Randall F Dryer's Online Review Report Card

Dr. Dryer is a wonderful surgeon and the entire staff at his office are beyond amazing. I am 42 years old and have had intermittent debilitating back pain since I was in my early 20s. When I've previously seen a back doctor, I was advised to rest but keep up my yoga and Pilates routines, which for me weren't optional if I wanted to stay functioning. I picked up something off the floor around five years ago, blew out my back, and had to go to the ER. I lost all feeling in my left foot and 70% of my left leg, so my S1 nerve on my left side must have been destroyed. (Nerves regulate how muscles work; if a nerve is destroyed, you can no longer control your muscles.) PT and microneedling therapy were the only options suggested as a remedy. Walking normally again took me about three months, and over the course of the next five years, I was able to regain roughly 20% of the feeling in my left side. I didn't visit the doctor too often since I believed there was nothing that could be done. Recently, while essentially doing nothing, my back gave out once more, but this time I could tell it was much worse than before and was now affecting my lower right side. After experiencing crippling pain for several days, I decided to contact Dr. Dryer because my fiancé recommended him. I got an appointment the next day and Dr. Dryer suggested an MRI, which I found impressive considering that in the past I had only ever been given the option of an X-ray. To put it simply, it was found out that I had a severely pinched nerve and a herniated disk in my L4-L5 vertebrae. After 2 weeks, I underwent a discectomy. I had a successful surgery and was soon able to stop using painkillers. I recently had my six-week checkup, and the recovery went quite well. I'd like to share an intriguing side note in the hopes that it would be helpful to others. Before this surgery, following my initial back injury, I had numerous mild seizures, a significant decrease in libido, and an overactive bladder that made small tasks such as running errands stressful. Even more concerning, I randomly lost all functions in both arms and hands for about 2 hours. None of the above issues could be diagnosed. I had never connected the dots to realize that my back's nerve damage was most likely the root of all these problems. Oddly enough, ever since Dr. Dryer repaired me, all my issues have mysteriously vanished, including the ability to feel on both sides of my lower body. Back surgeries can be frightening, but they made sure my preparation, procedure, and post-operative care went without a hitch. I'm really happy I went with Dr. Dryer, and I'd heartily endorse him to anyone.

Patricia B.Dr Dryer is an excellent and personable surgeon. I'd been having low back pain for 10 plus years, with each year getting worse with the pain in my lower back and down my right leg. I had gone to one Dr. telling me I needed L4, L5, & S1 fused, wanted a second opinion, found Dr Dryer on google. I was looking for someone whom I felt comfortable with and who would be honest and up front with me. I wanted my life back, being active. Dr Dryer told me the day I saw him, I can help you, with surgery. Had already gone to pain management, had injections, and physical therapy. After asking questions and discussing other options, which there were none. Dr Dryer did an Anterior/Posterior fusion of L5 and S1. By the end of second week I was walking up to 3 miles a day. Surgery was in August 2022. I'm feeling great and doing wonderful physically and mentally. No longer in pain as I once was. I have my life back, Thanks to Dr Dryer. His Staff are wonderful people, always so helpful. Dr Dryer's Assistant, Vanessa, is wonderful as well. Dr Poliz who works with Dr Dryer as a vascular surgeon is also a wonderful surgeon. I was treated with great respect and all had great bedside manners. There's not enough words when thanking someone for taking care of you during and after surgery.

I had 3 previous surgeries with complications due to spinal fluid leaks. Those surgeries were successful but they left me with surgical fatigue. And to top it off some possible nerve damage was still causing me excruciating pain. Dr. Dryer suggested we try a spinal cord stimulator. A much less invasive procedure, requiring two minimal surgeries. The results so far have been excellent. I have little if any sciatica pain from the nerves. I sleep all night, I am able to sit in a chair for more than 10 minutes. My wife and I are traveling next month - the first trip since the original injury. Thank you, Dr. Dryer and staff - you guys are awesome!

I had major back pain for 15 years. My mobility had decreased to almost none. Was taking pain medication all day every day. After surgery I was walking the same day.. now 3 weeks later no pain medication and walking 1/2 mile a day. Had decompression L1 to S1, a major operation. I waited 10 years longer than I should have but was worried and concerned about the results. I say Dr Dryer is a great surgeon, a nice guy and is straight forward and real with you. His staff and the hospital staff were great. I recommend him highly I wish all the doctors were like him. I went to him wanting a different surgery he explained why that was not right for me and explained what he could do for. It will take awhile to get myself back in shape but I can do it now.

