To Whom It May Concern, I just wanted to put in writing how totally pleased I am with Dr. Steven Reich and his wonderful staff. He and all his staff are truly exceptional in their attention to detail and in striving to make a patient feel comfortable. I was in a terrible car accident last October, T Boned while waiting to make a turn and not moving. I was taken to the hospital, they did a cat scan, x rays and released me and told me to see an orthopedic doctor in the next few days. All they did was load me up with pain meds and sent me home. Subsequently, I went to see an orthopedic doctor two days later and was in excruciating pain. He sent me for an MRI the next day. I knew it wasn’t good news when they told me the doctor’s office was on the phone and instructed me to come back immediately. My accident happened on a Friday afternoon and this was now Tuesday afternoon. The doctor told me I had a fracture in my neck, C 2 vertebrate, he put me into a neck collar and said I would need surgery.
Fortunately my husband is a technician and works at a hospital in New Jersey. One of his colleagues gave him the name of Dr. Steven Reich who kindly agreed to see me. It was the best thing that I ever did. Dr. Reich examined me, sent me for some tests and told me that I did not need surgery. I would have to be in a neck brace for up to three months but most likely the fracture would heal on its own without surgery. That was music to my ears! I can’t begin to thank him for seeing me, taking on my case and encouraging me not to have the surgery. By diligently wearing the neck brace 24/7 for three months and then going for physical therapy, I am happy to say that I have no residual effects from this injury. Dr. Reich is a surgeon yet he advised me not to go the surgical route, that in my case it was not necessary. As the saying goes, he is truly a gentleman and a scholar and my savior. Dr. Reich reassured me from day one and was kind, patient and took the time to answer all of my questions and concerns. His office staff was just as kind and helpful. If you find yourself in need of an orthopedic surgeon, I would wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Steven Reich to guide you and recommend the proper path for you. I am so thankful to have my life back to normal and to feel good again and not be in pain anymore.
Thank you Dr. Reich!!!

Submitted Sept. 27, 2016

As medical professional (sonographer) I can be a very difficult patient! As young woman who has always been very active and involved in sports, hearing the words you need spinal surgery was not what I wanted to hear. I was terrified!
My story begins with some concerning lower back pain over the course of a year. I finally went for the MRI to discover L1 thru S1 are bulging. I went through all the chiropractic and acupuncture process with great success. Until one cold morning I twisted while taking my bike off a ceiling hook. The hip pain from that point was unbearable. It was like a nail driving into the side of my hip. After a few weeks it was radiating down my whole leg. Off to a repeat MRI I went... L4-L5 was now severely pinching the nerve effecting my leg. Now I got to meet Dr. Reich. The process from scheduling my first appointment to how payments are made was so simple and well explained by his staff ahead of time. During my first visit Dr. Reich was exceptional! He took the time to do a full examination showing and explain to me the weakness I had in my leg and what was causing it. Not once did I feel like a number or that he was in a rush. He took the time to answer all of my and my husbands questions. His recommendation was a micro discectomy/ laminectomy of L4-L5. And he was sure to explain why surgery was for me my only option to fix the leg pain. His staff walked me through all the papers and out of network insurance information and then the surgery scheduling process.
Surgery day...... I was a wreck!!!!! Terrified!!! Crying like crazy!! I'm a very bad patient. From the front desk at the surgery center, to the nurses, support staff, anesthesiologist, assistant surgeon, and Dr Reich were AMAZING!! They did everything in their power to make me comfortable. After my surgery they went above and beyond to be sure I would be comfortable for the hour long car ride home. Not to mention I was up and walking around before I even left with no leg pain already.
Since surgery I have no leg pain what so ever :-) Very minimal weakness compared to the other leg. And only noticed during his exam. I do have some low back pain but none of it is from the surgery. There are other discs that "keep the weather in check for me". And this was all explained to me by Dr Reich prior to surgery. Each follow up visit Dr Reich saw me and his staff was great! Walking me through the healing process every step of the way.
I cannot say enough positive things about Dr Reich and his staff in each the office and the surgery center. I'd recommend him to any family member or friend of mine in a heart beat.

Submitted April 7, 2016

I am 61 years old and for several years I had been suffering from lower back pain. As time went by the pain became worse and worse, spreading from my lower back, down through my right leg as far as my foot. I lived with the pain for as long as I could, but it finally became a quality of life issue. I could no longer function or participate in daily activities.

I tried chiropractic therapy, anti inflammatory medications, narcotic pain medications, and epidural injections, nothing worked. I got to the point where I needed crutches just to get around, and even then the pain I was experiencing was intolerable.

I finally went to see Dr. Steven M. Reich of Affiliated Orthopaedic Specialists in New Jersey. Dr. Reich came highly recommended not only by his former patients, but by his peers as well. That was the best decision of my life.

First, I must comment on the staff at Affiliated Orthopaedic Specialists. Each and every one of them, without exception, comprise a group of the most compassionate, sincere and dedicated people you could ever wish for. My heartfelt thanks goes out to each and every one of them.

