Dr. Kevin P. Speer, MD

While traveling, I fell and fractured my clavicle. It took several days on the road to return and an Urgent Care visit in Chapel Hill to determine the problem. A friend recommended Dr. Kevin Speer, whose office squeezed me in the next day. He was great. He answered all my questions, taught me and my husband how to put on the sling, and assured us it would heal!

Some patients set their appointments as early as possible in order to see the doctor on time. How is it possible to have an 8:40 appointment just to be told that the doctor is over an hour behind and there's still more patients in front of you? I'm sure the doctor is a great guy. I didn't have the opportunity to meet him; but, I'm not waiting 2 hours for a appointment. Be on time, Doc!

After complete shoulder replacement, it was discovered that 5 nerve/muscle groups were damaged. Two EMGs confirmed no response from the damaged nerves. After nerve surgery to connect the damaged nerve trunk to another one, partial recovery is underway. Nerve surgeon says there will never be full recovery. Speer has never acknowledged his error.

I was greatly disappointed with my outcome with Dr Speer. I suffered an AC separation due to a snowboarding accident and had him examine me to determine whether an AC reconstruction would be needed. Due to the grinding, cracking, and popping of the shoulder (combined with general pain and soreness) he recommended that I have the surgery. I won't mince words, the in-house physical therapy at Southeastern Orthopedics was very poor. My physical therapist (although very nice) told me she had very little experience with AC separations which simply astounded me. After an initial visit for range of motion and some other "recommended" exercises, she later told me that my current "progress" meant I shouldn't be doing some of the exercises that she recommended, and that she shouldn't have started me on that regimen. What?! She said that she would meet with Dr Speer to discuss options, but was astounded by the lack of knowledge for a clinic that does nothing but shoulder repairs. I stopped doing… PT after probably four visits since my pain was only getting worse at this point. After months of consistent pain, popping, and cracking, Dr Speer and his PA, told me that I needed more time, and that the popping and cracking was simply due to me having a "loud shoulder" and that it could be scar tissue, etc. This seemed like smoke and mirrors to me, because my "loud shoulder" is precisely what Dr Speer used to justify my shoulder surgery in the first place. Six months or so passed, as did thousands of dollars in surgery, office visits, PT, and gas to get to all of it. No improvement. I later went to another renowned shoulder surgeon in North Raleigh who seemed a bit surprised at Dr Speer's technique and wasn't surprised it failed. This surgeon gave me the x-ray that I didn't get at Speer's office for months, which proved his simple suture method had failed. This failure cost me time and money, and Dr Speer made made no attempts to decrease or excuse the costs of the future surgery. This lack of progress couple with the overall tremendous wait times and overall lack of bedside manner just rubbed me the wrong way. I know he's a curt guy, but I always left his office needing more answers, and he owed me a lot more giving his failures on my shoulder. I know there are those folks that think he's the preeminent shoulder guy in this area, but I'm a 36 yr semi athletic guy that did EVERYTHING right during my recovery, and his surgery did NOTHING for me. If you're a young person with a similar AC separation, I would look elsewhere. I'm giving two stars because his staff are nice, the hospital visit itself (and his nurses) were all great, but the outcome and Dr Speer's attention to me after were sub-standard at best.

Dr. Speer is without question second to none. He operated on both of my shoulders a few years apart and they are now pain free, fully functional, and the best joints in my body! Ask the local therapy operators who is the best doctor for shoulders and they will all say Dr. Speer.

best shoulder Dr.

Dr Speer was suggested to me by my nephew who damaged his shoulder during wrestling. I had a previously had surgery a year befor in Wilmington at Wilmington Ortho and the surgery in Wilmington never resolved my pain or range of motion. After my first visit to Dr. Speer he want me to come back for surgery first of the following week. I was never in his waiting room for more than 5 minutes during all of my office visits. Surgery has been performed now on both of my shoulders and I have a full range of motion without pain and I have not missed a nights sleep since. Befor surgery pain kept me awake many sleepless nights. Thanks to Dr. Speer. Grouper fishing is no longer a painful

He is a true professional. Very mindful and not arrogant. Known as " King of the shoulder". I believe it...sincerely, Javen Morell

You want the best surgeon....well this is your guy. I have seen Dr's in NJ (Rothman Institute) who diagnosed me incorrectly and told me for 2 years that it was a cosmetic issue. Went to another Dr here in NC and was NOT impressed. Went to see Speer and had the x-rays done (Thank God). The 'calcium deposit' that mis-diagnosed in NJ well it was actually a bone spur. In addition Dr. Speer looked at the x-rays and my arm and immediately knew what was wrong. Within two weeks I was having surgery. To address the bedside manner; yeah most surgeons don't have one. I personally don't care because he was THOROUGH prior to the surgery, during pre-op and through to post-op. His surgical team was WONDERFUL. Caring, gentle, funny, and kept me at ease. As his staff told me, he doesn't 'play around' on surgery day. You know what, I don't want him to. Think of it this way, your going to be knocked out anyway, you just want a guy who can cut you open, fix the problem and sew you up and… believe me he does that extremely well. To address the pain factor...the onq-u-ball is heaven, the medicine was right on the money, and the ice bucket they give you is WONDERFUL. When I called with questions there was ALWAYS someone on the other line to answer my question....caring, informative and prompt. After surgery Dr. Speer provided me with a re-cap of what happened to me (so much for cosmetic) my bicep was 'shredded', I had a slight tear in my rotator and he removed my bone spur (all in 45 mins). My scar is minimal and I would see him again in a second. Best there is! Oh, and I did get him to chuckle (just once)!

Had first visit to diagnose what I thought was a torn rotator cuff (or frayed tendon). After x-rays and listening to my story, he thought so as well and scheduled MRI, which proved the torn cuff. Second visit was with MRI disc and to discuss "what next". As I'm an active person, and would like to stay so in my future years, surgery was the best choice. Haven't had it yet, that'll be next week, but so far, am happy with his procedure. No doctor has yet "spent enough time" with me as a patient, and he seems to be about average on that. Front desk staff could take a courtesy pill, but, as long as they get everything right, I'm okay.