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 an excellent and caring doctor. You couldn’t ask for a better doctor or person. His staff is very caring. Our family couldn’t thank them (Dr. Francis and staff) enough for what they have done. Words can’t express how grateful we are to Dr. Francis’s care.

I had been referred to 4-6 doctors/specialists regarding the problems I was having with tingling and numbness in two fingers on my left hand. Finally, I was referred to Dr. Francis who diagnosed nerve damage due to discs in my spine pressing against nerves leading to those fingers. He is efficient, considerate, and caring. He explained everything he thought about my situation, and everything he planned to do to resolve it. He took the time to show me all of the results of every test and explained them to me. I would/will recommend him every chance I get. I already thank him for operating on my mom and I have given his name and phone number to three other people at my job.

My initial pain/symptoms started in January of 2015. I woke up one morning and noticed that I had a very minor bilateral sciatic pain with minor lumbar pain. This was not from a traumatic injury and to this day, I’m not sure how I injured myself (possible wear and tear from firefighting). Within a month, I had stopped working at my job with Victoria Fire Department and my sciatic pain was so severe that I couldn’t stand up straight and I was confined to a wheelchair. The pain was so extreme that I didn’t even want to move and I was brought to tears on several occasions. I finally got an MRI and was referred to Dr. Francis by a friend that had seen him. He told me that I had two herniated discs, one of which had protruded so far into my spinal canal that I had only 4mm’s of space left. I was also told that I had two fractures in my L4 vertebrae. Within a week I had surgery with him and he repaired both discs and put two screws into my L4 vertebrae. The recovery took about three months during which time I wore a hard brace and I am almost back to 100%. My pain is almost completely gone and I have never felt better. From where I was to my current state is nothing short of a miracle. I’ve never been happier and I am in awe of what Dr. Francis has done for me. I have never been more grateful in my life than I am with Dr. Francis. I would recommend him to my family and friends. Dr. Francis is my hero and has given me a new pain-free life and I value the professionalism and hospitality that I experienced with Spine Associates. I always felt taken care of.

I lived with back pain for over a year before I came to Spine Associates. Dr. Francis ran a couple of tests and told me right away that I needed to have scoliosis surgery. The surgery was amazing! I came out in some pain but it was controlled with medication in the beginning. Three months following my surgery, I felt better than ever. I’m able to go places and do things that I never could have done before my surgery. Now I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life! THANK YOU!

I have had a perfect experience with Dr. Richard Francis from the day of my first evaluation to current day. He is amazing and I would trust no one else with my spine health and recovery. 🙂 My husband is a patient of Dr. Francis as well.

Everything has been great from Dr. Francis and his staff, the hospital and the hospital staff. My recovery has been wonderful. Dr. Richard Francis has done a very good job on my back.

After months of seeing a chiropractor, my back pain was getting worse and worse. I could hardly walk because my sciatic nerve was causing so much pain. I had two herniated discs. After my surgery my life changed; the pain had disappeared. Dr. Francis and his team were fantastic. They were all very helpful and professional. I will recommend Dr. Francis to anyone with back problems, as I know they will be in great hands.

Prior to coming to Spine Associates, we had very little hope for any resolution. After coming here and having his surgery, I am back to being myself and I am now pain free. Without Dr. Francis, I don’t know where we would be. We are from a small town and knew we had to come to Houston. I heard he was very conservative in his treatment process, but I was prepared for surgery. When I woke up from anesthesia, I could immediately feel my hands and fingers again. I would definitely recommend Dr. Francis for anyone that has back or neck issues. He’s helped people that I know.

