Dr. Michael Ricard Puumala, MD

Terrible

I was referred to him in 2010, after I had already had one surgery on my lower back 4 years prior. The first surgery I had a disc removed, a cage placed between two vertebra, a plate with 2 screws and a partial fusion on my right side. This was in 2006, original injury was 2005. Shortly after the 1st surgery I was still having immense pain. It felt like I had a screw moving in and out of the bone. After a few years and a few doctors of MRIs, meds, PT, and injections I was finally sent to Dr. Puumala. I thought “great we can get this remedied.” First visit I went in he noticed no one ran a CT scan so he sent me off for one. He seemed to know what he was talking about. The second visit was a whole other story. Firstly, I live an hour away.... I showed up to my appointment a bit early as I normally do, I had to wait over an hour in the waiting room. I expressed my frustration to the ladies at the desk. NO ONE told me that my appointment was going to be late and no one said he was in an… emergency surgery. They just allowed me to wait in pain for that long. Once I was finally able to see him for my appointment he was rather rude. Chastising me like I was one of his children. He said he heard I was frustrated, I answered with yes no one said my appointment was going to be late, the office could have called. He went on to talk to me in a manner to make me feel guilty for being upset. Saying he had to preform an emergency surgery on a patient and she was probably not going to make it... once in the room he began with saying he saw no reason on the imaging for surgery, he called me over to look at the scan. Once he flipped on the light for the imaging he said “Oh. That could be problematic.” I literally stood next to him looked at the image for a second, pointed and said my screw is broke.... He rushes through our visit after that and had sent me on my way with an order for surgery. Fast forward to 2011, he preformed my surgery, it was same day. After surgery I never saw him again. No, letting me know how or what went on during the surgery and not even a follow up appointment. Very rude, very unprofessional, and not very observant. It seemed he was just in the business for the money and not to actually help patients. 9 years later I’m being sent to another specialist because I still have worsening pain and constant bilateral sciatica. Do your research on your surgeon before setting up an appointment!

He stood over over my dead husbands body and told me that our family was no longer his priority.

Dr. Puumala has NO bedside manner at all!! I would never tell anyone to go to him. The way we where treated by that man was a total disgrace!

My Family encountered Dr Pamela in the ER when my Dad was brought to Avara with a Brain Aneurism.I have no doubt in my mind that Dr Puumala provide the best care possible for my Father but the way he treated my mother was uncalled for. My Dad did not survive the Brain Aneurism .the way Dr Puumala came in to the room to tell us what had happened was very aggressive and rude. We understood that Dr Puumala did everything he could have done. I just wish he could have come to tell us dad was gone with a warm comforting hand

Fooled around locally for 8-10 months. Dr. Puumala found in 10 minutes what theya all missed. thanks Doc!