{"id":4566,"date":"2025-07-31T08:43:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T06:43:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/?page_id=4566"},"modified":"2025-12-27T09:49:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-27T08:49:30","slug":"pain-consultation-faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/pain-consultation-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Usual Questions About Online Pain Consultations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>Author:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/cv-en\/\">Dr. Zeljko Kojadinovic, MD, PhD \u2013<\/a>\u00a0Neurosurgeon and Pain Management Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last medically reviewed: November 10, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.faq-details {\n  max-width: 800px;\n  margin: 0 auto;\n  padding: 24px;\n  font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif;\n}\n\n.faq-details details {\n  background: #f9f9f9;\n  border: 1px solid #ddd;\n  border-radius: 12px;\n  margin-bottom: 12px;\n  box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,.05);\n  overflow: hidden;\n}\n\n.faq-details details:hover {\n  box-shadow: 0 4px 8px rgba(0,0,0,.08);\n}\n\n.faq-details summary {\n  list-style: none;\n  cursor: pointer;\n  padding: 18px 48px 18px 18px;\n  margin: 0;\n  font-size: 1.2rem;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  color: #333;\n  position: relative;\n  background: #fff;\n  border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\n  user-select: none;\n}\n\n.faq-details summary::-webkit-details-marker {\n  display: none;\n}\n\n.faq-details summary::after {\n  content: '';\n  position: absolute;\n  right: 18px;\n  top: 50%;\n  width: 14px;\n  height: 14px;\n  border-right: 2px solid #666;\n  border-bottom: 2px solid #666;\n  transform: translateY(-50%) rotate(45deg);\n  transition: transform .3s ease;\n}\n\n.faq-details details[open] summary::after {\n  transform: translateY(-50%) rotate(-135deg);\n}\n\n.faq-details .content {\n  padding: 16px 18px 24px;\n  color: #444;\n  line-height: 1.7;\n  font-size: 1rem;\n  background: #fff;\n}\n\n\/* \ud83d\udcf1 Mobilna optimizacija \u2013 VE\u0106E I DEBLJE *\/\n@media (max-width: 768px) {\n  .faq-details summary {\n    font-size: 1.3rem;   \/* ve\u0107a slova za pitanje *\/\n    font-weight: 700;    \/* deblja *\/\n    padding: 16px 40px 16px 16px;\n  }\n  .faq-details summary::after {\n    right: 14px;\n    width: 12px;\n    height: 12px;\n  }\n  .faq-details .content {\n    font-size: 1.15rem;  \/* ve\u0107i tekst odgovora *\/\n    font-weight: 500;    \/* deblji *\/\n    color: #222;         \/* tamnija boja *\/\n    padding: 16px 16px 22px;\n    line-height: 1.75;\n  }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"faq-details\">\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>What is the goal of a video consultation?<\/summary>\n    <div class=\"content\">\n      <p>The goal is to stop the pain. To effectively treat the pain, we must first identify the exact structure causing it and the type of pathological process involved. Only then can an appropriate combination of medications be prescribed, and other types of treatment recommended if needed.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>Can a doctor really figure out what\u2019s causing my pain and prescribe treatment just through a video call?<\/summary>\n    <div class=\"content\">\n      <p>Yes \u2014 and this is becoming more common thanks to easy video communication (also known as a virtual visit, video visit, or telehealth appointment). These consultations are especially helpful for people with persistent pain that local doctors haven\u2019t been able to resolve.<\/p>\n      <p>The key isn\u2019t to be physically examined in a clinic, but to talk to a specialist who understands the anatomy of your pain. He knows what are the possible causes of the pain in any region and how to determine them. During the call, you perform simple movement and pressure tests under my guidance to see what increases or reduces the pain. This functional evaluation has the same diagnostic accuracy as an in-person physical exam.<\/p>\n      <p>That\u2019s why many persistent pain conditions are now resolved through online consultation with such a specialist.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>Is it possible to help someone who\u2019s had pain for years despite persistent treatment?<\/summary>\n    <div class=\"content\">\n      <p>Yes. In most cases, chronic pain persists not because it is untreatable, but because the real source was never identified.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>Do you use artificial intelligence (AI) in the consultation process?<\/summary>\n    <div class=\"content\">\n      <p>Yes. Many of the patients who contact us have complex problems. These cases often require reviewing medical literature or consulting other professionals. Today, this can be done more efficiently using artificial intelligence (AI), which has access to vast amounts of medical knowledge. The key is not just to have access to AI, but to know how to ask the right questions and how to structure the case in a way that leads to useful analysis and real solutions. AI is used only as a tool to speed up analysis and research. All medical decisions are made by the doctor.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>Is a modern MRI scan enough to clearly show the cause of pain?