"I follow a conservative approach before surgery. Most back issues get better with time and non-surgical treatment."
A board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in the spine, Dr. Jason Potocki sees patients with a wide variety of back and neck problems.
He focuses on adult disorders like spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the channels through which nerves pass caused by arthritis or other conditions) and adult scoliosis. He treats herniated discs, bone fractures and deformities of the spine.
The spine is the central support for your skeleton, so injuries and disorders can lead to many types of difficulties. It is a tunnel for all your nerves to go from your brain to the rest of your body.
"Whenever there is a narrowing or problem that affects nerves, you have issues with function or pain in areas served by that nerve," Dr. Potocki said. "Getting the care you need— sometimes a simple spinal fusion—can be a quality of life-changing event."
Dr. Potocki involves his patients in the decision-making process while developing their treatment plan. He give patients pros and cons and encourages them to have as much ownership as possible.
"I hope a patient would say I took time to explain their choices and I outlined realistic expectations so they were well informed," Dr. Potocki said.
Dr. Potocki earned his medical degree and did his residency in orthopaedic surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. He completed a spine surgery fellowship at Leatherman Spine Institute in Louisville, Kentucky.
Dr. Potocki and his wife have three children. When he has time to himself, he enjoys building and making things. He's a tinkerer who likes working with wood and metal.