Dr. Samuel Sibley Fleming, MD

The rudest doctor I have ever been to.. He has no feeling for you. He doesnt care.. He talked so hatefull to me and then walked out...Terrible doctor..

I knew the office and was working with a basic orthopedist in the same group who referred me to him for ankle surgery. He was a thoughtful and decisive doctor in our original encounter. I had excessive pain during recovery and PT, so he had me in early to check and make any adjustments. He CORRECTLY diagnosed me with RSD/CRPS- a level 42 (out of 50) on the McGill Pain Index (the guide doctors use to determine pain). The majority with my condition suffer for YEARS because they're not believed or their doctors are unaware. Worker's Compensation required a second opinion, and told him to test by giving me a massively long and thick needle with a steroid shot into the sural nerve in my ankle. He had to do it and I had to let him so I could move forward with proper treatment. It was impressive that he told me he was sorry before he gave me that shot, that he then he told the nurses not to disturb me until I said I was ready to leave, and that he came to check on me while I was in the room… crying for 30 minutes holding the wall. That is a kindness when a doctor's time and office rooms are at a premium for patient turnover. On the plus side, it proved them wrong and his original diagnosis undeniable. RSD/CRPS remission possibilities become non-existent after the first six months. He stayed with me as a second opinion to my RSD doctor. While my new doctor was/is a well known RSD specific pain management doctor, he was originally referred by the Worker's Compensation lawyer because he was both that and his golfing buddy. Doctor Fleming kept things honest and me safe throughout my physical therapy and extensive care requirements. He always remembered the little things and remained encouraging. He even asked me to speak to a patient who finally found him after having had RSD for many years. I was glad to help and super glad I had Dr. Fleming from the start! He doesn't work at Pinnacle anymore, but I'd really like to know where he's gone to now! I need a good orthopedist and I trust him. ***If you find him too matter of fact, I suggest you ask him to explain whatever you don't understand. Doctors are so used to "In and Out" care, people who've looked everything up, and charting so many patients' jargon that they don't always realize you might be confused if you don't tell actually verbalize your concern. This really goes for most doctors... If they realize you're more human than your chart, you'll have a better relationship. The only way to do that is to have an open dialogue.

Dr. Fleming did not correct my bunion problems,he made them worse. He fused joints in toes so they are so stiff they are below the level of the other toes. I asked for him to remove the bunion and help my foot regain the ability to grip as I walk. I said it to him multiple times and he obviously didn't listen. I am permanently impaired. After 6 weeks, my large toe had migrated toward my other toes more than before the surgery. I have X-ray evidence. When asked why, his response was he could do more surgery. When speaking with a nurse who was doing prep for eye surgery, she asked about previous surgeries. When I described the problems I've experienced with my foot surgery, she was the one who told me my toe joints had been fused and then she asked me if the doctor was Dr. Fleming. He souldn't be doing surgeries or practicing medicine.

DO NOT SEE THIS DOCTOR!!!!!!! Sorry for the lengthy post. I wish I could give him negative starts. I had an 8:30 appointment and arrived at 8:00. I was brought back to the exam room at 8:15, only to be told he usually arrived around 8:30-8:45, but I was the first patient in his queue. I waited until 9:20 before sticking my head out the door to make sure I wasn't forgotten. The friendly staff apologized and said that he was not here yet. They called him, informing him that he now had six patients waiting to see him. Ten minutes later he rushes through the door (no apology for the wait) and curtly asks me how my ankle is (the reason for my visit). I start talking, trying to get my story in (in-between his interruptions) before he tells me he is going to give me a cortisone shot. I voiced my concerns for treating (again- he had already tried steroids as a treatment with no improvement) a problem we didn't know the source of, suggesting an MRI to rule out a ligament or tendon… tear. He rudely told me that he had been doing this for many years and I should just go with what he said. Completely at a loss, I stared speechless. I told him that if that is what he thought, I would give it a try, but again voiced my concerns. He didn't address them, but instead rudely ordered me onto the table. He swiftly cleansed and sprayed the area with betadine and a local anesthetic. With a full syringe of cortisone, he injected my ankle in a manner of seconds, despite me writhing pain. You see, I have a medical background (he doesn't know this)... cortisone should be injected VERY slowly. He couldn't be bothered with that, obviously. He threw away the syringe, told me to come back in 3 - 4 weeks and walked out. No after care instructions (there are important ones), no concern, no further explanation of a plan of care. I was nearly in tears and completely at a loss. The nice tech checked in on me and told me I could go after helping me clean up the blood on my ankle. It was horrible.

