FAQS

All of our sports medicine physicians are specialists and to see a specialist in Ontario, a referral is required from a Physician or Nurse Practitioner. The referral form may be downloaded here .

You may self-refer to see our nurse practitioner that runs the Acute Injury Clinic if you have an old injury, or MSK related pain, such as osteoarthritis, and would like treatment options, and referrals to the sports medicine team of physicians here at the clinic.

Please bring your valid, non-expired health card, appropriate clothing (shorts for a lower extremity injury and sleeveless top for upper extremity injury), and any reports/investigations that have already been done (if not already sent with the referral).

Depending on the type of injection, then yes, same day injections are available. Cortisone and hyaluronic acid may be injected the same day, although there are a few exceptions to this which may be discussed with the physician. However, PRP and nStride needs to be scheduled on a different day due to the blood draw and preparation required.

Response to injections varies from person to person and depends on the type of injection. The severity of your condition and how long you have been experiencing symptoms can also affect how quickly you notice improvement.

• Cortisone: You may begin to notice improvement within 2–3 days, although it can take up to 2 weeks to feel the full effect.

• Hyaluronic acid: This generally takes longer to work than cortisone. Improvement is often noticed within 2–4 weeks, with maximum benefit sometimes taking 4–8 weeks.

• PRP / nSTRIDE: These injections tend to have a more gradual effect. Some people begin to notice improvement within 2–4 weeks, but it may take 6–12 weeks or longer to experience the full benefit.

Everyone responds differently, and improvement may continue gradually over time.

Most body parts/joints are injected with the exception of spine injections. Certain joints require ultrasound guidance, which is available for a private fee.

Imaging is suggested for some acute conditions and most chronic conditions such as arthritis, but there are times when imaging is not required. Many conditions are more clearly understood by using some form of imaging.

X-rays are common and used to detect bony abnormality or changes, but not as useful for soft tissues.

Ultrasounds are useful for looking at muscles, tendons and some ligaments.

CT/CAT scans provide more detail of body parts, most specifically bone, but also some soft tissues. These are useful for looking at fractures and stress fractures among other things. These scans involve a radiation dose.

Bone scans are sensitive to bone and some soft tissue changes. They may show stress fractures as well.

MRI scans are used to assess bone, soft tissue, ligaments, tendons and cartilage. MRIs are not always indicated or necessary for treatment, but can be used when diagnosis is not clear with history, exam through other forms of imaging. Due to the fact that MRIs are not readily accessible and have long wait times, there are criteria set by the radiology department that must be met to qualify for imaging. MRIs are often reserved for when you are not responding to standard treatment or for surgical planning purposes.

No referral is needed to make an appointment with one of our non-physician health care providers. We do recommend checking with your private insurance provider as they may require a doctor's referral for reimbursement of your appointment.

Any cancellations, especially those within 24 hours, do require a phone call to our reception team as soon as possible. Also, please call the front desk if you are going to be late to see if it is still possible to accommodate your appointment. You may have to be rescheduled depending on how late you are. If you call at a time when the clinic is closed or our lines are busy, please leave us a message. Messages are retrieved regularly. For physiotherapy and athletic therapy patients, there will be a no show charge for a confirmed appointment.

OHIP does cover your appointment to see the sports medicine physicians. OHIP also has an agreement with most other provinces for direct billing, so please bring your provincial health card if you are from out of province. Unfortunately patients from Quebec will need to pay privately and request reimbursement from their provincial health care office.

You will not have to pay out of pocket for anything that is covered by OHIP. However, there are treatments that are not covered by OHIP that you may have to pay for at your appointment. For example, some injection fees and certain medications or injectable products used may not be covered by OHIP and therefore would have to be paid out of pocket. If you have private coverage, you will be provided with an appropriate receipt that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. We are not able to direct bill for these services on your behalf.

As this is not an OHIP funded service, there will be a fee charged per appointment. Additional charges may apply for other services such as forms, notes, and injectable medications (if applicable).

Most extended health plans cover the cost of our non-physician services. Payment is required directly to the clinic at the end of your appointment. Some insurance plans have approved registered clinics to perform direct online billing on the patients behalf. We can assist you in determining if your plan will allow us to submit your receipt and claim form on your behalf. The reimbursement then gets sent directly back to you. Your insurance provider may also require a physician referral to be submitted with your claim depending on the service. Patients should inquire with their insurance what services are covered, annual maximums, and what they will require for reimbursement. Please bring the necessary documents with you to your appointment as well as your insurance card and/or billing information.