Orthopedic (Back) Doctor and imaging services
 

My wife is suffering from severe back pain and we're going to be in the Villages within the next couple weeks. Can anyone recommend a back specialist in or around the Villages? Also, does anyone know whether there is an "open" MRI anywhere in the Villages?

Thank you.

Ortho for back pain???
 

First off, for back pain or any pain associated with the spine, I would be searching for a neurologist NOT an orthopaedic physician. A search of this site for recommendations for neurologists should turn up some very good references. Good luck in your search.

My wife has some back issues and after an MRI her neurologist has referred her to a spinal surgeon.

Since we have not had any experience with him yet not in a position to recommend him.

I would suggest Patrick Alger MD of Arbor Medical.

Harsha Rajashekar at The Villages Health has done a very nice job for my bad back.
You'd better book quickly as his schedule goes out a bit, and you likely need a referral.
Best wishes.

PS - I do lots and lots of ben-gay, yoga and hot showers, it provides some relief on a day to day basis, but I know when more is needed. Good luck.

Dr Daniel Robertson in Ocala. He is a surgeon but believes that option only when necessary. He has been treating my back with injections (2 so far) and proper exercise. Though not cured the back is manageable and I am playing Pickleball and walking daily. I got an MRI at Lake Medical Imaging in the Sharon Morse Building at the hospital. It is a “wide body” MRI not totally open. Cannot get as good of an image on open MRI units.

i use Dr. 'Shaker' too, very nice guy, & i think lake imaging may have an open mri. they gave me the option of it, but i actually like going inside those things, lol. they gave me headphones too, my choice of music

Thank you so much for your post. My wife will be seeing Dr Robertson and happy to hear he is not a cutter.unless necessary.

Yes, Dr. Robertson is a neuro surgeon. Neuro surgery is the specialty to start with, not orthopedic. My husband's first back surgery was done by an orthopedic who did specialize in backs, but in the end, it was a failed surgery. The second surgery, by a neuro surgeon, could not completely remove the offending hardware that had been installed by the orthopedic. And that has led to much pain and suffering.
Good luck to you and your wife.

If she is in that much pain why would you be traveling to The Villages?

Who was your neurologist?
My MRI shows spinal stenosis.

Exactly

Neurosurgeon. Had unbearable back pain that travelled down my left leg and couldn’t walk. When my pain Dr. Payman, saw my MRI he said epidurals probably wouldn’t help, so he recommended a neurosurgeon. Saw Dr. Christopher Baker in Orlando and though I was against anyone messing around with my spinal cord, he put my wife and I at ease by patiently going over my MRI layer by layer. We were shocked when he told us it would be outpatient micro-surgery. Well had it done yesterday at Noon and by 3:45pm we on the way home with minimal pain. Armed with all kinds of pain and muscle relaxers, so far I haven’t had to take any. So definitely recommend Advent Health and Dr. Baker if you’re needing a competent, caring neurosurgeon

Dr. Razack in Orlando. He’s the best.

Your wife needs a proper diagnosis of her back issues. Please find a neurologist or neurosurgeon who is board certified. The Villages have many physicians who ARE NOT board certified and you need to stay away from them. It is a proper question to ask when you make an appointment. I worked as an RN for 40 years. Good luck!!!

Harsha Rajashekar 674-8700. He'll know about MRI.

Dr Barry Kaplan Neurosurgeon Ocala Medical Center.

We arrived in the Villages last November and my husband was having extreme back and leg pain. It was truly a nightmare trying to get an appointment with any kind of specialist - neurologist or neurosurgeon or pain clinic. Specialists want previous medical records and they are booked out quite a ways. We NEVER want to go through our experiences again. Even had to go to ER at Villages Hospital and although it is under new management/ownership now, I don’t want to return there because our experience was so bad. In the end, I accepted an orthopedic appointment and requested a hip xray be done- the problem was AVN hip with total collapse of his femoral head. We were told surgery would be at least a month out! I managed to get him into Mayo Clinic and they saw him within a couple days and he had total hip surgery a couple days after that!!!!!! My advise- GO TO MAYO! It took nearly 2 months of excruciating pain and frustration trying to get any md to care for him. Wish we would have started at the Mayo

Open MRI
 

My wife used the one in Clermont and used the a Dr Daniel Robertson in Ocala. She was very happy

Dr. Christopher Baker, MD | Winter Park, FL | Healthgradeswww.healthgrades.com › physician › dr-christopher-ba...
Dr. Christopher Baker, MD is a Neurosurgery Specialist in Winter Park, FL and has over 31 years of experience in the medical field.

