Patient Information

Streamlining the process

Our team is committed to ensuring that you have the best possible experience during your visit. We strive to provide personalized care and support to meet your unique needs.

Patient Forms

Our goal is to provide excellent care starting before you walk in

Here you’ll find our medical release and authorization forms available for download. Utilize these forms to help expedite your services and ensure your experience is as streamlined as possible.

Medical Intake
Form

Informs us of your medical history and current symptoms to facilitate accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Download

Privacy Notice / Record Of Disclosure

Informs you about the collection, use, and disclosure of personal health information and so you can save for your records.
Download

Consent To Treat and Health Care Agreement

Grants permission to administer medical treatments and outlines the terms and responsibilities of both parties involved.
Download

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some of the questions we get asked most often for your convenience and peace of mind.

Questions about your office visit

In the event of emergencies or urgent situations where you need to reach our physicians outside regular clinic hours, rest assured that we have physicians available on-call. For after-hours or weekend contact with an Austin Hand to Shoulder Center physician, please dial 512-524-7264. However, for non-emergency prescription needs or refills, we recommend contacting your pharmacy directly, as they will handle communication with us. Please note that medication refills are not processed during nighttime or weekends.
Please ensure you have your insurance card or relevant health coverage information available. Some insurance providers may require a referral from your primary care physician prior to treatment by a specialist, such as an orthopedist. If you have any inquiries about your plan or coverage, it is advisable to consult your insurance carrier.
To determine if a referral is necessary, kindly consult your primary care physician and communicate with your insurance company. The insurance representative will assist you in understanding the referral requirements, while your family physician can generate the appropriate paperwork for pre-authorization. It is essential to arrange all referrals ahead of your initial visit.

Questions about specific conditions and treatments

Total joint replacement involves replacing both sides of the weight-bearing surfaces of a diseased joint with artificial implants, offering a treatment option for affected joints in the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder.
Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique performed inside a joint using small incisions, utilizing a video camera and specialized instruments to treat conditions in joints like the wrist, elbow, and shoulder.
An orthopedic surgeon is a medical professional specializing in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, muscles, and related painful conditions.
A sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched or torn, usually resulting from excessive force or unnatural movements of a joint, while a strain happens when a muscle is stretched or torn, typically caused by overuse or improper muscle use. The severity of sprains can range from stretching to partial or complete tears of the ligament.
A torn rotator cuff refers to a group of tendons and muscles around the shoulder that help stabilize the joint and facilitate arm movement, with different stages of tears indicating partial or full tears, accompanied by varying levels of pain, swelling, weakness, and decreased range of motion in the shoulder.
Shoulder impingement is a condition where improper alignment of bones and tissues in the upper arm leads to inflammation, often related to tendinitis, bursitis, arthritis, or rotator cuff tendon tears, causing irritation, pain, and limited range of motion when raising the shoulder.
Frozen shoulder, known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition where the tissues around the shoulder joint become stiff and form scar tissue, causing difficulty and pain in shoulder movements, typically resulting from reduced joint usage due to pain, injury, or chronic health conditions like diabetes.
A separated shoulder, referred to as acromioclavicular joint injury, occurs when the outer end of the collarbone separates from the shoulder blade due to torn ligaments, commonly caused by a shoulder blow or a fall on the shoulder or outstretched hand or arm.
A dislocated shoulder, also known as shoulder instability, happens when the upper arm bone comes out of the shoulder joint due to a direct blow, a fall on an outstretched hand or arm, or an exaggerated overhead throwing motion.
Muscle spasms occur when inflamed muscles contract tightly as a protective response to injury, causing severe and debilitating pain, commonly affecting the low back (lumbar) muscles.
Arthritis is a condition where the joints in the body, most commonly the knees, hips, and fingers, experience inflammation and deterioration of the cartilage, resulting in bone rubbing together and stiffness.
Tendinitis is the inflammation of tendons, which connect muscles to bones, usually caused by overuse and repetitive motions, resulting in pain and swelling around joints such as the elbow, shoulder, wrist, ankle, or knee.
Bursitis is the inflammation of small fluid-filled sacs called bursae that cushion areas around joints, often caused by overuse during physical activities or infection, leading to pain and limited movement, commonly affecting the shoulder, knee, hip, elbow, or heel.
A stress fracture refers to a microscopic crack in a bone caused by overuse and repetitive stress. It often occurs in weight-bearing bones of the lower legs and feet, typically due to increased exercise intensity or improper footwear.
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is inflammation of the tendon that connects the muscles of the forearm, wrist, and hand to the upper arm at the elbow. It is commonly caused by overuse during physical activity and can result in pain and discomfort.
A bulging disk refers to a compressed spinal disk that intrudes into the spinal canal without rupturing the outer layer. Herniated or ruptured disks involve the nucleus of the disk forcing its way through the outer layer, potentially causing nerve impingement and pain. Low back injuries may result in pain, numbness, or weakness in the lower back, leg, or foot, while neck injuries may produce similar symptoms in the shoulder, arm, or hand.
Radiculopathy, commonly referred to as a “pinched nerve,” is a condition in which the spinal nerve roots are irritated or compressed. It can be associated with herniated disks or spinal stenosis, and lumbar radiculopathy affects the lower spine, while cervical radiculopathy affects the neck.
A biceps tendon tear occurs when the tendons connecting the biceps muscle to the shoulder or elbow are either partially or completely torn. This injury can result from sudden trauma or gradual overuse.
Baseball or golfer’s elbow, medically known as medial epicondylitis, refers to pain experienced on the inner side of the forearm near the elbow. It is caused by inflammation in the tendons that connect the forearm muscles to the inside of the elbow joint and is often associated with repetitive bending, throwing, or swinging motions.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that occurs when the median nerve, which controls feeling and movement in the hand, becomes compressed as it passes through the wrist. It is often caused by repetitive hand motions and can lead to pain, numbness, or tingling in the hand if left untreated.
A dislocated shoulder occurs when the upper arm bone is either partially or completely forced out of the shoulder socket, often resulting from incidents like sports injuries, traffic accidents, or falls where the shoulder or outstretched arm is impacted.
Hand and wrist pain can result from various causes, including injuries, conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, or overuse due to repetitive movements.
Shoulder impingement syndrome, also known as swimmer’s shoulder, is characterized by pain caused by the rubbing of a tendon against the shoulder blade. This condition typically affects athletes and individuals who engage in overhead motions frequently, such as swimmers, baseball players, or racket sports participants.
A rotator cuff tear refers to the tearing of one or more tendons in the rotator cuff, a group of muscles and tendons that support and enable arm movement. These tears can occur either partially or completely and are commonly caused by injuries or repetitive movements.
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterized by stiffness, pain, and limited range of motion in the shoulder joint due to inflammation and the formation of scar tissue in the shoulder capsule, often resulting from injury, chronic health conditions, or reduced use of the joint.