Eric Jose Arias, MD

I was scheduled to have a fusion surgery with a different doctor, who was ignoring my excruciating pain prior to surgery. That doctor prescribed Advil and told me to basically deal with it. I even went to the ER of the hospital where I was supposed to have surgery and they told me to go home. I couldn't walk, sit or lay down - I only found minimal relief when I was in a fetal position either on my back or face down. I hadn't slept in days and I was literally crying from the pain. Finally, we called 911 and I went to Swedish Hospital. There, I was treated with compassion and caring. I was admitted for 3 days for pain management and was eventually able to sit up. I met with Dr. Arias who reviewed my MRI (the disc between L4 and L5 had completely ruptured and was 100% protruding into my spinal column! The other doctor didn't even care to see the new MRI!) He discussed surgery and said that I should never have been told to have a fusion (I'm 25). We canceled my fusion with the bad doctor… and even though I had to wait an additional 17 days for the microdiscectomy, it was the best decision for my pain. Had I not been treated with care and compassion from Swedish Hospital and Dr. Arias, I wouldn't be able to stand, walk and return to work and be pain-free. I cannot thank him enough!