Dr. Eric Michael Shoemaker, DO

Dr. Shoemaker has been really great, treating me for almost 10 years for a very painful lumbar spine condition. The thing I like most about Dr. Shoemaker is his coordinated approach using different treatments and partnering with me as a patient. Since I've been working with him we have used spinal injections, physical therapy, stretching, strength training, anti-inflammatory meds, NSAIDS, acetaminophen and very limited pain meds. Even though I'm approaching 80 years old, he has been able to help me stay active with activities adjusted to my capabilities like hiking and strength training. Dr. Shoemaker has board certifications in three different specialties and can bring perspectives and treatments that other physicians can't. He's also an athletic guy who's able to relate to my physical activities. My favorite story about Dr. Shoemaker is when he had a remote office in Longmont. I went to the local rec center and there was Dr. Shoemaker in his blue shirt doing bicep curls. Being… able to relate that way has been really valuable. If you have a complex condition that has not responded to treatments, I would suggest giving Dr. Shoemaker a try.

He was very rude and one day told me that he would do more back injections and get me feeling better but then the next day, without any warning, told me there is nothing more he could do. He didn’t refer me to someone who could help me, I had to figure that out on my own when I was in so much pain that I couldn’t stand. He then violated my HIPPA rights by discussing my issues with someone else without my consent. He is rude, unprofessional and heartless. I would stay away.

I saw him for 6 months for a back injury from a car accident. In the beginning he told me multiple things such as I have arthritis along my spine (which I saw in a X-ray that he showed me). This last appointment I had he denied ever telling me that. He came into the room and said “well I can’t do anything more for you” and that was that. Of Course I got upset and cried because I’m in so much pain from my injury and felt hopeless. I had just gotten out of the hospital the weekend prior due to my injury. The doctor there and two radiologists were very concerned with the condition of my back that they viewed on mri images. The doctor told me that it would most likely require surgery to fix my back problems and relieve my pain. But according to dr. Shoemaker, all of a sudden my back is better and he doesn’t know why I’m having the pain I’m having. I read the notes that he wrote after I had left and all throughout the notes he was attacking me and my bipolar depression all while trying to… diagnose me with new mental challenges. He falsified information in the notes as well. He then proceeded to insinuate that I was lying when I told him the dr and 2 radiologists were very concerned and I needed to get this treated immediately saying “I highly doubt that”. He said things such as i was basically over reacting when I was crying and I was lying about how I felt. I did let them know on my way out of the office that I did not want to see him anymore and I wouldn’t be paying for the 3 minute visit I had with him. He called me out of control in his notes. The week before I had to be rushed to the hospital due to my back injury I tried getting a hold of him multiple times and he neglected to get on two telehealth appointments ( li took screenshots for both appointments showing that I had been on for over 25 minutes waiting for him). On Friday I called the office and couldn’t get a hold of anyone, messaged them on text messaging all telling them that I desperately needed to be seen because I could no longer walk. No one ever got back to me. I feel like he just gave up on me because he couldn’t figure it out anymore. So I told him that I wanted a doctor that would help me or lead me at least in the right direction to be helped and one that is consistent with the things that he said. He never told me my spine is sprained yet in all of the notes it says it is. He told me that he would do another injection in another spot (because he was certain my pain was coming from two different locations) and that he would figure it out. I come to find out at our last appointment that he wasn’t going to do that and he has no idea where my pain was coming from. You can’t count on anything he says because he either keeps it from you or says he never said that later on. And he just gives up on his patients. I don’t know if I hurt his ego by telling him I didn’t feel he was trustworthy and that he gave up on helping me like he said he would and that’s why he was so rude, mean, and falsified so much info on the notes. I did call to speak to the manager whom assured me that she would talk to him and do a full out investigation. I would stay far away from him. I’m now stuck trying to find someone else to help me and that is so frustrating because he assured me that he would help me until it got resolved and that he still had two more spots to put an injection in to see if that’s where the problem is coming from. And I trust two radiologists and an er doctor much more than I trust him. Keep your money, find someone who knows what they are taking about, one that is trustworthy and won’t just give up on you.

I found Dr. Shoemaker to be a very friendly and patient doctor. I have had pain for many years and seen several pain management doctors. I never had another doctor explain things the way that he did. He spent a lot of time with me. He did one injection, which has helped me more than any other injection I have had before. I will definitely see him back again.