Dr. Todd Lee Harshbarger, MD

Let’s start with why I came in; severe mid back pain (between my shoulders). This pain only manifests as night after I’ve been sleeping, when I awake the pain is almost paralyzing where I can’t move. A previous doctor prescribed meloxicam (a drug for severe arthritis) for the pain. This is something I take once a day (per direction), and has been the only thing to relive the pain. Even with the pain gone, I still wake up massively stiff, which goes away as I become mobile throughout the day. I was advised to seek out a back doctor for further diagnosis. As everyone can imagine, it’s hard getting any kind of appointment with a specialist in our current state today, so no matter who I called the appointments varied from a few weeks, to months. I was able to secure an appointment at California Spine with DR JW Duncan three weeks out. I went today to my appointment and was actually seen by DR Todd Harshbarger (reviewed here). I first was x-rayed, and then went to wait for the DR. Todd… came in didn’t inquire at all about current medications (that will come later), he basically just confirmed who I was, and I proceeded on my own to tell him about my experiences. After explaining the the pain is so bad that it’s nearly paralyzing in nature, he got pedantic with me and said there was no way I would be paralyzed, as if I were using the term literally (obviously I wasn’t). I then asked him what I should do, because the DR who prescribed the meloxicam told me that isn’t a permanent solution and can’t take it forever. Todd told me that I shouldn’t be taking it at all, and again reiterated that it’s impossible for me to have that level of pain in the area I am experiencing it. The visit closed with him referring me to an MRI, but made it point to tell me it’s not going to matter at all, because it’s not going to show anything (I guess he’s clairvoyant..? not sure what’s the point of an expensive medial procedure like an MRI if he can just use his eyes to see through me). I know experiences like this are expected in our current healthcare system in America, and I even prepped myself to potentially have to spend a bunch of my own money visiting multiple doctors until I found one who cared enough to do their job, but I guess nothing can really prepare you for when it happens this way. Heartbreaking and disheartening. To top it all off, they took my co-pay only in the form of cash/check. As I paid in cash, they took my cash and put it in their personal purse (in which they withdrew my change).

Dr Harshbarger Todd. Has given me my life back.. I can sleep at night without getting up taking pain pills.. He listens to his patients and truly cares.. After my back sergery I feel normal again.. I recommend tDr Harshbarger to annyone that has severe back pain.. Im truly gratefull to him

Found out after the fact that he isn't board certifed.

100% overall satsifaction would refer to friends and strangers alike

Not happy with performance as a surgeon. Made some very poor and critical desicions in the Operating room. 1 surgery ended up being 10 to date. Now being followed by a different surgeon in another hospital.

His professionalism was outstanding and what he did for our family was phenomenal!