paging KRRYG....

Sarahmun

that's so funny you mentioned him, Jason S. We were considering him out of Focus THerapy in Montclair. MH used to go to Focus Therapy many years ago and loved them so I looked them up to see who worked there and it was this Jason guy, whom we didnt know.

Can I ask how much it runs typically? It doesnt look like he takes insurance unless its out of network.

How long have you been going and how often do you need to go? Just trying to figure out budget.

THanks so much!

krryg

Sarah, yes thats where I first started going to Jason at Focus in Montclair. I was going there for PT ( I went to Frank who I also loved) and he suggested acupuncture. Focus took my insurance but I had to pay $24 out of pocket every time I went. $12 for PT and $12 for acupuncure plus I had to pay a $100 deductible for the acupuncture. Focus was very convenient for me because its 5 min from my house, but once I was finished with PT it didn't make sense to go to Focus for just acupuncture because it was so hard to get an appt for just that. They tend to give the appointments to current patients first. Also Jason in only at Focus on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

It reall doesn't take long to get to his Hawthorne office at all, not sure where you are, I'm in Bloomfield. He really knows what he is doing, I can't tell you howm much the acupunture helps with the pain because he also puts the electric stim all over your back as well. It takes a few sessions for the pain relief to kick in though, I think maybe by the 4th I was feeling big time relief. As far as cost, he takes my insurance but does not charge any copays. He is such a nice guy and he is also starting out so I can't imagine he wouldn't work with you. I would call him and just say "you have such a great reputation, my husband is really suffering from back pain, if he commits to see you once a week can you please work with us? I am so sure he would. Also if you are interested, I would be happy to ask him what he charges for someone who doesn't have insurance. Just let me know, but he may do it on a what you can afford basis. GL to your husband, I know back pain sux big time.

Has he hada diagnosis, does he know if its his discs or just a muscle strain?

krryg

Oh and to answer the second part of your question, I went weekly for about 3 to 4 months now I just pop in on an as needed basis, i guess about once a month or so. Also Jason works for Focus so he has to charge what they charge, but in Hawthorne that is his own office so I think he would be alot more flexible.

Sarahmun

He's had MRI's etc and i know he has some congenital findings like short pedicle syndrome and spinal stenosis. He also has some bulging discs etc. in the L4-5 and S1 i think. He goes to a great PM&R that specializes in spine from Hospital for Special Surgery out of Princeton but he gets injections only. YOu can only get 3 or 4 a year at most. He takes a few non addictive pain meds like Ultram and Celebrex but he still feels it and stands on his feet all day in 12 hour shifts.

I am researching other options as well because as we all know about men, they don't tolerate pain half as well as we do!! So he is a big grouch lately and I've about had it!

Im going to have him give a call on Monday! Our insurance said they dont cover it but I have heard mixed things from coworkers and I work for state so we should have a decent plan. We also have Out of Network benefits so who knows.

What is your name? I can tell MH to tell him you referred him!! you can PM me if you are more comfortable. thx!

krryg

Yes of course my name is Kerry G, and I work for the state too, well I am a teacher but Jason is really good, he is happy taking what insurance gives him. I'm not sure how accupuncture works with back pain, I know it reroutes the pain pathways but it also promotes healing because of the blood flow and circulation, I think. All I know is I did PT, chiropractor, and kept going to orthopedist, different meds, etc. and nothing even came close to giving me the kind of releif I got from acupuncture.

Usually with out of network, you have to pay a $100 or $150 deductible first, but he does not charge this.

Sarahmun

Good to know! Will call him for sure! I am a teacher too, well speech teacher!! I have Horizon BCBS of NJ POS so we have OON benefits.

Thanks so much! I hope it helps MH too! Either way, it doesnt hurt to try!

krryg

You should be fine, my friend who is also a teacher has the same as you, she goes to him and he takes whatever the ins gives him. You just have to bring him the ins. checks when you get them. GL, it will really help yh.