Question about the chiari institute in ny...

[Smiley1007]

Hi my appt at tci is jan16th and wondering what the first appt will entail? Is It a thorough exam,  how long is appt, and do you leave with a report on dx and potential treatment plan?  Thanks guys

[richerfaith]

I recently had my first appointment with TCI. I had surgery elsewhere 4 years ago and due to worsening symptoms I requested an appointment with TCI. My appointment was 2 hours long on the first day. 1 hour with the Nurse practitioner which was thorough, followed by seeing Dr B. He had already come up with a surgical plan and described that to me as well as showed me live surgical videos for decompression and tethered cord release. After watching the videos, I pretty much forgot all my questions to ask. Dr B did answer All my many questions by email the following week though.

When I planned my travel days, I allowed a few extra days just in case they wanted to schedule more exams. After seeing Dr B, He decided to order a flexion/extension MRI and 3D CT which he preferred to have done there so Im glad I allowed the extra days.

When I left there the first day, Dr B gave me his proposed treatment plan but said it would go before the entire treatment team before final approval. The following week I received an email that the team agreed with the plan and I am free to schedule my surgery now.

Hope this helps!

[selmaS]

  Hi, it really depends on the info they have on u already....but for me my first visit was more testing the first day and the 2nd day I saw the NP, then back to the waiting cubicles....there are individual sections to wait in with TV's and from what I recall uncomfortable chairs...wished I had a pillow to help with that...not sure if they changed those chairs...then I went back to see the NL, he did some basic neuro exams....walk toe heal, bend over, stick with pins...and gave his opinion....then back to the waiting room for quite sometime....so for me it was an all day thing, there was a deli across the street and my DH got some sandwiches for us, TCI does have a table with cookies and bagels and coffee and tea...but was not quite enuff ....

When I left I had an idea what they felt but all the info they get from that visit goes b4 a panel of all the Drs at TCI b4 u get a treatment plan.

Do u know which Dr u will be seeing?