Dr. Clifford Carl Douglas, MD

I can't even explain how much I am grateful for this Doctor !!! He took what was going on very seriously and listened and to my needs and took everything going on with me serious very professional and helped ease my mind with going ahead and getting the brain surgery done that I had chicken out twice over and made me see it needed ti be done and I was in good hands... He was right indeed I was in great hands ! Surgery was 8 hours I was singing when I came to and talking and up and ready to getting on recovery and back home to my baby boy and I was in 6 days !! He's my hero he is good at what he does and a blessing !! The nurses the staff everybody was just so amazing welcome and cared about my well being !! Thank you to and much love to all of you involved and extra special Thank you to you Dr Douglas ?? ??????

So may 7th I had a L3,L4 and L5 lateral interbody spinal fusion and went in telling myself and my family it would be a 4-5 hour surgery and to check in at 9am... after waiting to go in 4 + hours later we discussed me going home after surgery cause I had help, I woke up at 10pm telling the nurses I wanted to go home and they wouldn’t tell me anything but you cannot get out of bed until 7 am the next morning. I got discharged the next morning with Dr. Douglas Clifford sating I did great and what exercise to do and no BLT (bending lifting or twisting) and went home to my family and learned the surgery was 9+ hours and he told my husband once he got in it was way worse than he expected. Fast forward to that next week my legs were on fire couldn’t sleep wouldn’t hear anything I really had to say I told him my concerns and then told him about my left lower quadrant swelling and he said that I’d be fine I’m still healing give it time by 3 months post op it shouldn’t be there and laughed. He… would dodge questions and end our conversation with once you’re in physical therapy they’ll help get me back to where I was before (mind you I had paid 7 years ago for a tummy tuck) and went in with a flat stomach) now I have a lopsided abdomen. Now at my 3 month follow up post op I had a Telemed apt which I was told it would be zoom “video conference” I barely got to dig in and talk to him about ALL my concerns about why no one barely responds to my mychart messages and when they do they try to tell me to go to my Pcp or Dr. Clifford would tell them that to tell me you’ll be find follow up with physical therapy. On my last phone call with him he didn’t answer any of my questions told me the girls in the back would give me a code for a zoom visit cause what I’m explaining to him AGAIN about my stomach isn’t normal to wait for them and the conversation ended, to have “the girls” call me 30 minutes later saying he’s not available for zoom and my swollen one sided stomach is normal! I’ve asked for appointments,for more clarity just to be dismissed. I just want my concerns addressed and to be heard not to be dismissed and pushed off to my Pcp or physical therapy.

Everyone says he's great. Ok. But am I just to ignore someone who essentially says "[I'll] start getting better...and improve in time after surgery" when that is completely NOT the case? I was told consistently by him that even the lesser surgery (needle in spine draining - if possible) would see immediate improvement, and that the more invasive surgery (I had) would "have improvements last longer..., & continue [some level ] of improvement". I had maybe 5 to 10% improvement, and even that has faded away since. Please, do NOT SO OVERPROMISE and build false hope. Sure, not everything is completely fixable. I get that - but DO NOT consistently act, and say, things will immediately improve. NO. The surgery seems by and large a waste.

It does take time to get an appointment or a follow up between appts. Sometimes appts get canceled and the wait is longer. However Dr Douglas is worth the wait. He takes his time and explains the different procedures or options you have including going to another Dr. He talks to you not at you like most Neurosurgeons and I've delt with the best at LLU and top in Irvine. He's not a cutter as some of his colleagues. And if you ask most Dr that know him they will tell you they would definitely go to him for surgery if they needed a procedure hands down. I wouldn't be walking today if it weren't for Dr Douglas. I had to have my whole lower spine reconstructed with rods, pins, my disks replaced with stem cell thank goodness it grew and the whole nerve ball unpinched. The nerve pain was gone immediately when I woke in recovery. I'm still in post surgery but the x-rays of my new hardware I can only explain as Dr Douglas having guidance from a higher source. It's perfect. Yes the wait time is… somewhat irritating at times. However knowing that all these other Dr's recommend him and many other patients have had successful treatment. I know for a fact it's definitely not all about the money. He truly cares about people. That's probably why the long wait times. Everyone wants to see him. I can only speak for my experience and my research. Because when someone is going to cut open your spine you better know what they are about.

You really think about surgery and what Someone you can Trust! Clifford " starts of like a very caring and you feel like you can Trust Him!!!.. please do Not fall For That Act!! LETS start of 2013 fusion l4 and it wasn't going as planned .but I believe In Him ! He sold me that act when you meet him..and went for. Second Surgery" facet Fusion. He called a Simple! Not only did he place the screws in The wrong place ! He decided to do another surgery while in there! L5 partial removal. That I ddint know about ! Simple he Called" it. two for one " I seen him again and asked to see why I had pain in my legs and what can we do About it! The front office pushed me off and until I went to see other neuro did I Realize What Has happened.. 2nd and 3rd option. He could have had different approach. But let his ego get in the way! He knew my chances 50%50..but Could bring himself to The Truth" Please dont get caught up !In His act .. or Wait 5 or 6 months to be seen! Move On! That Check… cleared " and He is off to Next Act".. !! Listen when your in the waiting area.. $$$$..

Disabled me for life, intense pain with the most shoddy back surgery ever. Didn't do the surgery correct, the bracket is tilted and the screws aren't all the way in. Was supposed to be L-3-4-5, nope, forgot one didn't you Cliff! I hope all your patients read this, and NOT have you do surgery. Lucky I didn't sue the pants off you!

I found Dr. C. Douglas to be an extremely professional highly proficient Neurosurgeon. He has a very kind, infectious personality and listens intently to your concerns. In my particular case, I had a very bad back condition that persisted and became progressively worst over a 20 year period. After careful review and consideration of all available medical information pertaining to my condition. Dr. Douglas informed me that he could possibly correct my condition with a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Now approximately two months after surgery, although I am in physical therapy to regain strength and flexibility. I feel better than I have in years. I am also highly optimistic that I now have the ability to resume a normal lifestyle filled with unrestricted activity.

he has done two of my surgeries i had rls in left leg for years next day after surgery gone can finally sleep at night i love the man the guy is awesome would never go to anyone else.

I had my surgery approx. 8 years ago and that part of my back is wonderful- no pain. I am considering surgery on my neck and Dr. Douglas is not covered under my health plan. I will be delaying my surgery until January so I can switch my health plan. I will not let anyone else touch my back but Dr. Douglas!

I was concerned facing back surgery, But Dr Douglas was supportive and made you feel like everything was going to be just fine. Without question he is the best doctor I have ever met!! THE FIRST APPOINTMENT TAKES A WHILE BUT WELL WORTH THE WAIT