How do you know if you are a candidate for surgery?
Inclusion Criteria
| - | An traumatic event, usually but not always whiplash from an auto accident; falls from a ladder or another event causing a sudden forceful jerk of the head and neck. |
| - | Evaluation performed by a competent specialist in orthopedics, neurology or neurosurgery |
| - | Debilitating pain or no improvement in symptoms lasting more than 1 year |
| - | No evidence of injury from radiological, electrophysiological or other laboratory studies including a negative MRI of the cervical spine |
What information do we need? Click here for the Medical History Form
| 1. | It is important to have precise information regarding your past medical history and your current medical status. |
| 2. | Photos are helpful to show range of motion in the neck. |
| 3. | Please be as specific as possible when completing the questionnaire, listing all current signs and symptoms, current medications and past and present treatments. |
| 4. | We want to know what you use to feel better or what helps make the pain less in your daily activities. |
| 5. | Tell us about the activities you can and cannot do because of your injury. |
What happens next?
| 1. | Dr. Nystrom will review your medical history and contact you to discuss your case either by telephone or by the email. Please complete the Medical History Form. |
| 2. | Dr. Nystrom will determine if you are a potential candidate for the surgical procedure. Please note that not all potential candidates are in fact surgical candidates. |
| 3. |
If you are indeed a potential surgical candidate you will be contacted and a date for surgery will be discussed with you and determined. |
| 4. |
Financial arrangements will be made prior to your arrival. |
| 5. |
Dr. Nystrom will perform a consultation and physical examination upon your arrival in Omaha, Nebraska, to confirm that you are a surgical candidate. |
| 6. |
A travel questionnaire will be sent to you via email for you to complete and email back to the office of International Healthcare Services. You will make your travel plans and provide the office of International Healthcare Services with your arrival and departure information. |
| 7. | We also want to know and how many people AND how many suitcases will be traveling with you in order to make appropriate room arrangements. |
How much time is involved for the treatment process?
If you reside outside the United States, we would like you to arrive in Omaha, Nebraska on a Monday and plan to stay for 10 to 14 days. Many patients extend their stay to visit friends, relatives or places of interest here in the United States. Here is an example of a common schedule:
| Day 1 | You arrive in Omaha, NE to the Nebraska Medical Center. |
| Day 2 | Rest and relax |
| Day 3 | Meet with Dr. Nystrom in the orthopedic clinic for evaluation. |
| Day 4 | Pre-operative Range of Motion study performed at Monroe Meyer Institute. |
| Day 5 | Surgery |
| Day 6 | Post -operative evaluation with Dr. Nystrom |
| Day 7 | Through the time of departure varies with each patient depending on recuperation rate. During your stay you will follow up with Dr. Nystrom for one or two additional consultations in clinic and also undergo a second Range of Motion study. |