The patients at Spine Associates share their stories about spine surgery, scoliosis correction and surgery, and conservative treatment for spine conditions such as degenerative disc disease, sciatica and herniated discs.

Dr. Francis is a great surgeon. I would do it again.

I am very pleased with my outcome. The surgery was successful. Dr. Francis explained everything. I have had back pain for 5 years and Dr. Francis was able to alleviate me of my pain. For the first time in 5 years I am pain free.

Dr. Francis is the most professional & experienced orthopedic surgeon on earth. After 12 years of being in level 7 pain (10 being the worst pain possible), Dr. Francis saw that I received the best treatment for my permanent back injury. In fact, Dr. Francis did not want me to have surgery right away, which I find as unusual in this day and age. However, due to the natural progression of my injury, I eventually became a candidate for spinal fusion and when Dr. Francis said “it’s time”, I was ready. One day after my surgery I was up and walking. One month after surgery I was back at work. Today, 6 months later, I am totally pain free, living a healthier pain free life. I feel young again. Thank you Dr. Francis and also the staff and associates of Dr. Francis.

To My Life Long Friends. It has been close to two years, and I am still praising and raving about the work rendered by Dr. Richard Francis and the Spine Associates staff. Upon leaving New Orleans I sought out treatment from three different physicians to treat the problems I had with my back after two previous back operations. I was unable to find anyone to offer me any comfort; one physician even claimed the damage to my back was too substantial. I was in excruciating pain.

One Sunday, my wife and I decided to visit the church of a friend looking for comfort for my pain. Upon entering the building I witnessed a man who was bent over and in pain. I was drawn to this person and we started discussing our mutual troubles. The gentleman told me about Dr. Francis. He said that he was going to see him the following week. He told me about his upstanding reputation, wonderful work and how to find him. I went home from church that day, still in pain, and decided that I would contact this doctor on the following day. Monday morning, I called the office and was given an appointment to be seen within a few days. That call was one of the best things that I have done relating to my back issues.

Priscilla and I went to the appointment and we were overwhelmed by the concern and patience shown to us by Dr. Francis and his entire staff. From the very first visit he showed us so much compassion for the pain that had endured over the years. Dr. Francis showed my wife and I several skeletal models describing in detail the problems that existed in my spine, my left leg and my tailbone. He went on to explain how he could correct the problem with a procedure called a spinal fusion.

Dr. Francis is truly a God sent man. He listens, he understands, and has a way of making you believe that he feels your pain. I have never visited the clinic and found him rushing; he always makes time for patients and to answer all of your questions no matter how long it takes. After my surgery, while in the hospital, I experienced a problem and asked for him. He came without hesitation. He put all my fears to rest when he came to see me and then explained to my family what the problems were and assured them there was no reason to be alarmed. He sat down on the bed and made sure I was comfortable. He took his time to put us all at ease each and every time we called or saw him.

Dr. Francis promised that I would return to the everyday things that I was accustomed to doing pain-free in less than one year. He was right. In less than two months I was up and walking one mile per day. I returned to doing the things that I had been unable to do such as playing with my grandson; taking my granddaughter on her bi-weekly shopping spree.

I have seen my share of doctors and could not believe the loving care and respect my family and I received from Dr. Francis and his staff. Dr. Francis made me a promise and he delivered. After my experience, I would never trust anyone else with the care of my back after thirty years of suffering. My family and I love and genuinely appreciate Dr. Francis and the life that I have been able to return to.

May God continue to bless and keep you and your team in his mercy.

I am so impressed with the care of patients that is so precious and personal. Dr. Francis is one of the most caring and professional physicians I have ever been to. The hospital where I had my surgery was the cleanest, neatest, most informative hospital I have ever been to. I have been sharing my special care with many of my friends. Thank you Dr. Francis and to all of the nurses and staff here in Beaumont, TX and at Houston Orthopedic & Spine Hospital.

From an excruciating , screaming pain and a near complete disability to a pain free life, my husband’s condition today is not far from a miracle. Dr. Richard Francis, an exceptionally gifted doctor who has granted my husband his normal life back, performed this miracle.

My husband had a decompression back surgery performed by Curaspine in November 2015. After this surgery, his pain was not improving at all — on the contrary it was worsening day by day. The doctor who performed this surgery recommended a steroid cortisone injection , performed without any results while the pain severely continued to increase. My husband was confined to a bed, lying on his back, the only position that would allow some pain relief. Curaspine suggested the heat procedure to be performed next but we completely lost faith after two previously failed procedures . I have requested a discussion on the phone with the Curaspine doctor but he refused to return my call. While my husband could not move even to go to the restroom I was very worried, disappointed , frustrated and enraged by Curaspine’s incompetence and lack of consideration.

