Marcus HillNothing feels worse than back pain that won’t go away. When you find out it’s a spine issue, you know it’s serious.
Any pain related to the spine should be taken seriously, anyway. And I did take it seriously when I couldn’t move properly, and my back started hurting like crazy. The good news is that mine was low-risk, but that’s not the case for everyone.
One thing I found out when I went to the doctor was how hard it is to look for a specialist you can trust and feel comfortable with. So, we’re lifting that problem off your back (pun intended).
Here are our most trusted spine specialists in Charlotte, including doctors experienced in invasive and minimally invasive surgeries. Don’t settle for less, especially when it comes to your body!
- 1. Dr. Anthony L. Asher – Caroline Neurosurgery & Spine Associates
- 2. Dr. Aashish Jay Kumar – Spine & Pain Specialists of the Carolinas
- 3. Dr. Joe D. Bernard, Jr. – Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates
- 4. Dr. Usman Ahmad – Advanced Sports & Spine
- 5. Dr. Erik Bendiks – Apex Orthopaedics Spine & Neurology
- FAQs about the Best Spine Specialists in Charlotte
1. Dr. Anthony L. Asher – Caroline Neurosurgery & Spine Associates
Specialization: Spine surgery, neuro-oncology, peripheral nerve surgery, brain tumors, and more
Address: 225 Baldwin Ave
Contact: (704) 376-1605
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 am – 5 pm
One of our most trusted spine specialists in Charlotte is Dr. Anthony L. Asher, a neurosurgeon who knows how to lead the field.
His credentials have done nothing but impress us. For starters, he serves as president of the Atrium Health Neuroscience Institute, and he’s the co-founder of the Carolinas Medical Center Neurological Surgery Residency Program.
Clearly, his qualifications are long, as he continues to contribute to neurosurgery research.
Most importantly, his specialization means he can diagnose and treat various spinal conditions. He frequently operates on the spine, peripheral nerves, and brain tumors, among others.
His clinic is busy, though, so expect to wait despite having an appointment. The good news is that Dr. Asher is worth every minute’s wait, as he shows professionalism and compassion towards his patients.
Of course, his track record of correctly diagnosing and treating patients is what’s truly important here. Based on our research, he’s completely turned many of his patients’ lives back to normal.
Extremely knowledgeable and dedicated
“Dr. Asher is wonderful, he is extremely knowledgeable and dedicated. His staff is courteous and very helpful, especially his assistant Teri, who went above and beyond to be sure I was well taken care of. I could not have asked for a better doctor. I am so grateful to have had Dr. Asher perform my surgery, he is the best!”
– Allison Sadri, Google Review
Did a wonderful job on my surgery
“Dr. Asher did a wonderful job on my surgery. I never go to Thank him in person. I want to Thank him I truly appreciate the Wonderful job you done. I’ve had several surgeries any had pain and other issues afterwards but I had no pain or anything.”
– Candy Moss, Google Review
2. Dr. Aashish Jay Kumar – Spine & Pain Specialists of the Carolinas
Specialization: Interventional pain medicine and perioperative pain management
Address: 12610 N Community House Rd Suite 100
Contact: (704) 610-3220
Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 8 am – 5 pm
- Friday: 8 am – 2 pm
Not all spine issues are treated with surgical procedures, which is one of the reasons we included Dr. Asshish Jay Kumar. He’s an anesthesiologist and an interventional pain specialist who focuses on holistic care.
What’s incredible about him is that he steers toward non-surgical interventions and minimally invasive therapies to lower the risk of opioid addiction. While these may not work for all spine conditions, it does avoid medication side effects.
His specialization includes advanced treatments for neck and lower back pain, sciatica, and fibromyalgia. What’s incredible is that he treats pain in the spine and other parts of the body.
The absolute transparency when it comes to payments wowed us, mainly through their monthly reviews of billings. However, it’s not all perfect, since it can take a couple of days to receive a response at times.
Dr. Kumar still works with various insurance companies, like Medicare and Aetna. Patients who co-paid even mentioned that the staff completely refunded any extra amount.
Very knowledgeable and thorough
“I had one visit with Dr. Kumar, and evaluation. I found him to be very knowledgeable, thorough, yet kind and caring. He gave me a difficult diagnosis, but also some hope to go along with it. His staff was thorough and also very thoughtful and kind.”
– Kristie Tighe, Google Review
Extremely professional
“Doctor Kumar and staff are extremely professional…. And they talk you through each procedure so you are prepared for any residual effects as you are healing. They are the best spine and pain specialists!!”
– Kitty Sullivan, Google Review
3. Dr. Joe D. Bernard, Jr. – Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates
Specialization: Spine surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, cerebrovascular surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, and more
Address: 225 Baldwin Ave
Contact: (704) 376-1605
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 am – 5 pm
As a neurosurgeon, Dr. Joe D. Bernard, Jr. specializes in spinal cord and brain conditions. He’s one of our most trusted spine doctors because of his expertise in minimally invasive procedures.
For instance, he’s experienced in neuro-endovascular surgery, a minimally invasive treatment that uses a catheter to treat spinal issues. His list of specialties is impressively long, such as neurointerventional surgery and functional neurosurgery.
