Dr. Thomas Stephen Ridder, MD

If I could give negative five stars I would. Thomas Ridder is the most arrogant, dismissive, condescending doctor I have ever had the displeasure of coming into contact with. He shows absolutely no care in his patients, and when I am able to squeeze a word in, he does not listen at all. He has zero bedside manner. The only reason I had to deal with him is because I was assigned to him when I was admitted inpatient at the hospital for my severe spinal issues that led to a complete loss of feeling in my right leg. Every time he came into the room, it only got worse, and I hated every moment I had to see him. One of the first things he said to me was when he called himself "divine intervention". Some back story, I was supposed to have a very invasive back surgery, then the issue happened with my leg. That's when I was admitted to the hospital. We ran one test and an MRI, and when that didn't give answers we were hoping for, he essentially gave up. Before when me and my spinal surgeon… decided on the very large procedure, we weighed the risks. But the reason we were going to do it is because we had exhausted all other options. After a back surgery last year not giving relief and still leaving me unable to work/do every day activities, we had tried physical therapy, steroid injections, pain management, and a spinal cord stimulator trial. Nothing helped. So, we decided on this very invasive surgery. Ridder made sure the surgery did not happen. He talked to my spinal surgeon and made sure the procedure did not happen because he said there were other ways to fix my debilitating issues that left me handicapped. I asked him his next steps after the two tests he wanted didn’t give results we wanted and he said "well, I don't want you to permanently be on pain medication, but it seems that medication and a long process of recovery and physical therapy is the only option". Um, excuse me? I tried PT. But now there's new symptoms in my leg that we're yet to find the source of. And I still have extreme issues in my spine that need to be fixed. I am currently completely handicapped and unable to care for myself. I am unable to get out of bed or walk. And your only suggestion is pain medication and PT? Which already didn't help the spinal issues before the new leg issues came along? After that he essentially said I was faking my new symptoms. Isn't that nice. Then I get another call for referrals for pain management and steroid injections. If he would have listened when I talked, he would have known I already have a pain management doctor and injections didn't work. All I know is I feel sorry for anyone who comes in contact or attempts to receive care from that self-proclaimed, thinks he's the best there ever was, know it all awful doctor. Stay away at all costs if you can. He has no idea what the care of a doctor is supposed to look like, and has no idea what actually caring for a patient means. Every time I saw him it felt like he belittled and degraded me. After the phone call where he spewed all that stuff, I promptly canceled my follow up appointment with him that was scheduled while I was at the hospital. I already didn’t want to go, but after that phone call absolutely not. I will be seeking care elsewhere. I’m just really glad (hope you can sense the sarcasm) that he made a desperate woman who is going through the most difficult thing in her life at 22 years old feel even more hopeless and helpless than I already felt in the position I am in. What a sad, sad excuse for a doctor.

I am so thankful for Dr. Ridder and his skills as a neurosurgery!

Ignore everything else except the man and his skills as a neuro surgeon. He is an amazing surgeon. The care provided saved a life. Trying to stay anonymous for HIPAA reasons.