Patient Stories
Real, Unpaid Stories of Patients Who Have Recovered From Back Pain and More With Physicians’ Back Institute
Drs. Irène and Robert Minkowsky have worked with thousands of patients over their careers as spine, neck and back specialists in San Francisco.
These are a few of our patients’ stories as told via the linked Google Reviews below!
Note, you can also find many, many more patient stories by choosing the options under Services & Treatments relevant to your own particular circumstance.
Medical Experience of a Lifetime
“There aren’t enough stars available here. I’ve never had an experience like this with a doctor and I’m 70 years old. Irene was exceedingly knowledgeable, inquisitive, thorough and OMG, she was not in a rush. I’ve never felt like my well being was so important to a physician. I found Dr. Minkowsky doing a Google search and I can’t believe how lucky I am.”
Hip & Knee Recovery Without Surgery
“I‘m 51, and I was having some pain in my right hip where it felt like the joint was slightly popping out of place, and I would have to sit down for a few minutes until it eased its way back into the correct place.
“I also had a sort of stuck, painful feeling behind my right knee as well that felt like it was affecting a tendon there. I set up an appointment with Robert Minkowsky, who did a thorough review of everything that could be affecting the area.
“He gave me about six, simple exercises to strengthen the muscles surrounding it. I told him I had arthritic knees, and he adjusted the exercises to work with that limitation. The exercises were simple enough to complete in about 8 minutes per day.
“The first day after I first did the exercises, the stuck feeling behind my knee disappeared and has not returned. So I was pretty impressed with that!
“I did the exercises nearly daily for a month before I went back for a follow-up. Dr. Minkowsky tested my strength, and we could both tell it had really improved since my previous visit. He gave me a few, more advanced exercises to replace the first set, and told me I didn‘t need to come back unless I have a problem.
“My hip joint has not popped out of place since the first week doing the exercises, and my knee is totally fine. So thanks, Dr. Robert! I was afraid I would need a hip replacement or something, but it was just muscle weakness, and I was pleasantly surprised with the easy fix.”
Lumbar Spine Issues
I have been seeing Dr.Robert Minkowsky for over 3 years for a complex lumbar spine issue. This doctor is by far, the best doctor I know. He is extremely knowledgeable with all facets of the back and approaches everything with his vast experience and whole body approach. His compassion, professionalism and sense of humor bring a smile to my face every time I visit. More importantly, I leave his office feeling better than when I arrived.
I owe this man a great deal of gratitude ???????? thank you.
– Traci Passero via Google Maps
Avoiding Surgery Through Back Pain, Scoliosis and Stenosis
I can’t say enough positive things about my experience being treated by Dr. Robert Minkowsky. He offers a very unique experience in San Francisco for those with back pain. I first saw him in 2010 for sciatica.
After successfully treating that problem, I was pain free for several years but then developed nerve pains in my legs and shoulder due to scoliosis and stenosis. Physical therapy proved ineffective. Through a combination of treatments from Dr. Minkowsky, and following through on his recommended exercise program, I have been able to avoid surgery and regain my life. I would highly recommend Dr. Minkowsky to anyone suffering from back injuries whether from a sudden injury or due to long-term structural issues.
– Elaine Warren via Google Maps
The Best Decision I Ever Made
At 70 years old, I’ve experienced my fair share of back pain and the challenges that come with scoliosis. Seeking help from a therapist was one of the best decisions I’ve made for my health, and I can’t recommend Dr. R highly enough.
From the first session, I felt heard and understood. He took the time to assess my issues, addressing the underlying issues contributing to my scoliosis. Made a treatment plan focused on reducing my back pain while also improving my muscle strength.
The exercises and stretches recommended were both gentle and effective. I noticed a real reduction in my pain within just a few weeks. Not only did I feel more comfortable moving around, but I also gained the strength needed to support my spine better. I’ve learned to integrate these practices into my daily routine, which has empowered me to be more active.
– Isidore Shapiro via Google Maps
Simple, Straightforward Advice for Degenerative Disc Disease
“Dr. Minkowsky is an expert who can speak in simple terms about complex problems.
He gave me practical advice in digestible chunks, tools to avoid future problems, and he has a great sense of humor to boot.
More details: I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in 2014 and herniated a disc back in 2015. I have had acute issues with other related issues (like sciatica). When I herniated another disk this year (2021), it felt prudent to invest in a good back doctor. The thought was “maybe I can learn enough to prevent this thing from happening again.”
In our 4 meetings across 2 months, I found Dr. Minkowsky to be both straightforward and empathetic. During my first visit, I was fairly panicked. Anyone with back pain knows about stress. I didn’t know if I was going to need surgery or what. All I knew was that I had felt my back kind of “seize up” while I was washing my hands in the kitchen. Since my injury seemingly came from such a simple activity, and since I don’t know anything about how the spine works, my mind was spinning and I felt doomed.
The fear I had wasn’t rational, but that didn’t mean I was able to tune it out. Dr. Minkowsky demonstrated understanding of my situation which helped put me at ease. And he seemed to genuinely care about what I had to say.
He showed patience as I rattled off a lot information about a slew of related and unrelated injuries from my past. He took an interest in me as a person, and this developed my trust in him and his opinions. When you speak with a doctor, the common trope is that either they’ll talk over your head or avoid telling you “like it is”. Dr. Minkowsky was not this way. He gave me a conservative treatment program and told me something to the tune of “93% of people get better X within Y”.
He also explained how people get this injury, and then their weakened underlying structure makes it easy for the injury to repeat and with each repetition the threshold for future injury is lowered. It may sound harsh, but one of the sayings he oft repeated was “this is a life sentence”.
It seemed like he really wanted to drive the point home that A) I could improve my default system, and B) it’d take work to keep the future (and improved) default system humming. I found it refreshing that he laid out the reality of the situation in clear terms while also showing a pragmatic way to approach it on my own (so I wouldn’t have to be dependent on paying anybody in the future). His approach is both deep and simple. He showed me a chart which I was encouraged to photograph and live by. Each visit ended with a simple game plan. He gave me easy to remember “rules of thumb” about how to take care of my back. I really liked this. He’d inspire me saying things like “4 minutes of X a day and you’ll be bulletproof.” He was both motivating and supporting.
In summary, I showed up injured, scared, and a bit clueless. And I left with enough knowledge to be an “expert level beginner”. My injury is healed, I have a course to avoid re-injury, and I feel empowered. What more could you ask for?”