Your questions, answered.

Send an appointment request through the website and the office will call you back, usually within one business day, or call the office directly to arrange an initial evaluation or second opinion. The office can explain scheduling and how to provide imaging and records.

No referral is needed to request a consultation. Some insurance plans do require one for coverage, though, so it is worth checking your plan before your visit.

Yes. An independent assessment can help you understand a diagnosis or proposed operation. Bring available imaging, reports, and prior recommendations to discuss the options in the context of your symptoms and goals.

Referring providers can send a referral through the referral page or call the office to coordinate scheduling and obtain records-transfer instructions. Use patient initials only in the form and send full records through the office; the website is not a secure channel for records.

Recent MRI or CT images (on disc or through portal access), the radiology report, any prior surgical recommendation, and a list of treatments you have tried so far. If you do not have everything, bring what you have and the office can help track down the rest.

Yes. Outside imaging is welcome. I read the images myself rather than relying on the report alone, and walking through them together is often the most useful part of the visit.

That is common, and it should not stop you from being seen. If imaging is needed, it can be arranged as part of your evaluation.

You can send a short appointment, contact, or referral request through this website. These forms are not HIPAA-secure, so keep the message general and do not attach imaging, records, or detailed medical information. The office will explain the appropriate way to transfer records.

No. Many of the patients I see are treated without an operation. I consider your symptoms, examination, imaging, and goals to discuss appropriate nonsurgical and surgical options.

These are techniques for reaching the spine through smaller openings, working between muscles instead of cutting through them. Endoscopic surgery goes a step further, using a thin camera through an opening about the width of a pen. The aim is to treat the problem while disturbing less of the healthy tissue around it. Whether a given technique fits your situation depends on your anatomy and diagnosis.

Instead of fusing two vertebrae together, motion-preserving procedures such as artificial disc replacement treat the problem while keeping the segment mobile. It is not right for every spine, and part of my evaluation is deciding whether preserving motion is a realistic option for yours.

A few symptoms are red flags: new weakness in an arm or leg, loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the saddle area. If any of these appear, seek emergency care immediately. Do not wait for an appointment.