New Patient Information: How TWC Works

The first few visits at TWC

The first few visits are about information gathering by our providers so that we can get a comprehensive picture of your condition. As a multidisciplinary clinic we utilize the skills and knowledge of our entire team to guide your care. On your 2nd or 3rd visit a treatment plan will be presented to you and you will be able to discuss insurance coverage for future care with the front desk. This may include the following:

X-Rays:

Are taken on your first visit to evaluate the spinal curvature, joints, disc space, skeletal health and to look for any reasons it may be unsafe to do spinal adjustments

EMG: 

Electromyography is a nerve study for patients with numbness or tingling to evaluate for nerve damage, impingement and where these are occurring.

Ultrasound Exam: 

Of the soft tissue to rule out active inflammation, soft tissue dysfunction or injury. This is performed by the Naturopathic Doctor, who also evaluates your needs for other services in the office and helps coordinate your care.

Acupuncture:

Is highly valuable in pain care and is a time tested, safe and effective way to boost your immune system.

Stages of Care

In the beginning of your care it will be necessary to receive more frequent care while we work on increasing circulation, range of motion and mobility to your joints and muscles. During this time you will begin to do stretches and minor strengthening in physical therapy, if applicable, and receive the necessary passive therapies (back adjustments, mas- sage, injections are passive therapies). As your range of motion and pain improve, strengthening will be added so that the changes we are making can become long term. As your need for passive care decreases, it is up to you to continue physical therapy at home. You are as important to the success of your care as your providers are.

Re-Evaluations

Evaluating your progress in terms of pain scale and range of motion is important for tracking overall success and progression. It also allows your
providers to look over your case at specified intervals and make sure there
aren’t any components of your care that could be better fitted to your
needs.

Insurance Coverage

We run a benefits check for all patients the day on, or after, their first visit. For this reason we may not know your copay or benefits when you check out on the first visit. On the 3rd or 4th visit we will present you with a treatment plan, outline the services recommended and what your
insurance covers. If there are services you need but aren’t covered by insurance, and you would like to pay for them out of pocket we can set you
up with a payment plan. While insurance isn’t always predictable, we do our very best not to land patients with unexpected bills.

Regenerative Medicine

What is Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative Medicine at The Wellness Center takes form as Prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, and Stem Cell therapy (which is generally
combined with PRP). We offer these in the form of injection therapies, where we deliver nutrients, inflammatory components, concentrated blood components, and/or umbilical stem cells directly to tissues that have been damaged, degraded or injured. The goal of these therapies is to stimulate
your body's immune response to come to the area and address the issue, as it would with a new injury. This can be particularly helpful in tissues
that do not have their own rich vascular supply (tendons, ligaments, cartilage).

PRP

Is probably the best known of these methods and is combined with stem cell therapy when needed. It is an injection therapy that uses components of a patient’s own blood to treat areas of injury. Plasma is the fluid that our blood cells are suspended in. Platelets are a component of our blood that
are essential for initiating blood clotting and signaling. They communicate by releasing growth factors to stimulate tissue healing. Once isolated, the
platelet rich plasma in injected into the injured area where it can moderate inflammation and re-initiate the healing process. It can be very helpful for tissues that do not have a rich vascular supply of their own (tendons, ligaments, cartilage).

How is PRP isolated?

Blood is drawn from the patient, similar to getting a blood draw for lab work. The whole blood is spun in a centrifuge. This spins the blood at high
speeds, allowing the different components to separate in layers based on density. Once separated the platelet rich plasma is collected from the tube
carefully, and prepared for injection. The PRP is injected using a narrow (25 gauge) needle, and is injected into the site of chief complaint pain.

Platelet Rich Plasma has been being used safely for decades. It is a brief procedure with minimal disruption to daily activities.

Benefits of PRP

• PRP comes from the patient’s own blood
• Uses the body’s natural healing ability
• Long term solution, aimed at repairing
• injured or damaged tissue
• brief in-office procedure
• Low risk
• Cost effective compared to surgical repair

What does PRP Treat?

PRP can be used to treat the following, among other things:

• Osteoarthritis Tendonitis affecting the:
• Shoulder (e.g. rotator cuff tendonitis)
• Ankle (e.g. Achilles tendonitis)
• Knee (e.g. “Jumper’s knee”)
• Elbow (e.g. “Tennis elbow”)
• Plantar fascia injuries, fasciitis Ligament sprains, laxity, tears Meniscal
  injuries
• Labrum tears