The first physician I visited for my severe low back pain recommended surgery to repair several herniated discs. He performed bilateral decompression surgery, which is meant to shave bone, relieving pressure from the discs. What should have been a routine surgery left me in much greater pain. Three follow-up surgeries by the same physician made matters even worse. I could barely walk. I couldn’t hold a milk carton in my hand. I couldn’t stand up for more than moment. Driving was excruciating. And I was completely incapable of earning a living in my physically demanding job, removing paint overspray from cars. After the fourth surgery, the pain was agonizing. When my doctor suggested I have a morphine drip implant as the long-term solution for my pain, I realized the huge mistake I made entrusting him with my life. I was determined not to end up in the care of the wrong physician again, and did an extensive amount of research to find a doctor who could help me. When I read about Dr. Francis, I told my wife “That’s the guy. That’s the guy who can help me.” Dr. Francis examined me, reviewed my X-rays, and told me he could fix me. When you’re that messed up and someone tells you “I can fix you” it’s just unbelievable. It turns out that my previous doctor had completely collapsed my discs during surgery and never told me! He used microsurgery, which I later learned was highly likely to fail due to the small incisions. Additionally he performed 4 surgeries on me in just 6 weeks, which is incredibly dangerous. Dr. Francis had me wait several weeks before he performed surgery to decompress my herniated discs and repair the damage caused by my previous surgeries. He put me on a cycle of antibiotics and meticulously checked my blood work to ensure a healthy liver count before surgery in order to lower my risk of infection, something that had not been done for any the previous procedures. The difference between where I received my other back surgeries and Houston Orthopedic & Spine Hospital was like night and day. I waited for hours before each of my first four surgeries. At HOSH I only waited 15 minutes before I was in surgery. Not just the surgical staff, but also the whole team at HOSH was totally different. When I was prepped for surgery they informed me about everything. From the moment I arrived they were just so much more professional at every phase of the process. After Dr. Francis performed surgery, I could feel an immediate difference as soon as I woke up. In contrast to the other surgeries where I awoke in terrible pain, this time I could feel that the muscles in my lower back and buttocks were relaxed for the first time in months. Where my previous doctor had advised bed rest and wanted to put me on a morphine drip after surgery, Dr. Francis encouraged me to avoid painkillers because they are so addicting, and instead recommended physical therapy. My back muscles had severely atrophied. I started my recovery by simply walking around the house. Within 6 months of my surgery with Dr. Francis, I was able to exercise again. Within a year, I was able to work again, which is something that I thought would never be possible. My job is physically intense requiring me to vigorously apply polish as well as hold my hand so steady that I can remove over-spayed paint with a razor blade. I’m able to drive for 12 hours at a time now, as is sometimes needed to get to my next project. There are times when I still can’t believe how far I’ve come. If I had gone to Dr. Francis first, solving my back pain would have been a hiccup instead of a nightmare. When you’re in as much pain as I was in, there’s no other way to describe it but to say he really saved my life.

Excellent physician. What he told me would happen after surgery has been 100% correct. I have been in a lot of physician offices and his practice is run exceptionally well.

I thank God for Dr. Richard Francis. He is a talented specialist who restores life with his gift. After having a discectomy at L5-S1 in 2009, I returned to playing sports and activities that I love.

I have been sick with back pain since 2005. In 2006, I had my first back surgery with a doctor in Victoria, Texas and after the first surgery; I was still in a lot of pain. That same year, I had my second back surgery with the same doctor and I still had the constant back pain and the top part of my body was leaning forward. My pain management doctor referred me to Dr. Richard Francis in Bellaire, Texas. He took x-rays and showed me what was wrong with my back. Dr. Francis told me that it would be a challenge, but that he would be able to fix my back. On April 13, 2011, I had my back surgery. The doctors, nurses and staff were the most personable, caring and uplifting people that my family and I have ever dealt with in a medical environment. I truly appreciate their attentiveness to my needs and for making my time in the hospital less stressful for my family and me. Now, I am able to stand straight, walk better and I am no longer in constant pain thanks to Dr. Francis. I would refer anyone to Dr. Francis because he did such a great job on my back.

