I am a 49 year old from Williamsburg, VA. I am very active and my exercise routine includes long distance running, biking and cross training. Three years ago, I started having neck issues that eventually caused numbness in my fingers, shooting pain in my neck and stiffness so bad I couldn’t turn my head from side to side. After exhausting all my options, including Physical Therapy, chiropractic care, dry needling and massage, I went to see Dr. Jeffrey Carlson.
An MRI showed I had degenerative disc disease affecting C5-C7. We tried several steroid injections, which didn’t help at all. Finally, we decided on surgery. THEN my insurance company balked and refused to cover it. Dr. Carlson and his staff went way beyond the call of duty with multiple appeals and peer-to-peer consults. They really went to bat for me! After nearly a year of appeals, I was approved for a two-level fusion (C5-6 and C6-7).
Dr. Carlson and his staff fully prepared me for the surgery. I understood what to expect before, during and after surgery. They explained everything, and answered all questions I had, no matter how small.
The surgery was out-patient. I wore a neck brace for two weeks, and followed all instructions. At the end of two weeks, I was able to walk up to 2.5 miles without any problem. I am 7 weeks out now and my activity level has increased nearly to the level it was before I was in so much pain. I am currently in physical therapy to regain neck mobility. My muscles need to learn how to stop protecting my neck so it can turn again!
I hope I never need another surgery, but if I do, I would not hesitate to call Dr. Carlson. He’s a top-notch surgeon who clearly cares about the well-being of his patients.
Laura Barrow
Hello there everyone, my name is Ms. In Suk Bolton from Hampton, Virginia. My physician’s name is Dr. Jeffrey Carlson, Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Orthopaedic & Spine Center in Newport News, Va.
The reason that I went to see him was because, for over 5+ years, I have been battling and dealing with really bad Sciatic Nerve Pain, which was the result of having no bone cartilage in between my 4 lower lumbar discs in the spinal column. As a result, the spinal cord was being pressed and rubbed which was causing me to have the really bad Sciatic Nerve Pain in my back and which went all the way down to my right foot.
I used to get Epidural Steroid Injections done at Sentara Pain Management and in the end, they weren’t helping my problem. So, I decided to go see Dr. Carlson at the Orthopaedic & Spine Center thanks to one of my co-workers recommending him and I must say that all the staff and nurses are very kind. Spoke with Dr. Carlson and explained what was going on with my Spinal Column and asked what options were available.
Dr. Carlson stated that he would recommend surgery and a process that was called Spinal Fusion Surgery, where basically they replace the bad disks that were causing pressure and discomfort on my Sciatic Nerve and would fuse with metal rods and bolts. I was at first very scared and very nervous, but thankfully, I had my son here and Dr. Carlson both helped to keep me at ease.
After having the surgery, I look back and I am glad and very grateful in Dr. Carlson for fixing me up. Now I must say that I have no more Sciatic Nerve Pain in my leg anymore and thanks to the Spinal Fusion Procedure, my Spinal Cord is now straight and I can now say that … “I have my life back!” At first, 1st week is the toughest week after surgery because of being in pain but afterwards, the 2nd week and on it get’s much easier. Do not lose faith or hope. It does get much better, trust me.
If anyone is going through Sciatic Nerve Pain and thinking about getting surgery, I highly recommend Dr. Carlson. He is one of the very best and will explain everything in a calm manner and help put you at ease. Thank you to everyone at Orthopaedic & Spine Center for giving me my life back!!!
After Dr. Jeffrey Carlson replaced my second knee, it seemed to heal more slowly and I was dejected. Dr. Carlson wisely took me out of in-home physical therapy and assigned me to Dr. Tom Toothaker at OSC Physical Therapy. I had used them for years and felt comfortable with my OSC PT family of providers.
Tom took my case on personally. His daily encouragement and motivation caused me to try harder and we were able to celebrate the small steps together!
My appointments are at 7:00 AM and I’m not a morning person, but Autumn at the front desk is and she greets each one of us with joyful encouragement. Then Rachel, Tom’s assistant, keeps the session rolling with her positive attitude as we exercise together.
I would like to encourage you to not be afraid of the pain and stress that normally comes with Physical Therapy. You can trust the family at OSC PT to treat you as their most important patient throughout your sessions!
Kerri Vailati
In the spring of 2019, I noticed muscle mass disappearing in my lower left leg and loss of strength. After going 
to my PCM, which happens to be the US Navy since I am retired military, I got a referral out of the USN system to see a Spine Surgeon. I picked OSC, even though it is a long drive and traffic is terrible getting there from Va Beach. Boy, am I glad I did.
Got an appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Carlson within a week of contacting them, when I contacted some Docs here in Va Beach, I was told it would be at least 4 months.
Got my MRI done, some back x-rays and met with Dr. Carlson. He gave me what options were available. He did not push surgery, but that was one of the options. I selected surgery, as I had been down the PT road and had been dealing with Sciatica nerve pain several times in the past. I felt surgery was the best option to resolve the bulge disk issue.
