Dr. Richard John Distefano, MD

Fantastic

When i tell you,He may be a man i few word's.That is true.But i promise you this.I had dealt with other dishonest Spine Surgeon's.This one refuse' to do surgery if you do not need it.Let alone does not want to take on a case that another surgeon did.So make sure if you do need sugery.This doctor is your man.I had a accident happen.My hardware in my Cervical broke from my own mistake.Another surgeon did the revision.it broke again.Took out my facet bone complete..I had to go out of town to another surgeon to find out why i was in so much agony.The surgeon lied and covered it up.Leaving me in danger of not telling my pain clinic.I would of been in great danger if i had no one to control that pain.This surgeon took me back.and did a nerve stimular for sever nerve injury.Twice he saved my life and that is the real truth.Theres alot more to it then i can write.Please take my word on that.What you can not see is a huge problem.If a surgery damaged something.Remember no one wants to be… sued.So i did not because i wanted care instead.And did not want the good doctors forced it to it.This is a real decent human being.He got alot of my nerve injury under control.Working to keep me in pain magement.But my hopes are that one day my Cervical Facet bones can be fixed with a metal rod instead of all the hardware that was placed it.This doctor did not do that.He does not want to hurt me more.But i have a ton of Acdf hardware in my neck.I can not turn without turning my intire body Please listen.If surgery is in fact really needed .This is the only sugern i know who wil refuse to if you dont in fact need it.Becaause its dangerous.Special its steelband will breal down one day.And if it does.You need a doctor who willbget you right in to emergency surgery.My other surgeon left me struggling while it cut back and forth.

I saw himfor low back pain that made working impossible. On my first visit he asked where the pain was then told me what was wrong based on the xrays. He seemed angry when I asked for a note for work-told me they don't do that. My next appointment was to get the results of my MRI. He told me the results then stood up to leave!! I tried to ask a couple of questions but he refused to answer. Seeing this doctor was a big mistake.

Initially, he said that I wasn't a candidate for surgery. About 3 years later, I had severely deteriorated to the point where I could no longer walk well and was in severe pain all day long. It kept me from sleeping or continuing my degree (this started at age 19 in the military) and I could not function. I went back there as no other practice would even consider seeing me because I was so young (by then 22). It didn't take long for him to change his mind - I needed surgery. About 2 months later, I had a single-level fusion in my neck. I woke up and for the first time in three years I didn't have much numbness in my hand at all. Tomorrow marks five months, and in that time I have stopped taking four medications, was able to stop using a cane, moved to a new city, got a job, and went back to college. He gave me my life back and I am thankful for that. Had he not done anything, I might not still be here today.

Per my wife. Did not listen. Seemed to be on a hurry. Not compassionate regarding pain

I saw Dr. Richard Distefano when I’d already been in over 7 years of pain and tried a lot of different methods for dealing with it. I knew going into the appointment that he’d probably not have any suggestions that I hadn’t either tried or considered already (which was true), but despite the reality that I’m just a really tough case to deal with, I think he could have done a much better job reviewing and discussing my case. Even though he didn’t have any good suggestions for me, that doesn’t mean that he couldn’t have learned from my experiences and perhaps helped another patient in the future better because of listening to my story. He did not want to review my Digital Motion X-ray (many doctors have no training in how to look at them), and I think that was a huge mistake; even though he might not know a lot about DMX, I know how to explain what my DMX shows from listening to other doctors explain it to me. I think he was really uninterested to hear that ultrasound showed I had tears… in my Obliquus Capitis Inferior Muscle, Multifidus Muscle, Rhomboid Muscle, Abductor Hallucis Brevis, and Flexor Digitorum Brevis. He didn’t want to take the time to discuss the PRP injections I’d had (the most helpful treatment I’ve had thus far) and learn about what other doctors felt about what was going on with me. I’m literally signed up on Research Match incase they ever decide to go ahead with Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT) trials on humans, and when you have a patient like that in front of you, you really want to go, “We’re always trying to learn about medicine and figure out the best treatments for people in your situation. Please contact us if you ever really get a lot of help from another doctor or a research trial you’re signed up for.” Instead, I think he was the kind of doctor that was probably a little depressed from seeing chronic pain patients that he couldn’t help, and I think he was lacking awareness of the fact that despite that these situation are very difficult, that doesn’t mean there isn’t something to learn from them.

Been seeing him for 20 years. Great doctor, patient and listens to my complaints. Had surgery for stenosis and all went great.

Terrible experience with him. Dismissive and rude. Would not provide an opinion or explain what was going on with me. Seemed to want to be done with me in a matter of minutes. A complete waste of my time and money. I would not recommend this doctor.

Went today with my mom who is in her 60's who was just diagnosed with severe spinal stenosis in her low back for her first consult with dr Distefano . Talk about a joke he didn't even do a full physical exam on her . She currently is in a wheelchair just of recent and he gave her 5 options for her back 1 to stay that way ! Last surgery ! I asked what he recommended since he was the doctor you know ... Sorry i asked . He was rude and condescending . I would not recommend this dr to a frog let alone a human being .. Get some bedside manner and treat people like they matter and have feelings . Learn some professionalism since you are a dr .

Told me nothing was wrong with my neck ended up having 3 herniated discs.