve is affected. Many patients describe brief discomfort rather than pain, although experiences vary: the nerve study uses small electrical pulses, and the muscle portion uses a very fine needle electrode, similar to an acupuncture needle. In general, the study takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

In general, come with clean skin and no lotion or oil on your arms and legs, and wear loose clothing that allows access to the area being tested. Tell the office beforehand if you take a blood thinner or have a pacemaker or other implanted device, so the study can be planned appropriately. Follow any specific instructions the office gives you.

It varies. The number of visits depends on the diagnosis, how long the problem has been present, and how you respond to care. Some patients have a single consultation and a test; others follow a treatment plan over several weeks. Your Provider can discuss what to expect at your first visit, and the plan may change over time.

Not always. In general, imaging is considered when the history and examination suggest it may affect your treatment plan, for example when nerve involvement is suspected, after a significant injury, or when symptoms are not improving. If you have had recent imaging elsewhere, bring it; in some cases it can be used instead of repeating the study.

We can evaluate you. Pain after spine surgery is not unusual, and in general it is evaluated like any other problem: a history and examination, a review of your operative records and imaging, and, when nerve symptoms are present, electrodiagnostic testing may be considered. Treatment options are discussed based on the evaluation.