<\/summary>\n    <div class=\"content\">\n      <p>Often, it\u2019s not. In more than 50% of cases, imaging does not clearly show the source of pain. Even when the scans reveal changes, those changes often turn out not to be the actual cause. That\u2019s especially true for spinal degeneration or disc herniation, which are frequently \u2014 and mistakenly \u2014 blamed for all types of back pain. The same applies to other areas of the body as well.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>Is making a video call complicated?<\/summary>\n    <div class=\"content\">\n      <p>No, it&#8217;s simple. You can use WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom \u2014 just like in any regular call. If you&#8217;re unfamiliar with these platforms, we\u2019ll send you a secure video link. One click on a link is enough \u2014 no installation required. Even elderly patients living alone, who aren\u2019t tech-savvy, manage just fine.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>How does the consultation process start? Should I send all my medical records right away?<\/summary>\n    <div class=\"content\">\n      <p>No. First, send us a brief explanation of your problem via WhatsApp, email, or Facebook Messenger. If we believe we can help, we\u2019ll contact you with a treatment plan, let you know the consultation conditions, and explain what information and documents we need from you.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>How do I send medical records and documents?<\/summary>\n    <div class=\"content\">\n      <p>Easily. You can send them via email, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger. If you need to send large MRI or CT scan files (like those on a CD), we\u2019ll explain how \u2014 it\u2019s simple and fully supported.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>Will there be enough time during the consultation to review my records and fully explain my problems?<\/summary>\n    <div class=\"content\">\n      <p>Yes. The doctor will review all your documents and your problem description before the video call. That way, the consultation starts with full understanding of your case. The call usually lasts about 30 minutes \u2014 enough for you to explain what matters to you, and for the doctor to ask key questions and give an expert opinion. After the call, you can ask follow-up questions. The doctor writes a full report only after the conversation ends.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>Can I reach out to the doctor again if I have questions later on, especially about the medication?<\/summary>\n    <div class=\"content\">\n      <p>Yes. For two weeks after the consultation, you can send short follow-up questions via WhatsApp, email, or Facebook Messenger, and the doctor will respond.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n<details>\n  <summary>Is payment secure?<\/summary>\n  <div class=\"content\">\n    <p>Yes. Payment is accepted via PayPal or direct bank transfer (IBAN). You can pay with your PayPal balance or by card through PayPal\u2019s secure checkout \u2014 no PayPal account is required. Invoices are issued in USD when requested. No third-party payments, no overpayments, no refunds to other accounts \u2014 this protects both sides.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n<details>\n  <summary>Do I need MRI\/CT before the consultation?<\/summary>\n  <div class=\"content\">\n    <p>Not necessarily. If imaging is needed, you&#8217;ll receive precise instructions (what to scan and which sequences), so you avoid unnecessary tests.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4faff; border: 1px solid #cce5ff; border-radius: 10px; padding: 20px 25px; margin-top: 30px; box-shadow: 0 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\">\n  <h2 style=\"margin-top: 0; color: #005c99;\">What Makes This Consultation Different?<\/h2>\n  <p>Many patients are told their pain is caused by \u201cdegenerative changes\u201d seen on imaging \u2014 but the real source of pain is often missed. My approach starts from the assumption that there is always a specific pain point \u2014 whether in a muscle, joint, ligament, or nerve \u2014 and that this source can often be identified even when MRI or CT scans appear normal.<\/p>\n\n  <p>During the video consultation, I review your medical documentation, ask highly targeted questions, and guide you through simple motion and pressure tests that you perform yourself. This helps locate the exact anatomical source of your pain \u2014 by reproducing or relieving it through specific actions.<\/p>\n\n  <p>This functional evaluation has the same diagnostic value as an in-person physical exam. Effective treatment begins only after the true cause of pain is identified \u2014 and that starts with a conversation guided by a physician who understands pain anatomy and knows exactly what structures can generate pain in your case.<\/p>\n\n  <p>This approach can lead to improvement even in long-term, chronic pain \u2014 often reducing the need for medications, immobilization, or unnecessary surgeries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 12px; padding: 20px; margin-top: 40px; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); background-color: #f9f9f9;\">\n  <h2 style=\"margin-top: 0; color: #004466;\">Start Your Telehealth Consultation with a Pain Specialist<\/h2>\n  <p>If your pain treatment has failed or you&#8217;re unsure what to do next \u2014 don&#8217;t wait. A detailed telehealth consultation can help identify the exact cause of your pain, even if previous therapies didn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n  \n  <ul style=\"padding-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\n    <li>\u2714 First, send a short message describing your problem<\/li>\n    <li>\u2714 You\u2019ll receive a reply within 24 hours if and how we can help \u2014 including the consultation cost and a suggested time<\/li>\n    <li>\u2714 Only then, you can send your medical documentation<\/li>\n    <li>\u2714 The video consultation is followed by a written report and follow-up questions (up to 10 days)<\/li>\n    <li>\u2714 Secure payment by credit card, PayPal invoice (USD), or bank transfer.