Preparing for your visit
Thank you for entrusting our team with your care
A little preparation goes a long way. The more complete a picture we have of your injury — how it happened, how it feels, and what has already been tried — the more productive your first visit will be, and the faster we can get you an accurate diagnosis and a clear plan. This page covers what to think about and what to gather before you come in.
Symptom History — Questions We May Ask
If you have been dealing with your symptoms for a while, details can be surprisingly hard to recall on the spot in an exam room. Reviewing these questions ahead of time — even jotting quick notes in your phone — helps us understand your knee, shoulder, or elbow condition and how it is affecting your life.
When did your symptoms start? Was there a specific injury or event — a pivot, a fall, a dislocation, a pop — or did they come on gradually?
Where exactly do you feel it? Try to point with one finger: the front of the shoulder, the inside of the knee, the back of the elbow.
When do you notice it? Constantly, or only with certain movements — overhead activity, stairs, squatting, cutting, throwing, lifting?
How severe is it? Rate your pain from 0 to 10, both at its worst and on a typical day. If your joint used to work at 100%, what percentage is it at now?
Does your joint ever feel unstable? Has your shoulder slipped or dislocated? Has your knee buckled or given way? How many times, and doing what?
Do you have mechanical symptoms — catching, locking, clicking, or swelling after activity?
Is it trending better, worse, or unchanged over the past few months?
Does it wake you at night or keep you from falling asleep on that side?
What can't you do right now that you want to get back to? Be specific — your sport and position, your training schedule, your job demands, or simply daily activities. Your goals shape the treatment plan as much as the diagnosis does.
Treatment History
Many of our patients have already tried some form of treatment before seeing us, and knowing precisely what has and hasn't helped is essential to recommending the right next step. Before your visit, put together a timeline.
Physical therapy — roughly when, for how long, and whether it helped
Medications — anti-inflammatories or other pain medications you have used
Injections — what kind (cortisone, gel/viscosupplementation, PRP, or other), where, when, and how long any relief lasted
Bracing, slings, or activity modification you have tried
Previous surgery — on this joint or the same joint on the other side
If you have had prior surgery on the affected joint, please request a copy of the operative report from your surgeon's office and bring it with you. It tells us exactly what was done, which matters enormously when planning revision treatment.
Previous Imaging
If your knee, shoulder, or elbow has been imaged before — X-ray, MRI, or CT scan — contact the facility where it was performed and request two things: the written report and the actual images on a CD (or a digital access link, if the facility offers one). Bring both to your appointment.
The report alone is helpful, but the images are most important. Dr. White personally reviews every imaging study himself, and treatment decisions often hinge on details best seen on the images themselves. Facilities are required to provide your imaging on request, though some need a few days — call at least a week before your visit if possible.
If you haven't had recent X-rays, we will typically obtain a new set at HSS on the day of your visit, so plan for a few extra minutes.
What to Bring — Checklist:
Driver's license or valid photo ID
Health insurance card
List of (or knowledge of) current medications and allergies
Imaging CD and reports (X-ray, MRI, CT) from any outside facility
Operative reports and clinic notes from prior treatment, if applicable
Clothing that allows examination — shorts for a knee visit, a tank top or loose shirt for a shoulder visit
Our team strives to provide the highest standard of care for our patients. Please feel free to call our office at (201) 267-7196 or email us at drwhiteoffice@hss.edu with any questions or concerns. Existing patients may also contact us through the MyHSS portal. New patients are encouraged to complete their intake forms in the MyHSS portal as well.