Call the office at to speak to one of our schedulers. Alternatively, you can make an appointment directly online, by clicking here.
Some insurance plans require a referral from a primary care physician, while others allow direct booking. Always check with your insurance provider in advance.
A first consultation usually lasts 30–60 minutes, depending on complexity. Follow-up visits may be shorter. Extra time may be needed if imaging or procedures are performed.
Bring a valid ID, your insurance card and referral (if required). Bring details about your past medical and surgical history, and about any medications you take. Importantly, bring both the reports and actual images of any imaging studies (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans), and any relevant test results.
Comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the affected area is recommended. For shoulder and elbow pain, assure the arm can be easily exposed with a loose fitting shirt or tank top. For knee pain, assure the leg of your pants can be easily pulled above the knee level. If the body part cannot be easily exposed, you may be asked to change into a gown or shorts during the examination.
Dr. Kowalsky and his team will review your medical history, and discuss the history of your current condition. Dr. Kowalsky will perform a physical exam, and may order and review x-rays with you. A treatment plan will then be discussed, ranging from simple strategies such as medication, activity modification, and therapy, to surgical intervention. Dr. Kowalsky’s care team may provide you with equipment that is helpful for the management of your condition. Advanced imaging such as MRI or CT scan, as well as other tests, may be ordered and scheduled subsequent to your first visit.
X-rays are routinely ordered by Dr. Kowalsky to assess your condition. X-rays are considered the ‘third pillar’ of a thorough orthopedic evaluation. Although x-rays only show bone and other calcified structures, they can provide important insight about common causes of orthopedic pain, can rule-out rare but occasional and serious causes of pain, and can provide indirect evidence of important soft tissue injury. Thankfully. X-ray is routinely covered by most insurance plans, and is a very safe imaging modality. An average shoulder or knee x-ray series represents less radiation exposure than a cross-country airplane flight, or a half-day of environmental exposure outdoors on a sunny day.
Dr. Kowalsky will ask details about your condition, including how the pain began or occurred; details of a traumatic injury; duration of pain; severity on a scale of 1-10; where it hurts on the shoulder/elbow/knee; the quality or nature of the pain is; whether there are any associated symptoms like neck or back pain, radiating pain, clicking/catching/grinding, or swelling; factors that make pain worse or better; and any other evaluations or treatments on your own or prescribed by a clinician. It is often helpful to think about these details prior to the visit.
- What is the cause of my pain/problem?
- What are my treatment options?
- What are the risks and benefits of each option?
- How long is the recovery process?
- What lifestyle changes or exercises can help?
No. Most orthopedic conditions are treated with non-surgical options like physical therapy, medications, injections, or lifestyle changes before surgery is considered. Dr. Kowalsky will assure that all non-surgical options are strongly considered for the management of your condition. Surgery will only be considered for structural injuries that require surgery to heal, to avoid further deterioration of the injured structure, to restore overall function. Surgery is also considered for those patients who have already exhausted all conservative non-surgical options, whose pain is significant, and whose quality of life and ability to perform activities of daily living or important recreational or occupational activities is limited.
Be prepared to share your priorities and expectations with regard to independence, recreation and your occupation. Dr. Kowalsky will also ask about your goals for treatment (e.g., pain relief, return to sports, improved mobility). Since even the simplest treatment option can involve some risk, Dr. Kowalsky will want to get a sense of your general risk tolerance. Together, you and Dr. Kowalsky will tailor the treatment plant to accommodate these priorities, goals, expectations and concerns.