<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n  <div style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\">\n    <div style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Consultation fees typically range from $180\u2013250, depending on the complexity of your case.<\/div>\n    <div style=\"font-size: 14px; color: #333; margin-top: 4px;\">\n      This is within the usual range for specialist telehealth consultations worldwide. Thousands of patients worldwide already use telehealth consultations for second opinions \u2014 it\u2019s safe, accepted, and effective.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div style=\"display: flex; gap: 10px; flex-wrap: wrap;\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/381628534555\" style=\"background-color: #25D366; color: white; padding: 10px 16px; border-radius: 8px; text-decoration: none;\">\ud83d\udcf1 WhatsApp Message<\/a>\n    <a href=\"mailto:zkoja@yahoo.com\" style=\"background-color: #0073aa; color: white; padding: 10px 16px; border-radius: 8px; text-decoration: none;\">\u2709 Email Us<\/a>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/m.me\/zeljko.kojadinovic.3\" style=\"background-color: #1877f2; color: white; padding: 10px 16px; border-radius: 8px; text-decoration: none;\">\ud83d\udcac Messenger Chat<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before contacting us, please read our&nbsp;<a href=\"\/en\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Privacy Policy<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"\/en\/terms-of-use\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Terms of Use<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/en\/online-pain-consultation-with-a-doctor-via-video-call\/\"><strong>Online pain consultation in detail<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"\/en\/step-by-step-how-the-pain-online-consultation-works\/\">Schematic explanation of the video consultation<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See the page \u201c<a href=\"\/en\/pain-treatment-failure-reasons\/\"><strong>Possible Reasons for Poor Pain Treatment Effectiveness\u201d<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/a>for an explanation of why conventional chronic pain treatments often fail\u2014and what we do differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everything said on this page applies to most pain syndromes, such as <a href=\"\/en\/trigeminal-neuralgia-facial-pain\/\">trigeminal neuralgia<\/a>, occipital neuralgia, pudendal neuralgia, <a href=\"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/neck-pain-different-causes-different-treatments\/\">neck pain<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/cervical-sprain-whiplash-injury\/\">cervical injury,<\/a> &nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/low-back-pain-different-causes-different-treatments\/\">low back pain<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/lumbar-disc-herniation-and-sciatica\/\">&nbsp;lumbar disc herniation,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/chronic-pain-after-lumbar-discectomy\/\">pain after lumbar discectomy<\/a>, <a href=\"\/en\/interstitial-cystitis-pain-assessment\/\">pain in interstitial cystitis<\/a>, <a href=\"\/en\/pain-mimics-organ-disease\/\">pain that mimics organ disease<\/a>, <a href=\"\/en\/postsurgical-pain-syndromes\/\">postsurgical pain,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/tarlov-cysts-and-pain-second-opinion\/\">Tarlov cyst<\/a> pain, <a href=\"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/fibromyalgia-local-dominant-pain\/\">fibomyalgia, <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/polyneuropathy-and-local-painful-syndromes\/\">polyneuropathy,<\/a> etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/en\/neurosurgery-and-pain-consultation\/\">English homepage \u2013 overview of neurosurgery and pain consultation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Author:\u00a0Dr. Zeljko Kojadinovic, MD, PhD \u2013\u00a0Neurosurgeon and Pain Management Specialist Last medically reviewed: November 10, 2025 Frequently Asked Questions What is the goal of a video consultation? The goal is to stop the pain. To effectively treat the pain, we must first identify the exact structure causing it and the type of pathological process involved. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Usual Questions About Online Pain Consultations","_seopress_titles_desc":"What to expect from an online pain consultation: what we cover, brief movement tests by video, how to prepare, fees, and what happens after the call.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4566","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4566"}],"version-history":[{"count":40,"href":"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9285,"href":"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4566\/revisions\/9285"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}