Preparing for your visit

New patients

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.

Symptom history: questions we may ask

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 and how it is affecting your life.

When did it start?

Was there a specific injury or event (a pivot, a fall, a dislocation, a pop), or did symptoms 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, at its worst and on a typical day. If your joint used to work at 100%, what percentage is it at now?

Does it feel unstable?

Has your shoulder slipped or dislocated? Has your knee buckled or given way? How many times, and doing what?

Any mechanical symptoms?

Catching, locking, clicking, or swelling after activity?

Which way is it trending?

Better, worse, or unchanged over the past few months?

Does it affect your sleep?

Does it wake you at night or keep you from falling asleep on that side?

What do you want to get back to?

Be specific: your sport and position, training schedule, job demands, or daily activities.

Your goals shape the plan.

What you want to return to matters as much as the diagnosis when we build your treatment plan, so come ready to tell us what you can’t do right now.

Treatment history

Many patients have already tried some form of treatment before seeing us. Knowing exactly what has and hasn’t helped is essential to recommending the right next step, so put together a simple timeline before your visit.

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 or activity changes: braces, slings, or activity modification you have tried
Previous surgery: on this joint, or the same joint on the other side

Had surgery on this joint before?

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. Bring both to your appointment.

Request #1

The written report

The radiologist’s summary of the study. Helpful, but not enough on its own.

Request #2 · Most important

The actual images

On a CD, or a digital access link if the facility offers one. Dr. White personally reviews every imaging study, and treatment decisions often hinge on details best seen on the images themselves.

Call at least a week ahead

Facilities are required to provide your imaging on request, but some need a few days to prepare it.

No recent X-rays?

We will typically take a new set at HSS on the day of your visit, so plan for a few extra minutes.

What to bring: checklist

Run through this list the night before your appointment.

Driver’s license or valid photo ID
Health insurance card
A list 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 an exam: shorts for a knee visit, a tank top or loose shirt for a shoulder visit

Questions?