Preparing for your First Office Visit
Where is your office located?
The Charlotte Shoulder Institute at Novant Health Orthopedic and Sports Medicine-Eastover is located on Randolph Road, next to the Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC. The address is 2826 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC, 28211. Our phone number is (704) 358-0308. Specific directions may found under the "Contact Us" link above.
What are your hours?
The Charlotte Shoulder Institute is open Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 5 PM and on Friday from 8AM to 5 PM.
What information should I bring? As part of a complete evaluation, it is critical to have all of the available information regarding your shoulder. To expedite your visit in our office as well as to avoid any delay in your diagnosis and treatment, you will need to request from your other physicians copies of your records and studies. Prior records should include any office visit notes, lab reports pertaining to your shoulder, imaging reports, and any prior surgical notes. These may also be sent to our office or faxed. Our fax number is 704-358-0039.
To ensure that we receive the documents, it is probably more reliable that you pick these forms up from your physician's office yourself and bring them to the appointment. Besides the documents that you may have requested to be sent to our office, it is very important to bring copies of the actual studies you have had performed. This is usually in the form of a CD, however should a disk not be available, then the actual films will be accepted. Studies typically include x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and bone scans.
Can I just bring the XRAY or MRI report?
Accurate shoulder evaluation and diagnosis can be a complicated process. Simply having a report of a study can limit the evaluation. Often times there is more information that can be obtained from your x-ray, CT scan, or MRI that is not mentioned in the report. By matching up your actual physical examination with your studies, a more complete evaluation is possible.
What should I wear?
You should wear something comfortable to the office that allows for direct visual evaluation of your shoulder. Females may consider wearing a tank top or athletic top.
What should I expect at my first visit?
At your 1st visit, you should expect to undergo a thorough history and evaluation. Should you bring studies with you, or have an x-ray performed in our office, then Dr. Romanowski will thoroughly discuss any findings. Occasionally, additional studies are required and a follow-up visit will be made to discuss the new results.
Will I have to have surgery?
Surgery is not always the answer for most shoulder conditions. Often times a conservative approach may be utilized. This may include activity modifications, anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, steroid or PRP injections, and other alternative methods. When these modalities fail, then surgery may be an option. For particular conditions of the shoulder, surgery may be recommended. It is always important to remember that surgery entails a certain amount of surgical risk, however this is minimal for most procedures.
I have had prior surgery and am continuing to have problems. Is it worth having an evaluation?
Every surgical procedure entails its own risk and outcomes. For patients that have had prior surgery and continued to struggle, then it may be reasonable to have an evaluation to see what the underlying cause may be. Often times these issues can be addressed. Dr. Romanowski has extensive experience with revision surgery.