Another impressive thing is his dedication to advanced techniques for better precision and improved safety. Incredible, truly, as these can also lead to faster recovery for the patient.
What nailed the positive impression was his patient-centered care. In our surveys, Dr. Bernard’s patients noted his attentiveness, as he made sure they knew the pros and cons of the procedure and even considered other possible treatments.
Just note that his clinic tends to have a long wait, which isn’t really surprising, so come prepared.
An outstanding and professional surgeon
“Dr. Bernard is an outstanding and professional surgeon that still cares about his patients. If you need quick and accurate healthcare, this is the perfect surgeon! I could not walk upright due to pain. Dr. Bernard found the problem, fixed it, now I’m walking. Outstanding nuerosurgeon!”
– Serenity Music, Google Review
Made me feel like it was teamwork
“At my first appointment with Dr Bernard, He walked in and shook my hand and said “Hi I’m Joe”. It can be so scary meeting a new doctor especially someone who with advanced degrees like a neurosurgeon. He came in and immediately put me at ease. It was just one person talking to another person. I’m not sure yet if I’m going to go ahead with the procedure, but I know I have found the doctor that I want to use if I decide to do it. I had all these fears walking into that office and he really made me feel like this was a teamwork thing between us. I highly recommend him”
– Heather Guill, Google Review
4. Dr. Usman Ahmad – Advanced Sports & Spine
Specialization: Interventional sports and spine medicine
Address: 8035 Providence Rd Suite 340
Contact: (704) 228-3129
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 5 pm
We wholly trust Dr. Usman Ahmad for spine-related issues, as he specializes in spine treatments and sports medicine. As a physiatrist, he’s trained in diagnosing and treating spine conditions.
Furthermore, he focuses on non-surgical spine care and pain management without opiates. What it essentially means is that he provides treatments for patients without having to undergo invasive surgeries.
The patients we consulted with had positive things to say, as they felt comfortable throughout the treatment. It’s primarily due to Dr. Ahmad’s personalized, advanced, and comprehensive care to treat spine-related pain.
To make it even better, his treatments won’t cost you an arm and a leg! As an independent facility, he can charge lower rates since there won’t be additional facility fees, while still accepting most major insurance companies.
We highly suggest booking an appointment to ensure you’ll receive service. His clinic doesn’t accept walk-ins, but it’s not like scheduling a consultation will take ages.
I feel comfortable and informed throughout my procedures
“I have been a patient of Dr. Usman Ahmad for over 2yrs and I highly recommend him. He always takes the time to listen to my concerns and explain my conditions clearly and in detail. I feel comfortable and informed throughout my procedures. In addition, all the staff are friendly, helpful, and efficient. I was able to get an appointment quickly and the wait time was minimal. Overall, I have had a very positive experience and pain relief. I really appreciate the care I am receiving there. 10/10”
– Debi wilson Fields, Google Review
The care I’ve received has been excellent
“I have been going to Dr. Ahmad for over a year now and the care I’ve received has been excellent. Tosha is absolutely amazing. I don’t know what I would do with out her. That office runs so smooth because of her. Natalie and Destiny are extremely patient and answer any questions I have.”
– Nicole Dean-Lowe, Google Review
5. Dr. Erik Bendiks – Apex Orthopaedics Spine & Neurology
Specialization: Orthopaedic surgery
Address: 10502 Park Rd #120
Contact: (980) 734-1752
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 am – 5 pm
As far as spinal surgeries go, Dr. Erik Bendiks is one of our widely respected spine doctors in Charlotte. He’s an orthopaedic surgeon, making him highly qualified in diagnosing and treating conditions of the musculoskeletal system.
That includes spine conditions, of course. Incredibly, he’s the head spine surgeon at Apex Orthopaedics Spine & Neurology, which proves that he’s experienced and reliable.
Plus, his dedication to orthopaedic research gives him a wealth of knowledge in advanced technologies and new techniques in spine surgeries. His accessibility also goes up a notch because, aside from English, he’s fluent in Spanish and French.
We saw no issues with Dr. Bendiks, except when looking at the wait times and occasionally slow customer service at his clinic. We get it, since it’s a busy practice.
But when we considered his bedside manner, we were very happy. We, and his clients, appreciated his straightforward approach filled with compassion and professionalism—exactly the kind of spine specialist we look for!
A great doctor and he knows what he’s doing
“Dr Bendiks is awesome. He is a great doctor and he knows what he’s doing. He takes great care of his patients. Dr Bendiks knows how to manage your pain after surgery and gets you back on your feet. My opinion of Dr Bendicks is he is awesome and I’m glad he did my surgery .He took great care of me and I want to thank him for every thing he did for me .Thank you Dr Bendicks. He’s a 10 out of 10 .Awesome Dr and no complaints here .I highly recommend him. He is at the top of the list .”
– Chris Reynolds, Google Review
Both informing and comforting
“Doctor Bendiks was the first of several Doctors I’ve seen, to review with me images and explain carefully the circumstances of where my pain was coming from. This was both informing and comforting. His P.A., Quentin, is among the most patient and thoughtful listeners I have encountered in a doctors office. Thank you for offering such considerate care~”
– Terrafabula, Google Review