I saw Dr. Fleming for plantar fasciitis and he was very courteous and professional. Medication was prescribed and I had relief for the pain after the first dose. I would recommend him to everyone I know.

I saw Dr. Fleming for a foot injury. I brought an MRI and told me he couldn't read it. He didn't look at the interpretation, which was given to the nurse. He was wanted to put me on meds. even though I told him the pain was improved. He was fidgeting like a child the whole time he was talking to me. Walked out of the room and didn't say anything. What a waste of time and money. I can't believe Pinnacle Ortho has such a sub par physician. No wonder the office was empty. One of the worst Drs. I've ever seen.

I went to Fleming with (ONE) torn tendon in my left foot. After x-rays and a MRI he finally agreed I wasn't faking it. After my surgery, he comes out and tells my husband that during my surgery while under, I tried to fight them off and they had to give me another nerve block from my knee. He said my tendon was so bad it was like sewing starlight to moonbeam. (Whhhhaaaaat the fudge?) After I woke my foot in in terrible pain. The temporary cast is rubbing a spot that is shooting pains all the way up my back. You could draw a line from my heel, up my calf, thigh to back. He puts on a new temp cast $300. 3 days later. Still can't stand it. New cast $300. 1 week later same thing. This goes on. He says forget the cast and wraps it up in ace bandage very very tight. He asks me how does that feel? I told him it was a little tight. HE TELLS ME. .....AND I QUOTE WORD FOR WORD "I OFFICIALLY GIVE YOU THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA AWARD!" A month goes by and I'm getting better but it's going… slowly. I'm going to physical therapy. I'm not on crutches. Is probably 3 months out. But this nerve pain up my leg is going crazy. So he sends me for spinal nerve blocks. 2 of them at $1500 each! They aren't working. At this point he tells me and again this is word for word "I'm just going to double your pain meds and from now on I'll just be your coach. " Well I see a neurologist for migraines. (Never thought migraines would be a blessing! ) and I'm telling her about this jerk. And she tells me she can test that nerve right in their office! I almost fell off the chair! I do the test and find out the dang nerve had been damaged and is not working from my foot all the way up to my thigh! Go figure! I go to Dr. Womack with Resurgeons. I tell him my story. He holds my foot in his hand tells me to look away. Touch my foot in one spot, I nearly cling to the ceiling in pain. He says you have a neuroma on your nerve here you need to have it removed. He gets x-rays and tells me I had TWO torn tendons in my foot! My suggestion is to stay away from this man! He's rude, mEan and incompetent! AND a hazard to your health!

Dr. Fleming is an outstanding, knowledgable, professional MD. His care of my extremely damaged ankle has been great. He took great time to look at options & ask other MDs for opinions on treatment for my ankle when AVN occurred. I would recommend him to anyone. His PA Bryan is fabulous. They are a great team!!

Dr. Flemming didn't take the time to see what was really wrong with me. Beside manner was awful. He prescribed meds for nerve damage...who does that without first doing test? He really made me feel like I was making up my pain and was wasting his time. He kind of dismissed me, walked out of the office...I had to ask the nurse if we were finished. Unhappy...wouldn't recommend him to anyone.

office staff was not friendly. I felt Doctor did not listen to me and rushed at a guessed diagnosis. My complaint was pain in upper and lower foot, unable to put pressure on it, swelling and redness. He told me that I had a pinched nerve. Offered me a shot and pain pills. Since when does a pinched nerve cause your foot to swell up? waste of time and money. Going to go to a Podiatrist now.