Preparing for your visit
What to bring, what happens at the first appointment, and how the plan is made.
- 01Request a visitCall the office or use the booking link to choose a time.
- 02Bring your recordsImaging, prior reports and a medication list help make the first visit useful.
- 03Examination and discussionAn exam and a plain explanation of what is going on.
- 04Decide togetherThe options are laid out so you can choose the plan that fits.
Do I need a referral to see Dr. Cole?
A referral is not required to schedule, though most patients come in through another physician's office.
Jeff Cole, MD treats hand, wrist, and elbow conditions at OrthoSouth in Memphis, including trauma and sports-related injuries, and you can call the office directly to set up a visit. If another doctor has already referred you, bringing their notes or imaging will speed up your first appointment.
What should I bring to my first visit?
Bring your insurance card, a photo ID, and any imaging you already have, such as X-rays or an MRI, even if it was taken somewhere else.
A list of your current medications and a short written timeline of when your hand, wrist, or elbow symptoms began will help the visit move faster. If your injury is tied to work or an accident, bring any paperwork connected to that claim.
Is Dr. Cole specially trained in hand and wrist care?
Yes. He completed fellowship training in surgery of the hand and upper extremity at Washington University, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, after his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Tennessee's Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
That training lines up with the hand, wrist, and elbow conditions this practice treats, including trauma and sports-related injuries.
What happens during the appointment?
Dr. Cole examines the affected hand, wrist, or elbow and reviews your history before discussing options.
Because the practice centers on hand and upper extremity care, including fractures, nerve compression, and sports and trauma-related injuries, the exam usually includes specific tests for grip strength, range of motion, and nerve function along with a general review of how the problem started. You'll leave with either a working diagnosis or a plan for the imaging needed to reach one.
Will I need an X-ray or other imaging?
Not always. Many conditions, like tendinitis (irritation of a tendon) or early carpal tunnel syndrome (pressure on the nerve that runs through the wrist), are diagnosed from the history and physical exam alone.
When imaging helps, such as for a suspected fracture or a scaphoid injury (a break in one of the small wrist bones), it can often be done the same day as part of your visit.
How soon can I be seen if my injury is urgent?
Acute injuries are evaluated urgently, not scheduled weeks out.
The practice includes urgent evaluation for acute upper extremity injuries, including fractures and trauma from sports or accidents, so call the office and describe the injury so staff can get you in appropriately.
What if I've had this pain for months, not days?
Longstanding pain is still worth an evaluation.
Conditions like thumb CMC joint arthritis (wear at the base of the thumb joint), epicondylitis, also called tennis elbow, and chronic nerve compression often build gradually, and Dr. Cole's hand and wrist, elbow focus covers both new injuries and conditions that have been developing for some time.
Ready to talk about your hand, wrist and elbow?
Call the office or request an appointment. Accepting new patients.