To find relief for my lower back pain, my PCP referred me to Dr. Christopher Edwards at the Atlanta…read moreNeurological and Spine Institute. Dr. Edwards is an orthopedic surgeon who is renowned in his field, having been the first to perform many different types of spinal surgeries in Georgia and having worked with many college and pro athletes. The Spine Institute also has an in-house physical therapy clinic, so I will break this review into two parts.
Part 1 - Dr. Edwards, Mr. Adams, PA-C:
I had five appointments with the doctor. The first appointment, where I was initially evaluated, was handled by Dr. Edwards' Physician Assistant, David Adams. Mr. Adams surveyed my experience with back pain and performed a series of tests which included testing my range of motion, strength, and reflexes. Mr. Adams, in consultation with Dr. Edwards, ordered an MRI and a follow-up appointment. In the meantime, I was prescribed medicine and physical therapy.
The length of time between my first appointment and my follow-up appointment was exactly one week, with my MRI promptly taken in between. The process was fast and efficient.
At my follow-up appointment, I saw both Mr. Adams and Dr. Edwards. At this appointment, I learned that I had two ruptured discs. Both Mr. Adams and Dr. Edwards pointed out and explained the problem areas on my MRI. Dr. Edwards had a good discussion with me about what was going on with my discs, what may have caused it, and my treatment options. He also answered all my questions. Treatment-wise, he prescribed various medications and physical therapy at his office. After learning of my disc herniations, Dr. Edwards was very particular about which PT clinic he wanted me to go to.
At my third appointment, after 5 weeks of PT and no significant pain relief, I was seen by Mr. Adams again. At this appointment, both he and Dr. Edwards agreed I should proceed with an epidural. Dr. Edwards' office referred me to an anesthesiologist where I had a three sets of injections done.
After the epidural injections, I saw Dr. Edwards again. This time, he was accompanied by resident M.D. David Fiedler. Based on my age and symptoms, Dr. Edwards did not recommend surgery. Instead, he recommended I receive IDD (intervertebral differential dynamics) therapy from a neurology group.
Based on my visits with Dr. Edwards, I find him to be a very knowledgeable doctor and I like his conservative approach. He is a surgeon at heart, but won't recommend surgery to anyone unless they truly need it.
I highly recommend grabbing an 8am appointment (first appointment of the day). I was in and out in just over an hour for my 8am appointment. I had two 9:30am appointments and I was not seen until about 11am (about a 1.5 hour wait) for one of them and nearly 12pm (an over 2 hour wait) for the other!
Part 2 - Physical Therapy:
I saw Joy, a physical therapist who is specially trained in the Watkins Protocol, a lumbar/trunk stabilization program. Joy received her training directly from Dr. Robert Watkins in California. (Dr. Edwards is the first to introduce the Watkins Protocol to Atlanta.)
I saw Joy for 7 weeks. She is pleasant, friendly, and gentle but also assertive. My first appointment with her lasted about two hours because it involved an initial evaluation. Like a doctor, Joy was able to explain a lot of what was going on with my spine and why. She also explained the body mechanics behind the Watkins exercises and why they were beneficial to me. I noticed Joy seemed more knowledgeable and spent more time explaining things to me and answering my questions than physical therapists I've worked with in the past.
After the first visit, my appointments lasted about 1.5 hours each. All of the physical therapy exercises are done in a room that overlooks Downtown Atlanta. From left to right, there are views of the Georgia Dome and Pemberton Place (Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke) to Tech Tower and Bobby Dodd Stadium. At 18 stories high, the view is very nice to have to work out to.
Joy printed out a packet of exercises for me so I wouldn't forget to do them at home. She is flexible on scheduling and doesn't pressure you to make appointments. She's accommodating in that sense. Her methods and advice are sensible and practical.
Other Comments:
The rest of the staff - Keosha, Lina, and Sandy - are great. They are good at answering questions, being responsive, and taking care of insurance and appointment scheduling. Teresa, in billing, has also been helpful when it comes to insurance.
The Atlanta Neurological and Spine Institute moved from the Atlanta Medical Center on Boulevard to Emory University Hospital Midtown on Peachtree, next to the Bank of America building. It is located on the 18th floor of the hospital. Parking in the parking deck costs up to $6 for one day. I normally paid $5 for each of my visits. The office does not validate parking.
