Your doctor has recommended a spinal surgery procedure (SS) to manage your pain. The
psychological evaluation is a positive step toward controlling your pain and is most likely
required by your insurance carrier as part of a standard protocol for eligibility for the procedure.
Your doctor may have requested it to assess your psychological suitability to ensure your safety
and wellbeing. It provides a starting point where you can begin to move forward at a pace that
you’re comfortable with while gaining confidence towards managing your pain effectively.
 

Your psychological evaluation begins with a consultation which provides you with an
opportunity to discuss how your past and current experiences have brought you to consider
spinal surgery and to discuss the symptoms that are getting in the way of doing the things that
matter most to you. During the evaluation process we will talk through the psychological
measures which help me understand your emotional wellbeing and how you process stress and
manage pain. This provides a more comprehensive view of your psychological framework.
Once completed, I will review the results with you, answer your questions, address any
remaining concerns, and if needed, offer you suggestions to help tailor your treatment plan to
your unique psychological framework. I'll then send the report to your physician.

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While most people are psychologically appropriate for spinal surgery, we simply like to ensure
there aren't any psychological, emotional, cognitive, or lifestyle factors that might impact your
safety or recovery. If spinal surgery isn't the best fit for you right now, I’ll update your physician
with detailed feedback to ensure they have the information needed to recommend alternative
treatments or help you effectively manage your pain until you're ready to reconsider spinal
surgery.
 

Our assessment provides safeguards that spinal surgery is a psychologically good fit for you and
is fully aligned with your wellness goals so you can focus on the moments that matter most and
get back to the activities you enjoy.