To get started with your SCS pre-surgical psychological evaluation, we will have you answer a series of questions that will give us information about your medical history, current conditions, and other factors that impact treatment success. We want to understand your current level of pain, history of dealing with chronic pain, lifestyle and activities that may be contributing to discomfort, and the results of past attempts at relieving pain. We want to have a clear understanding of your beliefs about the causes of your chronic pain and what expectations you have for pain reduction after surgery.
The initial questionnaires guide the clinical interview portion of the evaluation. Many people are worried about the clinical interview, but we encourage clients to think of this simply as a conversation with a professional who knows about the emotional and physical stress of undergoing surgery and making big life changes. We’re not here to judge you. Our clinician wants to collect and assess information required by your insurer or surgeon to approve surgery, but we also want to help you think through the surgical treatment process and potential concerns to improve your chances for success. During the clinical interview, we will help you address any emotional concerns that arise and talk through coping skills for issues that may arise after surgery.
After your assessment and clinical interview, we will provide a thorough report that you can give to your insurance company and surgeon. If you have questions or concerns after the evaluations are completed, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your clinician. To schedule a evaluation in Fort Collins, CO, contact us.
