Dr. Angela M Santini, MD

Dr Santini fixed my back and gave my life back. I had been suffering for most of the year without any relief. Painkillers, opioids, steroid injections, nerve medicaions, pt, chiro, absolutely nothing was helping at all. I sought a 2nd opinion from Dr Santini at the beginning of December. She took one look at my MRI and said "this is easy, I can fix this" and set my mind at ease. Months and months with conservative half measures that resulted in no relief compared to her immediate confidence and plan. She has great "bedside manner." Confident. Compassionate. Knowledgable. Dismissive - in the best way, in the way where "look, I have done hundreds of these, this is going to be straightforward for me and will help you." Just knowing we had a plan that she said would help was palpable relief. Then her office staff - Janet especially. Oh my goodness. I was originally penciled for surgery on January 6th or 7th or something - fine by me, less than month! Awesome. But when I told them my… insurance was changing with the new year, Janet and the surgeon rearranged a BUNCH of things to fit me in for surgery on December 30th! No extra re-approval from a new set of middlemen (plus, one less week of pain!). I woke up from surgery with immediate relief. The pain all the way down my leg is 99% gone. I can stand up straight. I can walk around without limping or shuffling. I can participate in life. Everyone who has seen me has remarked that I "just look better." My mental health has taken a total 180. I was at the End Of My Rope last year, and now - I'm practically walking on sunshine. I'm a week postop and walking 1-2 miles a day. The worst pain I'm feeling is best compared to "you've been standing around all day and your back & legs are tired" - cause I have been standing/walking for a lot of the day!!! It is absolutely wonderful. Dr Santini is amazing. AMAZING. She is a godsend. I wish I had seen her first.

I had a great experience with Dr. Santini with phenomenal results! She performed double spinal fusion on my neck in April 2024 and I can't say enough great things about her and her staff. Every step of the process from evaluation to surgery to post op has been amazing. I am living free of nerve pain and headaches for the first time in over a decade. Easier recovery than I ever imagined, with just one night in the hospital. Did not need prescription painkillers once home. Minor shoulder pain for a few weeks as my body adjusted to my new alignment. My scar healed well, settling into the natural crease in my neck.

I recently visited Dr. Angela M. Santini, M.D. at Virginia Spine and Sports Orthopedics and was impressed by the care and professionalism I received. From the moment I arrived, the front desk staff made me feel welcome and efficiently handled the registration process. I didn’t have to wait long before being seen by the medical team, which was a relief due to the extreme pain that I was experiencing. Dr. Santini stood out with her excellent communication and empathy. She took the time to listen to me and provided instructions on what I needed to do next in the process. Approximately a week later and after an MRI, Dr. Santini diagnosed my condition and then explained a potential surgical procedure in a clear and reassuring way. Her genuine care and speed of working with the hospital to reserve a date and time for the surgery, combined with her prestigious pedigree as an orthopedic surgeon, made me feel confident in my treatment plan. Feeling much better post the Lumbar discectomy… decompression L5-S1. Overall, my experience at Virginia Spine and Sports Orthopedics was outstanding, and I highly recommend this practice for anyone seeking top-notch orthopedic care.

This doctor was awful. I went to her for knee pain and she completely ignored the symptoms I had mentioned and wrongfully diagnosed me with patella tendonitis. She didn't order an MRI and told me to go to physicals therapy. PT wasn't helping and I went to another orthopedist. He ordered and MRI and I had a complete ACL tear. Do not go see her if you want someone to actually check what is going on.

My procedure: LUMBAR LAMINOTOMY WITH DECOMPRESSION OF NERVE ROOT WITH PARTIAL FACETECTOMY, FORAMINOTOMY AND EXCISION OF DISC L5-S1 - RIGHT on 8/16/23. Before surgery, my pain level was at times over a 10. Once I met with Dr. Santini and a plan was in place, I put my trust in Dr. Santini and was glad I did. I appreciated her confidence, experience and responsiveness to all of my concerns. The entire staff was friendly and helpful throughout the entire process. My surgery was a success and I would highly recommend Dr. Santini.

I injured my low back about seven years ago and have lived with the pain and immobility that goes with a protruding disc. Nothing could be done for it except for repeated rounds of PT. Well, a couple months ago I reinjured it in what turned out to be the coup de grace for my L5-S1 disc. I went to the ER with pain and numbness all through my right leg, as well as flaccid calves and glutes. The MRI showed a severe disc extrusion flattening my S1 nerve root like a pancake. The first surgeon I was referred to gave me the ol' "it might get better with time" opinion, although my sense was that he simply preferred to deal in more high-dollar interventions. In a panic I called Dr. Santini's office for a second opinion. They got me in the next day and Dr. Santini confirmed that, no, this is not just going to go away. Within a couple weeks she performed the microdiscectomy and I had instant relief from 7 years of low back pain and stiffness. I'm still working on the atrophy and some numbness in… my foot, but it's getting better week by week. I'm a huge believer in PT and the idea that "exercise is medicine", but I'm so glad I found Dr. Santini and had the surgery. The situation really had escalated to another level of severity and without her realistic assessment and quick treatment I might now be dealing with some permanent loss of function. This was one of the best experiences I've had with any specialist in the medical world and I'll unhesitatingly recommend Dr. Santini to anyone struggling with the same sorts of issues.

Dr Santini and her staff are beyond fabulous. Everyone is very knowledgeable in their fields. When I have to call the office I get an appointment right away. My wait time is extremely minimal. I get the best care ever when I go there. They put me back together and I heal up nicely. I highly recommend Dr Santini. She is the best!… and her Staff

My overall experience was excellent - far exceeding my expectations. Dr. Santini performed lumbar spinal fusion surgery on a Wednesday morning. By Friday I was walking without assist and was off my pain meds. I have not had any recurrence of the pain and muscle spasms I had prior to surgery. I attribute this to Dr. Santini’s medical experience, the support and preparation of her staff and the post-op care of the staff at Inova Loudoun.

Dr. Santini is outstanding - I had been in pain for 9 months with little progress and taking many meds - I called her office and was seen within a few days - she reviewed my MRI and identified the issue right away - surgery less than 3 weeks later - pain free in less than a month - quite amazing and outstanding.

I have not written many reviews but in this case I feel compelled to do so. Dr. Santini is in my opinion one of the finest doctors and surgeons that I have encountered in my lifetime. For close to 20 years she has healed my children’s broken bones, replaced discs in my wife’s neck sparing her from years of pain, and most recently, decompressed my old, rusty lumbar spine allowing me to walk normally again. I am forever in her debt for what she has given me. I give her my highest recommendation and encourage you to utilize this valuable resource that we have available to us in Loudoun County. Thank you Dr. Santini.