I must say that finding Dr. Dryer was a blessing. I had been through over a year of injections, ablations, nerve blocks in my spine before it was discovered that my SI Joint was the root cause of my lower back pain after being hit by a car in 2020. I was in so much pain and barely able to function. I went to Dr. Dryer based on a referral because almost no Dr.'s locally perform SI Joint surgery. The other Dr.'s wanted to perform spinal surgery insisting that it would be the fix. I have to say I was a little intimidated and hesitant after 1st meeting Dr. Dryer, but honestly, I didn't seek his expertise for his bedside manner, I sought it for his medical experience. It was the best choice I could have made. Dr. Dryer placed 3 metal bolts in my SI Joint. It was rough for the first several months. I almost thought I had made a huge mistake, but by my fourth month, I was moving and doing things I hadn't been able to in over a year. My pain is almost completely gone. I have residual on occasion, there are certain positions I have to modify when I am sitting or laying to offer support, I have to be mindful of the weight I lift and how I lift but that is small price for the ability to play with my kids and function in my life again. To no longer suffer day in and day out, miserable with pain. I'm almost 9 months post op and things get better as time goes by. Dr. Dryer was amazing and has been even with my post op care. I've read other reviews and I will say that even if you feel Dr. Dryer is dry or has a poor bedside manner, consider his experience before you dismiss him. He does warm after the initial visit. His staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, the facility is top notch and I would recommend him a million times over. Thanks Dr. Dryer.

Dr.Dryer was really rude to us (egoistic) and at the same time had the gall to ask us to please not to leave any reviews. But his cards laid out everywhere in his office and room pretty much begged for a review, trying to collect some stars lol. He pretty much dismissed me due to my big size and wouldn't even try, calling me a risk. I was able to find a Dr who could work with me and this was a blessing. Never have I seen a Dr have business cards like this, that says a lot. Ahem...Just had to comment on him since he's desperate for reviews so there you go....

It is honestly incredible that there aren't more negative reviews. Though the PA was nice, Dr. Dryer was dryer than this Texas heat. He had terrible bedside manner, and genuinely scared me into surgery at 35 years old. Though I have some significant diagnoses in my cervical spine, Dr Dryer did not explore alternative options before surgery (besides PT and "I'm only prescribing this pill so insurance will approve surgery). When I asked if there were any alternatives, Dr Dryer didn't even suggest pain mgmt or anything else. He literally said "well, either you get surgery or live with this pain the rest of your life" AND WALKED AWAY. I was then guided by a med asst to a scheduling room where the scheduler explained the surgery and after care and immediately got me on the surgery schedule. I was a deer in headlights alone at this appt. Absolutely 100000% would NOT recommend this office unless you just want surgery and no alternative options. Oh, he also told me that getting an injection is "too risky being so close to the spinal cord." But.....surgery isn't?! I successfully got an injection at another practice today and already have relief!!!

Dr. Dryer is the best! I recently had spinal fusion surgery. Before, I was extremely limited in how active I could be. Now, 9 months removed from surgery, I'm healed and training for a Spartan race :). I am now optimistic about the future. Thank you Dr. Dryer!

It is honestly incredible that there aren't more negative reviews. Though the PA was nice, Dr. Dryer was dryer than this Texas heat. He had terrible bedside manner, and genuinely scared me into surgery at 35 years old. Though I have some significant diagnoses in my cervical spine, Dr Dryer did not explore alternative options before surgery (besides PT and "I'm only prescribing this pill so insurance will approve surgery). When I asked if there were any alternatives, Dr Dryer didn't even suggest pain mgmt or anything else. He literally said "well, either you get surgery or live with this pain the rest of your life" AND WALKED AWAY. I was then guided by a med asst to a scheduling room where the scheduler explained the surgery and after care and immediately got me on the surgery schedule. I was a deer in headlights alone at this appt. Absolutely 100000% would NOT recommend this office unless you just want surgery and no alternative options.

It is honestly incredible that there aren't more negative reviews. Though the PA was nice, Dr. Dryer was dryer than this Texas heat. He had terrible bedside manner, and genuinely scared me into surgery at 35 years old. Though I have some significant diagnoses in my cervical spine, Dr Dryer did not explore alternative options before surgery (besides PT and "I'm only prescribing this pill so insurance will approve surgery). When I asked if there were any alternatives, Dr Dryer didn't even suggest pain mgmt or anything else. He literally said "well, either you get surgery or live with this pain the rest of your life" AND WALKED AWAY. I was then guided by a med asst to a scheduling room where the scheduler explained the surgery and after care and immediately got me on the surgery schedule. I was a deer in headlights alone at this appt. Absolutely 100000% would NOT recommend this office unless you just want surgery and no alternative options. Oh, he also told me that getting an injection is "too risky being so close to the spinal cord." But.....surgery isn't?! I successfully got an injection at another practice today and already have relief!!! Edit to add after office response: Enough with the copy and pasted responses that you give people who leave 1 star. It is clear that Dr Dryer needs to work on not only his bedside manner, but the way in which he runs his business altogether. It is obvious by the lower star reviews on all platforms that he gets frustrated when patients ask questions. He does not paint a clear picture for patients before telling them their only choice is surgery. He is dismissive when patients ASK about alternatives and doesn't share WHY surgery is the "only" option in his professional opinion. The injection is only step 1 on the PLAN my new doctor is working on with me. Surgery is not always the ONLY answer, and Dr Dryer needs to start exploring these alternate options. And maybe start putting THOSE videos on his YouTube channel...