Dr. Richard Jay Feldman, MD

He's not going to tell you that you need something when you don't. He'll tell you what he can do for you. He does hip replacement surgery many times during a month and really understands the pain you are going through. Very high on my recommendation list.

He is by far one of the most skilled, trusted and knowledgeable orthopaedic surgeons in the country. He does like 10 hip replacements PER WEEK!. He knows his trade not only with the hip but with the body. He knows for example what's going on with your body simply by taking a glance at the x-ray which is done in his office giving him immediate access to your particular problem. I have a definitive set of conditions that qualifies any doctor that I will even make an appointment to see and Dr Feldman is at the top of my list. Trust is so very important and this man inspires that attribute without making an effort. He'll always give you the option of accepting his diagnosis or rejecting it.

WIT,BRAINS EXPERTISE,HE DELIVERS HIGH STEEL,VERY HAPPY PATIENT SLAINTE

I was referred to Dr. Feldman by my primary care physician because I have an acute, localized back injury that has been causing extreme pain for about 8 months. When I went in to see him, he looked briefly at the X-ray and MRI images but he wouldn't listen to me when I tried to explain to him what I was feeling, when it had started, where it was etc. He also didn't look closely at ALL my MRI images, he just flipped through the cross sectionals that start from the top. There was a vertical image there of the spine at length, that he did not even look at, where I had seen something strange at the T3, T4 vertebrae (which is, coincidentally where I feel the pain) and I wanted to point it out to him and ask about it but he wouldn't allow it. He didn't even examine my back and look at or feel the spot where the pain is and where my PCP has identified swelling and what feels to her like structural anomaly under the skin. He kept telling me the pain is in my shoulder blade, which it is not. I… know where my shoulder blade is. The pain is to the direct left of my spine, mid-back, at T3/T4, precisely the area where they are telling me I have "maximum convexity of scoliosis". There is no reason for me to be feeling extreme acute pain there if all that I have is mild scoliosis that has always been there. Dr. Feldman refused to believe me that that was the actual location of my pain. He kept focusing on very mild peripheral symptoms that were not even the focus or reason for my visit (I.e Talking about random neurological phenomena in my left arm as if they were the reason for my visit, which they were not, just incidentals that got mentioned when speaking to the nurse. He kept referring to that as proof that I must not be experiencing what I am experiencing) and kept trying to tell me I have a pinched nerve in my shoulder or neck causing pain in my shoulder blade and symptoms in my arm. The problem is, I was not there because of symptoms in my arm, and I don't have any pain in my shoulder blade. I was there because of a specific location in my back that is causing extreme pain. He tried to tell me that I don't truly have pain where I am having the actual pain, that I have to be feeling it in my shoulder blade because he's pretty sure it's radiating from my neck into my shoulder blade and then traveling down my arm. I tried to explain to him again that that is not what I'm experiencing, I have no pain in my shoulder blade nor in my arm, but he got upset when I tried to explain that. (He feels so sure of that explanation because he has no idea what is actually going on with me and an issue like that, were it actually presented, would make sense to him. Unfortunately, that assessment has little to do with me or what I am actually feeling.) He wouldn't listen to my concerns or my explanation of the symptoms nor the circumstances that lead me to believe there is an injury that they are somehow not identifying on the images. In the past I have felt the kind of pain that radiates from a pinched nerve and I know for certain that is not what I'm feeling now. I know that what I'm feeling now is from an injury in a specific location. He outright yelled at me when I tried to ask questions and explain my concerns. He did not show the slightest ounce of empathy or understanding and made it pretty obvious that he didn't care to listen to me or to answer my question. He just waned to rush me through and get me out of the office. I don't know if he felt entitled to yell and to be disrespectful because I am female, because I am small, because I am young, or because I have (as he put it) "crappy insurance". But I would definitely not recommend being seen by him if you have the option of being seen by anyone else.

I was referred to Dr Feldman from someone that had back surgery performed by this doctor. He was highly recommended. Dr Feldman indicated I need a hip replacement and is very positive this surgery will improve the quality of my life as well as a very short recovery time of course depending on how much I put into it. He is straight forward, has the bluest-clearest eyes I've ever seen and inspires confidence and a positive approach to my arthritic condition. Haven't gone through with the surgery yet but will do so soon so I can't answer the last question.

Is a great Dr

One of the best doctors in town

I am a registered physical therapist in California for over 40 years and I just had a lumbar decompression diseconomy yesterday. For pain management prior to surgery, I tried everything from acupuncture, epidurals as well as many other methods to find relief, however, with no success. I was referred to Dr. Richard J Feldman MD at Saint Joseph Medial Center and as soon as he looked over my MRI, he immediately recognized my problem. I had a lumbar disc decompression L4 and L5 bilateral and S1 left. After meeting with him, I decided to go ahead and do the surgery, I had been hesitant about for 3 years. He came to see me the morning of surgery and clearly explained what he planned to do. The surgery took about 2 hour's and while I was in the recovery room I heard he came to my family to explain that the surgery had gone well and had reassured them. Dr. Feldman also suggested that, I stay one night in the hospital if I wanted to, so I decided to stay. He came early in the morning… to my room to check on me and explained to me how successfully surgery had gone and gave me follow up instructions. During my overnight stay in the hospital, all employee's I encountered were professional and personable and made me very comfortable. I especially wanted to recognize the Preparation RN, Ms. Helma RN, surgery room, Joyce RN and the Anesthesiologist ( forgot name) whom were exceptionally kind and comforting. I highly recommend and suggest Dr Richard J Feldman if you have any Orthopedic or back problems both as a professional in the medical field and as his patient.

Trustworthy and ethical

I noticed a lot of these "pleased" comments are from elderly patients. Maybe their conditions are just more common to diagnose thus making their experience more enjoyable. I on the other hand wasn't as pleased. Similar to some of the comments below, as soon as I started explaining where my pain was he became slightly combative with me. Before I even finished explaining my discomfort he said "what do you want from me?!" "What do you want me to do?!".... I hesitated to reply because I assumed my desire was obvious? Diagnose and treat my pain! Although he clearly is a knowledgable person, it seems his years of expiernce have made him a very crass doctor who truly lacks any attempt at bedside manner. Furthermore, I had to wait and hour and a half to see him.