General Questions

1. Where are you located?
2. How do I get a copy of my medical records?
3. What are your hours?
4. Where do I park?
5. Do you fill prescriptions?
6. Is it necessary to be referred by another physician?
7. What hospitals do you use?

Billing Questions

1. What Insurance Plans do you accept?
2. Do you accept credit cards?

Spine and Medical Questions

1. My rehabilitation therapy has me working on stomach muscles. Why?
2. Why would spinal surgery be necessary?
3. How would I know if surgery is right for me?
4. How many people actually experience back pain?
5. What are lifestyle choices that I can change to decrease the risk of a flare-up of back pain?
6. What is an MRI?
7. What is a Physiatrist?

General Answers

1. Where are you located?
We have offices in downtown Sacramento as well as a satellite office in Roseville. For the address and directions, please visit our Contact Us section of the site or phone 916-733-8277.

2. How do I get a copy of my medical records?
To begin the process of medical records release, please call our Medical Records Office at 916-733-8277 ext: 85595.

3. What are your hours?
Sacramento Offices: 7:00am to 5:00pm, M-F. Roseville Offices: Mondays, Please call 916-733-8277 to schedule an appointment.

4. Where do I park?
Sacramento Office: parking is available within the parking structure. The entrance is on the K Street side. We validate parking. Roseville Office:

5. Do you fill prescriptions?
Only for worker's compensation claims. Note that we do not fill prescriptions on Fridays.

6. Is it necessary to be referred by a physician?
Not at all. However, most insurance carriers will not pay unless there is a referral. Please check with your insurance company to determine if a referral is necessary.

7. What hospitals do you use?
Sutter General Hospital, Sutter Roseville, Mercy General and Mercy San Juan
Top


Billing Answers

1. What insurance plans do you accept?
We accept most major plans including Medicare.. HMOs: Hill Physicians, Sutter, MedClinic. For PPO plans, please contact our office to determine if your PPO is covered.

2. Do you accept credit cards?
Yes we accept Visa and Mastercard.
Top


Spine and Medical Answers

1. My rehabilitation therapy has me working on stomach muscles. Why?
Strengthening the abdominal and "core" muscles is one of the first steps towards improving posture and alleviating lower back pain. If you have a sedentary lifestyle (desk job with little exercise) then you're placing a tremendous strain on the lower back and discs. By strengthening the abdominal muscles we encouraging upright posture; back pain can be reduced to a significant degree. Always consult your physician before beginning an exercise program.

2. Why would spinal surgery be necessary?
Back pain in the most common reason that adults will seek medical care. The causes of back pain are many and may include herniated discs, patterns of instability such as spondylolisthesis -- where one vertebrae slips forward on another, degeneration of the facet joints, enlargement of these joints producing pressure on the nerve roots that exit the spinal column, or stenosis of the spinal canal.

Preoperative studies including electrodiagnostic studies, EMGs, x-rays, CT scans, and MRI's are commonly used to determine which of these factors are contributing to the symptoms. Although most back pain can be managed with non-surgical therapy and exercises, if a clear causative factor can be found, and if it matches the symptoms you're having, then the you may benefit from surgical treatment of the spinal problem.

3. How would I know if surgery is right for my specific back condition and me?
At NCSRA, the patient is at the center of the decision making process. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide, with a lot of help from your doctor, whether or not spine surgery is right for you. Trying to make a decision about whether or not to have spine surgery can be an overwhelming process. How do you start to make this decision? Our recommendation is that you begin by learning as much as you can about why you need surgery, what kind of surgery you are going to have, and what this will mean to you and your family.

Having a complete understanding about the surgical process and what to expect will help to ease some of the anxiety that you will naturally have about this decision. We will help you take a step-by-step process, beginning with education about yourself, your condition and the options available to you. We'll help you make a confident decision, made jointly by you and your doctor, about whether or not to have surgery.

4. How many people actually suffer from back pain?
It's estimated that 4 out of 5 Americans will suffer from back pain at some time in their life. Nearly all of these incidents will resolve on their own, given time (usually within six weeks, given rest, medication and exercise). More than 60% of those who have experienced back pain, will have more than one episode. Back pain is actually the most common reason people visit their doctor.

5. What are lifestyle choices that I can change to decrease the risk of a flare-up of back pain?
The following factors increase the likelihood of back pain: lack of exercise, poor posture, continuous lifting, bending or sitting, emotional or mental stress, obesity, and smoking. By eliminating these factors, you reduce the risk of back pain.

6. What is an MRI?
MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. This is a non invasive diagnostic scanning technique that provides information on the body without the use of x-ray or the injection of radioactive substances.

7. What is a physiatrist?
A physiatrist (fizz ee at' trist) is a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists treat a wide range of problems that include musculoskeletal conditions and neurological diseases. These specialists focus on restoring function to people. To become a physiatrist, individuals must successfully complete four years of graduate medical education and four additional years of postdoctoral residency training. Training focuses on properly diagnosing and treating the musculoskeletal condition and neurological disease.
Top