The Athletic Spine / Patient Resources
A clearer path.
At every step.
Prepare for your visit, understand what comes next, and find the information you need throughout your care with Omid Jalali, MD.
Request an appointment →Start here
Your first visit.
A good conversation starts with your story: what hurts, what has changed, and what you want to get back to.
COMG visiting guide ↗What to bring
- Photo ID, insurance card, and any required referral or authorization.
- Prior X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans and their reports. Ask the office how to share images obtained elsewhere.
- A current medication list, allergies, and relevant medical or surgical records.
- A brief history of treatments you have tried and the questions that matter most to you.
What to expect
Your consultation brings together your symptoms, examination, imaging when available, and personal goals. Dr. Jalali will discuss the findings and reasonable next steps, including nonsurgical options and whether further evaluation is needed.
Make it personal
Tell us how symptoms affect walking, sleep, work, exercise, and everyday life. Identifying the activities you miss helps shape a plan around meaningful improvement.
Coverage & scheduling
Know before
you arrive.
Insurance & referrals
Dr. Jalali accepts major PPO plans, Medicare, workers’ compensation, and select HMOs. Please confirm your specific plan, network participation, and any referral or authorization requirements with COMG before your visit.
Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan and service. Your insurer can explain your deductible, copay, and coinsurance; the office can help with practice participation and scheduling questions.
Before surgery
Prepare with
a plan.
Your surgical team will confirm the steps that apply to your procedure and health history.
Complete your preoperative checklist
Your checklist may include preoperative laboratory testing, provider clearances, additional imaging, and tobacco cessation with nicotine testing, as directed by your team.
Confirm your instructions
Review your medication list with the surgical team and confirm your arrival time, fasting instructions, and which medications to take or hold. Follow the instructions supplied for your operation.
Plan for home
Arrange transportation and help with meals, shopping, and daily tasks. Keep frequently used items within reach and clear walking paths. Discuss equipment, home health, or other support needs before discharge.
Questions before surgery? Contact Lydia, Medical Coordinator, at (949) 348-4017.
Understand your treatment
Better questions.
Clearer decisions.
Explore your diagnosis and the treatment options discussed during your visit. Procedure pages include explanations, recovery considerations, and educational videos where available.
After surgery
Your recovery,
step by step.
Based on Dr. Jalali’s patient handout. Follow any individualized instructions your surgical team gives you if they differ from this general guide.
Download patient handout · PDF ↓Preoperative checklist and postoperative instructions
Hospital recovery & going home
For an inpatient procedure, the length of stay depends on your surgery. Your team monitors your recovery, provides fluids and medications as needed, and teaches you how to stand, walk, and move safely, including the log-roll technique.
Discharge planning depends on your needs and may include home health or a skilled nursing facility.
Movement, lifting & walking
Avoid excessive or repetitive bending, twisting, pushing, pulling, and straining for at least six weeks. Do not lift more than 10 pounds.
Begin with two to three walks each day, about five to ten minutes at a time. Increase time or distance as tolerated. If walking increases your pain, reduce the time or distance.
Bending, lifting, and twisting restrictions may remain in place for six to twelve weeks. Follow your team’s guidance for your operation.
Pain, nerve symptoms & medication
Nerve pain, numbness, and tingling can take weeks to months to improve. During the first two weeks, pain may be comparable to what you experienced in the hospital.
Your handout recommends icing the surgical site for 15–20 minutes, four to five times a day, especially after longer walks.
As you improve, reduce narcotic pain medication according to your care plan. Dose reduction can cause temporary flu-like symptoms or irritability. Most patients are expected to be off narcotic pain medication between six and twelve weeks.
For questions or refills, call (949) 348-4017. Allow up to two business days. Refills are not provided on weekends or holidays; please plan ahead.
Constipation
Narcotic pain medication can cause constipation. Take prescribed stool softeners, walk regularly, and stay hydrated as directed.
If you have not had a bowel movement for four to five days, call the office immediately at (949) 348-4017.
Incision care & showering
Keep the dressing in place for five days after surgery if there is no drainage. If the incision is draining, change the dressing to keep it clean and dry.
After five days, you may shower if the wound is not visibly draining. Let water run over the incision, do not scrub, and pat dry. Do not apply ointments or creams. Avoid submerging the incision in a bath, pool, or hot tub for one month.
Watch for redness, swelling, warmth, fever, chills, or pus-like drainage and contact your surgical team with concerns.
Driving, physical therapy & work
Do not drive for at least two weeks, while taking narcotic pain medication, or while wearing a cervical collar.
Formal physical therapy generally begins no earlier than six weeks after non-fusion surgery and three months after fusion surgery. Walking is the main activity until your team clears you to progress.
Return to work depends on your operation and job demands. Desk work may be possible within weeks, although prolonged sitting may remain uncomfortable. Heavy labor may require three to six months before a return to full duty.
Follow-up appointments
- Two to three weeks: Suture removal, if applicable.
- Six weeks: Examination, X-rays for fusion surgery, review of activity and pain medication.
- Twelve weeks: Examination, X-rays for fusion surgery, and discussion of starting formal physical therapy.
Confirm your individual follow-up schedule with the office.
Postoperative questions: (949) 348-4017
After hours, weekends & holidays: (949) 348-4000. Ask for the orthopedic provider on call.
For a medical emergency, call 911.
Keep it simple
Forms &
patient portal.
Official practice resources from Community Orthopedic Medical Group.
Disability paperwork
Forms can be faxed to (949) 348-1263 or emailed to disability@comg.com. Contact the office with questions about your paperwork.
Common questions
A few things
to know.
Do I need a referral?
Referral and authorization requirements depend on your insurance plan. Check with your insurer and COMG before your appointment, particularly if you have an HMO or workers’ compensation claim.
Should I bring my MRI or just the report?
Bring the imaging and report if available. Contact the office in advance to confirm how images from another facility should be shared.
Does a consultation mean I need surgery?
No. The visit is an opportunity to understand your symptoms, review the findings, and discuss appropriate options. A plan may include nonsurgical treatment, further evaluation, or surgery when appropriate.
Can I discuss a second opinion?
Let the scheduling team know you are seeking a second opinion. Bring relevant imaging, reports, prior operative records if applicable, and the treatment recommendations you would like to discuss.
How do I change an appointment?
Call COMG during business hours at (949) 348-4000. The practice asks for at least one day’s notice when cancelling an appointment.
When can I return to exercise or sport?
Your timeline depends on the procedure, healing, symptoms, and activity. Use your postoperative instructions and follow-up visits to establish when and how to progress. Ask specifically about the activities that matter to you.
Community Orthopedic
Medical Group
26401 Crown Valley Parkway, Suite 101
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
(949) 348-4000
Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm
Serving Mission Viejo, Orange County, and Newport Beach.