Patient Testimonials

Barbara
Annandale
Knee Replacement

Dennis
Amissville
Total Hip Replacement

Blanca
Leesburg
Bilateral Hip Replacement

Sarah
Burke
Fractured Elbow

Ca'Dell
Reston
Achilles Repair

Carolyn
Alexandria
Bilateral Hip and
Knee Replacements

Hisham
Reston
ACL Repair

Brian
Herndon
Torn Biceps Tendon

John
Springfield
Spine Surgery

Hiko
Fairfax
Detached Thumb Ligament

Matthew
Fairfax
Shoulder Repair

CourtneyMcLean
Fractured Leg

Lisa
Centreville
Minimally Invasive
Spine Surgery

Maurice
Clifton
Osteoarthritis

Maureen
Oak Hill
Non-Surgical
Pain Management

Brian
Reston
Minimally Invasive
Total Hip Replacement

James
Arlington
Knee Replacement

Cheryl
Oak Hill
Reconstructive
Hand Surgery

Chris
Arlington
Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Vilma
Vienna
Fractured Wrist

Kelsey
Centreville
Spondylolysis

Jeff
Alexandria
Shoulder Repair

Jenna
Centreville
ACL Repair

Vicki
Manassas
Torn Rotator Cuff

Dana
Manassas
Dupuytren’s
Contracture

Leroy
Falls Church
Osteoarthritis

Brian
Arlington
Knee Arthroscopy

Donna
West Springfield
Pilates and
Core Stabilization

Keith
Stafford
Torn Rotator Cuff

Rachel
Vienna
Broken Wrist

Patson
Annandale
Herniated Disc

Jerri
Alexandria
Muscle-Sparing Total
Knee Replacement

Matthew
Lucketts, VA
Ankle Replacement

Garrett
Vienna
Shoulder Rehabilitation

Karen
Alexandria
Shoulder Repair

James
Annandale
Distal Biceps
Tendon Repair

Laurie
Potomac Falls
Minimally Invasive
Hip Arthroscopy

Kevin
Alexandria
Lacerated Extensor
Tendon Repair

Mary
Herndon
ACL Reconstruction &
Meniscus Transplant

Sam
Edgewater, MD
Shoulder Repair Surgery

Phil
Springfield
Clavicle Fracture

Kelley
Sterling
Dislocated Kneecaps

Brian
Vienna
Skier's Thumb

Stephanie
Vienna
Knee & Hip Replacement

Catherine
McLean
Spine Deformity

Jim
Clifton
Twisted Pelvis

Spiro
Washington, DC
Multi-ligament
Reconstruction

Wenners
Manassas
Achilles Tendon
Reconstruction

Debbie
Haymarket
Anterior Hip
Replacement

Susan
Great Falls
ACL Tear

Patient Testimonials - Maureen

Oak Hill – Non-Surgical Pain Management

Maureen is an active stay-at-home mom whose schedule includes kick-boxing, spinning, distance walking, and more. The 47 year old felt a sharp pain in her left leg in October 2006 after she made a "funny move." A family physician referred her to a Commonwealth Orthopaedics’ spine expert, who diagnosed stenosis of the L4 and L5 discs in the lower back. Rather than operate, the surgeon recommended a non-surgical approach, one that Maureen says worked.

Brett Robinson, MD, head of the Commonwealth Orthopaedic pain management clinic, treated Maureen. She says his warm bedside manner and technical skill helped take the stress out of a difficult situation. "He was wonderful," Maureen says. "He was professional and calm and took the time to explain everything. It took a potentially frightening procedure and made it understandable and manageable."

Dr. Robinson first evaluated Maureen’s pain and decided whether clinic physicians reasonably could reduce or eliminate the pain on site. He injected a series of steroid epidurals into the spine to eliminate inflammation and help determine the source of pain. Fortunately, the shots alone were enough to let Maureen resume her normal routine.

"I'd say the pain I had is 90 percent gone," she says. "I had three shots in all over a period of six weeks, the last one coming in mid-February. Since then, I've gotten back to all my regular activities, basically without any real pain. I'd say I'm really doing great."

While not all orthopaedic patients are good candidates for epidural shots, the treatment worked for Maureen. “My approach … is that we're doing epidurals to determine what's going on inside,” Dr. Robinson says. “Many patients expect immediate relief, but that doesn't always happen.”Yet, he says, good results as in Maureen’s case usually last a long time.