Seated MRI
 

I just had a seated MRI in Ocala. A game changer as I have severe claustrophobia.
CareFirst Imaging - Your Partner in Imaging & Wellness

I love The Ocala Neurosurgical Center. I have a brain tumor and see Dr Freeman. Your current family doctor must refer you. They take conservative approach. I am in the medical field and highly suggest using a Neurosurgeon doctor vs an Orthopedic doctor. Good luck.

Doctor Shaker is a pain management doctor...not a spine surgeon. I agree he is really good because my wife goes to him...BUT you need a neurosurgeon for diagnosis...NOT a Neurologist. A Neurologist treats nerve disease like Parkinson’s.

I do not claim to be an expert other than the fact that my back hurts for the past ten years or so. I've had the MRI, physical therapy etc. Steroids-the,"shots," are not an option for me. While, I've never had them, as I understand it they have diminishing returns and you can only do it a limited number of times. Surgery, my opinion based on reading and the posts here, the success rate is about 50%.
Reading into your inquiry. Gonna be in the Villages in a couple of weeks. Are you moving here permanently? This is going to be a long medical procedure. You get the MRI. They will try physical therapy, perhaps steroids before considering surgery. Long term use of pain killers got many people hooked on them. Oh, again I'm no expert but a closed MRI gives better results. Also, reminder, I do not know you. Not easy but a loss of weight means your back is not taking as much abuse.

ALL THE BEST TO YOU.

Dr Garbee
Reading MRI report she has that and hypertrophy
Hopefully she can be a good candidate for steroid injection and DR will read her riot act on losing more weight.

I feel as though I'm being a "spoiler"
 

After SEVERE back and left leg pain in 2017, Dr. Kaplan performed back surgery in OCT of that year. I had a plate, screws and some kind of padding put between L3&4 and L4&5. I was simultaneously on prenisone for polymylasia rhematica until late 2019. By the end of 2019 my leg neuropathy had never gone away and my back kept getting more and more painful. I went through numerous depomedrol shots in my shoulders with Dr. Rajashakar (which work for a while). But the transforminal epidural shots in my back failed to provide any significant relief for more than a month or so. They can only be administered a few times per year. I'm not into pain pills or medical marijuana. I am now considering a spinal stimulator implant if I pass all of the preliminaries (psychiatrist and 5-day trial). Bottom line: be VERY CAREFUL to investigate all avenues because it could be a long drawn out affair if a hit-or-miss attempt is made. I now treat myself like a thin crystal glass because if I move the wrong way it triggers the pain all over again.

I had spinal stenosis 10 days ago. Dr Saatman in Ocala. Nice surgery!

Care First Imaging in Ocala has an open MRI where you sit in a chair and watch a TV screen and soft music. Dr. Rajashekar is doing my injections. I was unsuccessful wit Dr. Panamanni. Wish your wife the best. I have suffered with back and neck pain for many years. Degenerative disc disease and arthritis are no fun to deal with!

Orthopedic, Neurosurgeon, Chiropractor
 

For the first time I've have really uncomfortable back pain. It's affecting my lifestyle. I don't know where to start to look for relief. Chiropractor, is my back out of alignment, or a neurosurgeon or orthopedic. I need to go to someone but don't know where to start. Any suggestions.

because the weather here can make all the difference with getting up out of bed. metal in spines love warmth & ez temps.

beware of chiropractic. unless they are VERY well trained, they can cause more harm than good, imo.

"I'm not into pain pills or medical marijuana. I am now considering a spinal stimulator implant....." ...they suggested this to me, but the wires stick out from under your skin, & i could see this being a major problem in several areas. also, if u have a fusion, the currents may be 'blocked' for lack of better word. i did the epidural thing, next visit they're doing that heat-blocking of the nerves. i've never had that before without a surgical procedure, but will keep you updated on how successful the relief is. Bless You & hope you get some pain-free moments for your spouse