Regan Quinn E MD

I am 43 and now disabled because of Dr. Regan. At 27, I went to him for lower back pain. An MRI indicated that I had a mild to moderate disc herniation. Dr. Regan told me that I had the spine of an 80 year old woman. From subsequent visits to top neurosurgeons years later, I found out that was impossible without a congenital disease or injury. Dr. Regan did not recommend physical therapy or a steroid injection before going right to surgery. I was young and uninformed so I blindly trusted this doctor; a mistake that would cost me my future. Now I know that I could have been managed with steroid injections. He never told me that once you have spinal surgery, it is a domino effect and you will need surgery after surgery until your spine is one stiff and painful rod — a concept that is WELL known in the medical community. He merely mentioned AFTER the surgery that I would likely have another fusion in my life. Convenient time to mention that isn’t it? When the neighboring disc to his fusion collapsed and my left leg went numb 6 years later, I saw a well-​known and well regarded neurosurgeon. This surgeon intended on fusing the neighboring disc but once he opened me up, he saw such a botch job that he had to take apart Dr. Regan’s mess of a fusion and refuse it properly. He came out after the surgery and told my parents that out of aII of fusions he’s done in his career, my spine was «the worst I’ve ever seen». He then talked to my primary care physician and told him to inform me that whoever did my first fusion left my spine a train wreck. My PC doc recommend that I sue. Luckily for this poor excuse for a surgeon, it was past the statute of limitations and he remained free to continue disabling others. I can’t even imagine how many people this guy has put in a wheelchair. I am now 43 with two 4 year olds that I can hardly care for due to severe and relentless spinal pain coming from the L5/​S1, L2/​L3 discs and the SI joint. I have two options: 1) live in unrelenting pain or 2) allow two more fusions (resulting in a 4-​level lumbar fusion) which will stabilize my spine and take away so much mobility that it is questionable if I will be able to wipe myself when I go to the bathroom. I chose number 1. I am writing this review from bed where I spend most of my existence. My whole family has and continues to suffer. All because a bad doctor had a BMW or something to pay off. BEWARE!!! If you allow this terrible excuse for a doctor to cut you open, you may be pain free for a handful of years but it won’t be too long before the rest of your discs rapidly degenerate and you too are bedridden. If you are lucky enough to not yet have made the decision to let him cut into you, STOP and go see a real doctor. I’ve seen neurosurgeons at U of Chicago and Northwestern. Both were good (also, both were disgusted that someone hacked my spine apart at 27 leaving me disabled in my early 40s). I personally recommend U of C. Please, please, please don’t let Dr. Regan push that first domino down, even if he tells you that you have the spine of an 80 year old. No matter what he tells you, DON’T DO IT! I’ve seen at least a dozen well-​regarded specialists and NOT ONE of them was anything less than disgusted that a doctor did surgery on me for a mild disc herniation at 27.

I was referred to Dr. Regan by my orthopedic doctor, as I sought a second opinion, and required a surgeon with expertise in spine problems. Dr. Regan’s diagnosis and recommendation were «right on». I was having a great deal of pain and he was able to schedule «micro decompression» surgery very quickly. My recovery was relatively quick, and I am now free of pain. I would have given a five star rating if it wasn’t for the long «wait» times at each office appointment.