Gregory D Carlson, MD – RESTORE Orthopedics & Spine Center

I had a 9:30 AM appointment with Dr Carlson as a new patient today. At 11:10 AM I saw the doctor shooting the breeze with some pharmaceutical reps in front of the treatment rooms. At 11:15 he walked into another patient’s treatment room. His staff was clueless as to when I may be seen by him. I gave up and left his office. Learn from my misfortune! …Andrew

Dr Carlson is a Great Surgeon. I would recommend him to all My Family & Friends!
My uncle recently had back fusion with dr Carlson at st joseph and barely needed any pain medicine after surgery. He has the best bedside manner! Great office!

Had Dr Carlson perform surgery on my lumbar spine. He assured me this was a routine surgery, which he performs many times a week.
After surgery I could not feel lower extremities for 1 day and since have had numerous complications. Now i have permanent nerve damage and have to use a cane and maybe one day a wheelchair.
His office and staff are excellent. Except for his receptionist who always seems bitter and miserable.
Dr Carlson now wants to perform future surgeries to correct the mistakes he made the first time.
I have to see a shrink now because of how traumatized I am from unnecessary mistakes on his part.
After receiving multiple second opinions from highly respected doctors, they all say the same thing. That Dr carlson messed me up. I mean how could my discs be even worse now then they were before I had surgery.
I would not recommend this doctor to anyone contemplating back surgery.
LOOK ELSEWHERE. DO YOUR RESEARCH. MANY BETTER SURGEONS WHO WONT CHOP AND BUTCHER YOU UP.

Dr. Carlson is professional, kind, and conservative (a good thing in a surgeon). My husband won’t allow anyone else to work on his neck. The surgery center was fantastic: the nursing care was individual, the facility pristine and state-​of-​the-​art, and the auxiliary team top-​notch. It sets a new standard in surgery.
Thank you Dr. Carlson and team!

I unfortunately became victim to having a 9 mm herniated disk at my L5S1 that caused so much pain that my right leg could barely move and I was having problems walking.
I had back surgery on January 22, 2015 by another doctor and unfortunately never got better and needed help. I was fortunate to meet Dr. Carlson and he had the confidence that he could fix what the last doctor did and provide me pain relief. I was so scared to go through surgery based off my first experience. I still remember crying before the Anesthesia kicked in. I was in the hospital for 2 days and I was back to work today (exactly 3 weeks post surgery). I had a complete disk replacement anterior and posterior surgery with the removal of a Verilift disk procedure that was put in 9 months ago.
The entire staff is wonderful. Dr. Carlson, Don (his PA), Monica (the scheduler) the entire process. I owe this team for giving me my life back!

I have been battling chronic neck and back pain for over a year and a half. Having gone the conservative routes (pain management, physical therapy, etc). My doctor then gave me an Orthopedic referral; As my condition had not improved and sadly worsened. Dr. Carlsen is a well known and well respected Orthopedic Neck and Spine Specialist, and has been in the field for several years. My mother (who is a certified RN with over 30 years experience) first mentioned his name to me.
She has attended seminars given by him, and can not speak highly enough of his knowledge. Upon consultation, Dr. Carlsen patiently and professionally talked with me about my injury, options, and resolve. He explained that I did in fact need surgery, and why it was my best option. Educating me on the entire process, giving me literature, etc. [I have never had a surgery in my entire life, and was really afraid]
On August 27, 2015 I had surgery performed by Dr. Carlsen at St. Joseph’s Medical Center (who was also great in their care). The surgery went really well. I am now currently recuperating at home. I put my trust and faith in him, and I feel that because I did… Once fully healed I will live the next 25 – 30 yrs of my life PAIN FREE :) I am very grateful. Unilocal is usually for food reviews but if anyone reads this and would like more information, I will be glad to give it. I was in a lot of pain and my life basically sucked for over a year and a half. This is a brand new office, with brand new equipment and top notch doctors.