Overall, I am very pleased with my experience at Spine Associates. The day I found out I needed surgery, I was very upset and the Spine Associates staff was extremely caring and supportive. I had spinal fusion eight years ago for my scoliosis by another surgeon, but the unfused portion progressed. Dr. Francis extended my fusion to my lumbar spine to stop any further scoliosis progression. On the day I received my MRI and CT scan results, I had a long wait before I was able to see the doctor (this was the only time I had a long wait). I also had not had surgery yet and I was not in pain. I had 2 pages of typed questions to ask Dr. Francis about my upcoming surgery. When it was my turn to see him, he went over my results and took as much time as I needed to answer all of my questions. I felt much more at ease about my surgery after all of my questions had been answered. On the day of surgery, I got to speak with him before I went back and he checked on me in the hospital on a Sunday afternoon, before I was discharged. The hospital staff had great things to say about Dr. Francis and the results they’ve seen in his patients. After my post-op appointment, the nurse called to check on me to see how I was doing. I am now 3 weeks post-op and doing great! I am very thankful that Dr. Francis takes the time to see patients in Beaumont so that I don’t have to drive to Houston for every appointment. I read a lot about the robotic spine surgery and the new technology is nothing short of impressive. I even watched YouTube videos that describe the advantages of this new technology. The whole time I was preparing for surgery, I mistakenly assumed that I would be getting the robotic technology. After my pre-op appointment, I began wondering why I hadn’t gotten the scans required to program me into the robotic system. I called to ask about this and it was explained that the hospital my insurance covered did not have the robotic technology at that site. I was upset at first, but it didn’t affect my decision to have the surgery. With or without the robotic assistance, I feel that Dr. Francis really is a leader in the field of spine surgery and I am very happy with my results.

After being a police officer for 3 years, I started having back problems. I would work through the pain until one day I couldn’t move at all. After multiple referrals to Dr. Francis and his recommendation on surgery, I decided that spine surgery was my best option. I am now able to walk again without pain. I was really impressed on how quickly they got my surgery scheduled and performed. I would highly recommend him and actually already have. Everyone is always friendly and considerate of my time.

I would recommend Spine Associates because they offer professional advice, understanding and they are great at what they do. I appreciated the fact that my problem was solved and the positive attitude of Dr. Francis and his co-workers. Since having my back surgery, my daily life has improved immensely; I can perform all day to day actions pain-free.

My name is Joseph Manjack III. In 2000 I was run over while on foot by a vehicle. Throughout the last 16 years I have been struggling with severe pain in both my neck and lower back. I have two children that I have missed out on so many things due to my back and neck problems. In 2016 the pain was no longer bearable. I was in so much pain that my blood pressure was through the roof. The doctors thought I was having a heart attack. It even began to affect my vision. I haven’t been able to hold a job and provide for my family like I should causing me to have depression as well. My marriage was falling apart. I was about to lose it all. I didn’t even want to live anymore.
I have always been very skeptical of surgery. I have heard so many stories of people having surgery and it not being successful causing more pain and problems. Every doctor immediately recommended surgery but what they wanted to do didn’t make complete since and didn’t seem to have very good success rates. To be completely honest it scared me to death the thought of surgery.
My daily life has changed tremendously since Dr. Francis performed the surgery. First and foremost I don’t dread waking up every morning. I have lost weight and feel like a brand new person. I laugh so much more. I would recommend Spine Associates to anyone that has any neck, spine, or back problems. Dr. Francis takes his time and explains everything you are feeling and going through. He also told me exactly what to expect and how to manage. The most valuable aspect of my experience with Spine Associates is that I feel like I am a completely different person. Maybe the best way to explain is I am back and I haven’t felt like me in so long that I forgot how good being me felt. I have seen many other doctors and none of them convinced me nor did I trust or beak it down in terms I could understand the way Dr. Francis did. I am so very thankful for having met Dr. Francis. He has changed my life. Maybe one day I could even go sky diving and Dr. Francis will join me.

No B.S., I saw two other doctors before him that gave me the run around and just wanted to prescribe medications and send me to physical therapy. Dr. Francis figured out the problem and fixed it before it got worse. I am no longer in pain!

Sixteen years ago, I was in a car wreck and have had neck issues since. Recently, I started having severe migraines and nerve issues in the hands and feet. After two MRIs and a referral to Dr. Francis, I was diagnosed with a herniated disc causing pressure on my spinal cord. Dr. Francis removed the disc and fused the adjoining vertebrae together. Now I no longer have migraines or pain and I have a positive outlook on life. Dr. Francis is so caring and knowledgeable and his staff is awesome as well.