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    Comments: During my 8 years in the Navy, I was a deep-sea diver. For 5 years, I went diving about 3-4 times a week, carrying a 40-pound helmet and backpack filled with heavy tools. Although being in the water makes you feel weightless, constantly carrying over 100 pounds of this combined weight caused daily pains in my back and shoulders. A year after I served my term, I became ill and was diagnosed with T-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I was told by my doctor I had five years left to live, as there is no cure or remission.

    Rather than fall into despair, I decided to live life to the absolute fullest! I put all my energy towards my deep-sea diving career and even started my own commercial deep-sea diving business. Although my back pains were still there, I knew every second was precious and I wouldn’t let that pain stop me. Every day, I was diving with my heavy tools and headwear, without worrying about the havoc I was doing to my body. Finally, after 5 surgeries on my shoulders, I had to retire from diving. Being on land more than in the water, gravity took hold, and my back and sciatica issues came back, full force.

    When living in Texas, I decided to visit a doctor to get a hold of the pain in my back. He took an MRI (of my back) and the damage was incredible; much worse than expected! I received a three-shot series of epidurals to help manage the pain. I tried physical therapy at another facility. I traveled to California and Nevada, seeking additional treatments, trying to figure out how to be alleviated from the pain. Each time, it was a different doctor, and no one seemed to be able to get a handle on how to get me some relief!

    I moved back to Virginia, still in search of a doctor who may have some answers for me. An acquaintance suggested I visit SMOC – Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Chesapeake, VA. I made an appointment and was seen by Dr. Richard Guinand. Dr. Guinand was a breath of fresh air compared to the other specialists I had seen. He practiced dive medicine, so we knew the same people and he understood what I did and the affects it had on my body. As a non-surgical doctor, he educated me on what was going on with my back with realistic expectations. We decided to try the epidural shots, followed by physical therapy, which would all be done in-house. Dr. Guinand even brought me over to the physical therapists, Riza Robles and her assistant Sarah Hobbs, to work out a plan! Having everything done in one place, with specialists communicating directly with one another was a huge relief and I knew right then, I was in great hands.

    I received the three epidural shots and felt some relief. Physical therapy helped me to feel even better, but I couldn’t be as active as I wanted and still relied on support to move around. Dr. Guinand decided to consult his peer and spine specialist, Dr. David Goss, for a more surgical approach, as he worried the extent of the damage of the nerves would be permanent.

    After reviewing my charts and speaking with both Dr. Guinand and my physical therapist, Dr. Goss decided I needed to have disc decompression surgery. He would perform a laminectomy on 4 of my discs. Dr. Goss warned me it could take up to 3 months before I could be active, so I would need to come in for multiple checkup appointments to see how I was healing. After working with Dr. Guinand and the physical therapists, I felt confident in surgery being the next best step.

    Before this surgery, I couldn’t walk up the stairs without a cane or using a railing for help. Three days after (surgery), I was climbing stairs without ANY support or worry that I would fall! I was off pain medications after a week and before my 2-week appointment, I was able to walk a mile and seldomly used my cane. Three and a half weeks after my surgery, I could honestly say was the first time since I was in my 20s that I didn’t have back pains. I was back to swimming and was cleared to do yoga and Pilates, which I do every other day.

    I have traveled to many places, seen many different doctors, and no one has come close to giving me the relief of being pain – free like SMOC has. They’ve given me the ability to truly live life to the fullest. Without the constant pain and discomfort, I feel even more confident in my continuing fight against cancer. I know without challenges, there can be no victory. Thank you, SMOC.

Vitals Reviews

  • Professional with a good bedside manner. Short wait time.Everyone very nice!

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • Talented team of providers at The Spine Center at Chesapeake. Superb care. Highly recommend.

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • Takes great care of his patients! Very skilled.

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • I love SMOC! The Spine Center takes great care of patients!

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • Would certainly recommend The Spine Center at Chesapeake, and SMOC's team, to others. Excellent care.

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • Very caring. Knows what he's talking about. Stellar results in his management.

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • Awesome Surgeon! Would highly recommend./div>

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • Dr. Goss is wonderful. He explained options for my treatment. I was able to chose the best treatment option for me. He showed concern for my comfort and well being during the procedure.

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • I have been happy with his care.

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • I was scheduled to have Cervical Infusion surgery on May 2, 2018. The doctor who was scheduled to do the surgery had a medical issue and was unable to perform my surgery. Dr. David Goss was stepping in and doing all of the surgeries. I was very nervous because I had not met Dr. Goss before. After talking to different people I agreed to let him do the surgery. The date had to be changed but it was only a couple of days. I met Dr. Goss right before he operated on me. He answered all of my questions and took his time with me. He spoke to my family afterwards and answered all of their questions. He even came back to see me the next day after surgery. I am very glad I decided to let him do my surgery. Very nice and compassionate doctor.

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • Dr..David Goss is a great Doctor

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • Dr. Goss was very up front with me when we met. I could not have the surgery until I loss 30 lbs. I had sciatica so bad that I lost the weight in 3 months. I had the surgery and I was in pain for about 3 weeks. I only took the narcotics for 10 days. The only problem I've had is that he did fix my problem but it just caused more muscle pain. I have since then lost 50 lbs. I was hoping it was the weight but it's not. Dr. Goss is great though. His physician assistant; Tim, is pretty awesome too. He is the one that has been taking care of me for four years afterwards. I can't say too much about his nurse though. Basically what I'm saying is REALLY think about having back surgery. But if you HAVE to have it, well then Dr. Goss is your man!!!!

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • My wife's command would not let her off to take me to or from my surgery. Being new military to the area we didn't know anyone. So when Dr. Goss found out I had to take a cab to my surgery he offered to take me home him self. Fortunately I had an EFMP coordinator call my wife's command and she was able to pick me up later, but I will never forget how kind Dr. Goss was, he didn't even think twice about it. My first neck surgery was done else where by another Dr. but when I came out of surgery I had to wait in PACU for 3 hours in pain for a bed. But Dr. Goss was there when I woke up to make sure everything was ok and I wasn't in pain. Being in the military we seem to get injured a lot, it kinda comes with the teritory I guess, but I need a third surgery and I refuse to go to anyone but Dr. Goss. I'm waiting an aditional 6 months for the military to ok me going to a civilian over a military or VA surgeon. It doesn't hurt though that he is a prior Army surgeon, and that is hard to admit being a marine corpsman.

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • Dr Goss is probably the best Dr i've seen. He diagnosed my problem when no one else could. Thanks to Dr. Goss I am able to continue to run Marathons, and live pain free.

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • Dr. Goss operated on my mother's back (mother was then age 88). Thanks to him, her quality of life is back, and she is once again enjoying her senior years painfree. Thanks, Dr. Goss!!!

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

  • GREAT DOCTOR, SPENDS TIME WITH YOU, NOT IN A HURRY

    ~ Self-verified Patient ~

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