I can’t even begin to say enough good things about Dr Carlson!
We tried to avoid surgery for 10 years, but finally one of my discs tore in one spot and burst in another spot. My surgery could not have gone better. Within two months I was not only back to normal, I was climbing up mountains like it never happened. It’s been two years now and I’m doing great.
Dr Carlson also operated on my best friends mother in law. She had previously had surgeries from other respected orthopedic surgeons, but when I saw her after her surgeries, she was walking around with her rib cage on her pelvis. I asked my buddy what happened and they had been told there was nothing further that could be done for her. I recommended to my friend that she go see Dr Carlson.
Dr Carlson not only got this woman upright again, he also noticed signs of other issues, not related to her back and he sent her to other specialists for diagnosis and treatment.
I can’t tell you how many times I have been thanked by my buddies family for recommending Dr Carlson. They went in with little hope for her back. They left with a woman in her late 70’s once again standing straight and as a direct result of Dr Carlson just spending time with this woman, he was able to get her treatment for problems her other Dr’s should have noticed.

Dr Carlson is a fantastic surgeon. I have had two spinal fusions with him over the past 8 years. He is a miracle-​worker. I am almost 6 months past my second level fusion and I feel great. Before surgery (each time) I could barely walk into the hospital due to nerve pain, back pain and just from being crouched over to avoid straightening my spine which was pinching my nerves. I am a younger patient (40’s) and I have degenerative disc disease (like my grandmother) but Dr Carlson has treated me and corrected my problems as they have come up. I feel better than ever! He is conservative and talks about every option available– all of the latest technology and approaches are covered and explained very clearly. He offers the least invasive options and discusses all possibilities and truly is part of your team, deciding what treatment will give the best results. As an informed patient, I make sure that I am aware of basic technology, possible side effects and statistics BEFORE I sign on the dotted line! I have read some of the reviews claiming that he «doesn’t keep up with the latest technology — like how to read an MRI» and that he «said he would fix someone’s hip pain» and that he didn’t clarify possible side effects. That reviewer had many grammatical errors and mistakes in a short review, so it is possible he wasn’t able to read the disclosure that the hospital/​surgery center requires the patient to sign that clearly details ALL TYPES OF PAIN AND NUMBNESS are possible side effects to any back surgery. No one «wants» to have back surgery. It is sad shame that the reviewer had a bad experience but I have only wonderful things to say about this gifted and talented spine surgeon. I wouldn’t trust my spine to anyone else and would insist that Dr Carlson treat my children, family and friends, if they ever needed it! I have 100% confidence in his ability as well as the utmost trust in his intentions.

Extremely compassionate and talented physician. He takes on very difficult cases that most surgeons refer out or choose not to operate. He has a passion for helping patients previously operated on by others and who are still in pain. He has 2 great pain management physicians who help co manage patients. Unfortunately, due to the complex nature of his patients problems they don’t all do well. One thing for sure is that he will stand by your side even when the outcome was not ideal. He treats his patients like family. He has a solid team who cares about each and every one of his patients. His lead team member, Monica, is courteous and very knowledgeable. He will diligently follow up on his patients. He works hard at taking care of all their problems and doing everything he can to help then with their pain. In my opinion he is one of the best in OC.

Dr. Carlson, Dr. Dulie, Monica, Manny, all the staff from the time you walk in and are greeted with a smile, Very Clean, updated procedures. Appointments are always on time. They have a huge beautiful clean waiting room, and office rooms. They always answer the phone and are very pleasant and helpful every time I have called. Dr. Carlson and his team are the Best! I have to have 6 Surgeries having my 3^rd was back surgery. I was up and walking after surgery the next day. Dr. Carlson and his team repaired my back after being injured at work. I had surgery 1÷22÷15. I am so impressed with the surgery and recovery process very quick. I would refer everyone to this great facility and team of Dr. s, nurses and staff. Thank you all for your help. Look forward to my neck surgery.

Sympathetic, but can’t read my MRI to save his life. 2 other docs pointed out his error when I asked them about his interpretation. Visited him twice, I like the office overall. I think he doesn’t keep up with the latest in technologies.

Wouldn’t go anywhere else. This is the best orthopaedic doctor, and he even has an amazing bedside manner.

I never been so upset at a doctor. He said he could fix my hip and leg pain with an operation. He did the operation. Mounts later still have the pain. I went back and he said I need more surgery. I said not by you. He walked out of the room and never came back. His own staff told me if i stay with hin I would have many operations and I would have pins all up and down my back. Now the kicker is a have back pain almost daily. I never had any back pain before. He never said one thing about any side effects or draw. All he said he expecter me to be able to run agani. Never happened .My foot is num all the time. What a lousey doctor. I think about him every day when I wake up with back pain. I would give him zero stars if possible.