I started searching the internet and by the grace of God we found Dr. Richard Francis. When I called his office I was very emotional and scared because I did not know what was going to happen to my husband who was screaming in pain attempting to turn his body in bed. Marsha, one of his office assistants answered the phone and she arranged an appointment for the very next day. That very next day Dr. Francis evaluated my husband’s condition and ordered all of the necessary tests and procedures that were done right there in the same day. All of his staff was so amazingly helpful! Jodie, another office assistant was just so great! It was a long day beginning at 6 am but by 7 pm we knew that my husband needed a one level spine fusion surgery.

Dr. Francis performed a spine fusion surgery by the end of December and only three weeks after this major surgery, my husband’s life is back to normal, pain free! Amazing! Thank you, Richard Francis, we will forever be grateful and will never forget you and the precious gift of life you have given to my husband! You are an amazing doctor! God bless you!

Dr. Frances gave me my life back… where I had lost feeling in both legs and feet for the best part of 18 years, and then both giving in.. he repaired my lower spine where I now have full feeling and actually feel every little breeze and sensation… then 2 months later did the same in my neck and restored full feeling and use to both arms and both hands.. where I was pretty much down to thumb and index finger on each hand…

Dr. Frances is a miracle and is the finest surgeon who really cares for and about his patients.. I would recommend him to anyone who has any back problems.. .. he saved me from quite likely ending up a quadriplegic… I owe him my life… thank you Dr. Frances.. I will forever be in your debt…

I first saw Dr. Francis nearly 10 years ago as a third opinion for a discectomy. I felt so comfortable with him that I wanted to use him back thin for the simple surgery. However, I found out that he was not on my insurance.

I was in a bad car accident back in May of 2012 and a few days following the accident, I found myself in considerable amounts of pain. I knew immediately that I would see Dr. Francis. They were able to schedule me in less than a week and I was taken in for my MRI later that afternoon. I went for my follow-up a week later and found that I was nearly bone on bone at the L4-5 level. Knowing how bad it was, he still tried every conservative treatment to try to avoid surgery. After 3 steroid injections along with 6 weeks of PT, we finally decided that I was going to need a 360 degree 2 level lumbar fusion at the L4-5 and S1 levels.

He explained in great detail exactly everything that would be done to me during surgery. When I was admitted into Pre-op the morning of surgery, I was very well taken care of at The Houston Orthopedic and Spine Hospital. Luckily I wasn’t the least bit nervous about the surgery, so I didn’t require any light sedation in pre-op. As I was rolled back to the surgical suite, I was amazed by how large the room was and by the immense amount of technology in the OR. I’m in sports medicine, so I was excited about what I was seeing. My Anesthesiologist was amazing and explained in detail all the pre-op prep of my body they would be doing. Asked my numerous times about any questions. Once I was happy with what little I asked about, I was out like a light and surgery began. Several hours later, I woke up in my hospital room.

Dr. Francis visited me later that evening and informed me that my surgery could not have gone any better. He informed me that in a few hours I would be “forced” out of bed to take a short walk and get my legs moving. It was especially difficult getting out of bed due to the large incision on the front of my body. Once up, with several nurses, a PT, and my walker, we took a full lap around the floor and I felt great. For the next few days while in the hospital, walking was my best friend.

I was put into a back brace to be worn at all times except while in bed. For three months I wore that and it really did become my safety net. I was very sure I was always following doctor’s orders. I was also issued a bone stimulator that I wore for 2 hours a day for 3 months.

Once I started with physical therapy after getting out of the brace, I progressed quickly. My ROM at the hip where the bone graft was taken was where I had the least range of motion and still had some pain. That eventually went away and things were great.

I just went in this week for my 5-month follow-up and got the best of news. I was completely fused! Dr. Francis said it’s not normal to see a complete fusion until about 6-7 months.

My experience with Dr. Francis was wonderful. He his a very nice, caring, and understanding doctor who you just can’t go wrong with. I highly recommend him. But word to the wise. If you really WANT to get better, you need to follow his directions to letter of the law. He just doesn’t tell you to do these things for no good reason. If you follow his directions, I can’t imagine that you won’t get better.