After surgery, there were times when I had some numbness and some sciatica pain, but after about four weeks all resolved and no pain or numbness.
Dr. Carlson explained to me everything to expect and it was exactly how he said it would be.
I am very happy and satisfied that I used this practice, Dr. Carlson and his staff were very easy to work with and very informative.
I highly recommend this practice. In the past, when I needed some work on my knee, Dr. Boyd Haynes did it and he was outstanding as well. If you want professionals that are also a pleasure to work with, contact OSC.
John De Mille
I would like like to thank Orthopaedic & Spine Center for providing outstanding service. I reached out to Shannon Woods (from out-of-state) with many questions about a potential surgery. Despite not being a current patient, Shannon and Dr. Jeffrey Carlson showed compassion and took the time to answer my questions. Based on I my experience I would highly recommend OSC.
Dennis Bolton
I went to Dr. Jeffrey Carlson because I was in severe pain and could hardly walk. Dr. Carlson found that I had tendinitis in both hips, which also caused pain in my knees and legs. His Physician Assistant, Tonya, gave me cortisone injections in both hips. Dr. Carlson sent me to Physical Therapy, across from his office.
Dr. Paige Tretter and Josh Hancock, PTA, worked together and instructed me in strength training exercises…they were very dedicated. Those exercises were the BEST thing that’s happened to me. I’m NO longer limping, can walk normally and they took the pain away. A BIG “THANK YOU” to everyone!!!
Linda Rankin
I was suffering with back pain for about three years from a pinched nerve. Dr. Jeffrey Carlson gave me an option that would relieve my back pain issue. I had the laser surgery done on 3/25/19. I am now pain free, with the help of surgery and physical therapy.
I feel free of pain. I want to thank Dr. Carlson for a job well done.
Dorian J. Johnson
My name is Alan Gunnerson. I am a 57-year old male that spent several years with increased lower back pain, and over the past two years, extending down my left buttocks and leg to my left foot. I found myself only able to sit for a short period and then had to stand, again, only for a short period. I described myself as a yo-yo; there was no comfortable position. Come to find out that I had spinal disk compression between L4 and L5 and spinal stenosis within the disk area that was irritating my sciatic nerve.
Because I also have an older pacemaker—one that is not MRI compatible—the only scanning I had completed was an initial PET/CT, a follow-up CT scan, and an x-ray before my lumbar operation.
After two 6-week physical therapy sessions that made my pain worse, except for the traction table, and several lumbar epidurals—four to be specific—and an additional cortisone shot on my left piriformis muscle area, I was sent to Dr. Jeffrey Carlson to evaluate my condition. Before seeing Dr. Carlson, I even attended a lecture that described spinal cord stimulation.
Dr. Carlson diagnosed that I had disk compression between L4 and L5 and spinal stenosis that was causing irritation of my sciatic nerve and the only treatment left was to perform a lumbar laminectomy to relieve my sciatic nerve pain.
I had my lumbar laminectomy—a decompression procedure—at the Mary Immaculate Surgical Center on January 16th, 2019. Dr. Carlson removed roughly half of my lamina and bone spurs that were causing the compression of my sciatic nerve. It did not take long for me to feel relief—relief of pain that I had not felt for almost two years.
I was able to go back to work part-time in a week and full-time in two weeks; although with lifting restrictions. At the time of writing this testimonial, I am seven weeks out from my surgery and am no longer on the 20-pound lifting restriction. I am starting physical therapy shortly to strengthen my lower back and core.
Every person’s situation is different, and for me, although I did not want to have another surgical procedure, the lumbar laminectomy worked. For someone that may have similar circumstances, I would recommend talking with your doctor about this type of procedure.
Alan Gunnerson
(Photo of Dr. Jeffrey Carlson in the OR)
I am an active volunteer, kayaker, and skier. A year and a half ago, I was having serious hip pain and nightly leg cramps, sometime lasting for more than an hour. My first x-ray identified a ruptured spinal disc. The recommendation for me was to go to rehab or a chiropractor, but things did not improve.
Dr. Jeffrey Carlson came recommended to me. After several visits with him, it became obvious that surgery was the answer. On January 2nd, I had 10 screws, 2 rods and a spacer installed in my lumbar spine. I was positive on January 3rd, I’d made the wrong decision.
It is now 8 weeks later and I am walking without pain. I am biking, kayaking and best of all, I have not had one leg cramp. I am not discomfort free all the time, but I suspect more improvement as I continue exercising. I am planning my 2020 ski trip.
John Thomas
I was having increased low back pain and difficulty with my legs, causing balance and gait problems. I had been to two other orthopedic surgeons, who stated the required surgery would mean possibly 3-6 months out of work.
I was referred to Dr. Jeffrey Carlson, who, after several rounds of x-rays, determined I had a problem that was missed by the other surgeons. The required surgery was a lumbar 3 to 4 fusion, completed as an outpatient.
My recovery has been quick, and I am pain free in my lower back, and, with the help of physical therapy, increasing mobility and strength returning to my legs. I would highly recommend Dr. Carlson for orthopedic spinal concerns.
Mark Buckley