On to Dr. Reich:
The first, and most refreshing experience, was that when you are in his exam room you have his undivided attention. There is nothing more important to him, than you. While you might wait awhile to see him, once he is in the room, you have him – there is no rushing. Whether it takes 15 minutes or an hour and a half in that room, it makes no difference to him. He will listen carefully to everything you say. He will answer every single question, no matter how repetitive, in a manner that you can fully understand.

Unlike many surgeons, Dr. Reich is in no hurry to get you into the operating room. In fact, until you have proven to him that you have tried every single non-surgical approach to your condition, he will not even talk to you about a surgical solution. Once it has been determined that surgery is your only option, Dr. Reich will walk you through the process. He will take as much time as necessary to explain to you what has to be done and how it gets done. He will thoroughly explain to you what you can expect from the surgery, what the risks are, and what you can expect as an outcome. Dr. Reich is an extremely compassionate man. He understands that surgery, especially spinal surgery, is a very frightening experience - and he knows how to put your mind at ease.

As far as his expertise as a surgeon goes; to call Dr. Reich a miracle worker, would be a gross understatement of his abilities. In my opinion, he is quite simply the best there is.
My procedure involved the removal of the disks between L4 and L5, and L5 and S1, the insertion of cages where the disks were removed, and the installation of screws and rods to support my spine while the process of fusion ran its course. I was in the operating room for between four and five hours, and then spent three days in the hospital before they sent me home. The first thirty days of at-home recovery were definitely the toughest. Not because you are in pain, but mostly because you are afraid to move. Once you get your confidence back, the rest is just a walk in the park – literally.

I am now thirteen weeks post-op. After three follow-up visits, Dr. Reich has just cleared me for normal activities. In fact; I am already back to playing golf. After years and years of suffering, I now have absolutely no pain in my back and no pain in my leg – like I said… Dr. Reich is most definitely a miracle worker.

While I fully understand the fear and apprehension that one experiences when contemplating a procedure such as mine, I am here to tell you – it’s worth it. Dr. Reich and his staff will give you your life back… GO SEE HIM.

Submitted Feb. 24, 2016

Dr. Reich and his staff are fantastic! He is knowledgeable and patient. His staff is amazingly helpful and pleasant. You will have to wait for your appointment....but it is worth it!!!

Submitted Oct. 15, 2015

I have been a hospital pharmacist for 20 years and when I hurt my neck every healthcare professional I asked - other doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and administrators recommended I see Dr. Reich. He has not disappointed. I had a herniated disc in my neck which caused an extremely painful radiculopathy down my left arm. Dr Reich gave me an honest assessment and was patient as I attempted to rehab the injury and asked a lot of questions. Dr Reich has a great bedside manner - his sense of humor without being unproffesional really made me feel comfortable at a time when I was scared and unsure of what to do. I decided on surgery and have been pain free since the procedure. I did not experience any pain post surgery, not a single pain med taken. The scar is barely noticeable. The team at RWJ University Hospital is fantastic. The nurse practioners Diane and Shauday at the hospital are extraordinary professionals. Dr Reich's office staff are courteous and professional. Dr Reich is an amazing person and doctor - he makes the professionals around him perform optimally. I am so grateful to have been cared for by Dr Reich and his team.

Submitted Oct. 13, 2015

If you have a back problem... and want to be "FIXED" go see Dr. Reich...
You WILL NOT be disappointed.....

He is the "Holy Grail" of spinal doctors.

Submitted Oct. 7, 2015

Dr. Reich performed lower back surgery on me approx. 5 years ago. Having a family history of back problems, it was my best option to eliminate the recurring low back pain I’d dealt with for many years.

The initial surgery went well and without complications, and I was home the next day. After the standard 6 weeks of physical therapy I returned for my follow-up with Dr. Reich. This is where he truly shines as a doctor! His surgical skills are beyond outstanding and if ever I need further back surgery, he would be my only choice.

At the follow-up, he greeted me as if I were long-lost family and made me feel like I was the most important person there. He took the time to go over my x-rays, explained exactly what he did surgically, and showed me how the healing process was progressing (bone growth, etc). He answered all of my questions, never rushing or making me feel like I had to rush through the visit.

At my 5-year follow-up just recently, I was concerned that I may have hurt my back as I was experiencing low back pain. After reviewing my latest x-rays with me, he was thrilled at how well my fusions had healed and pointed out everything on the x-rays. He assured me that I did not damage anything in my spine.

He took the time to explain that the pain I was feeling was caused by weakened lower back muscles. My fault entirely as I had slacked off on doing my regular back exercises. Dr. Reich took the time to show me a set of exercises that would strengthen my lower back – and Yes - he got on the floor with me and showed me how to do these exercises properly!

I can’t leave out the fact that his office staff and nurses there are the nicest group of people I have ever encountered in a doctor’s office. They were helpful and pleasant and truly cared about how I was doing.

I don’t have to return for another 5 years, but every chance I get I sing his praises. I have already recommended him to a few people and without hesitation would recommend him to anyone in need of back surgery.

Submitted Sept. 25, 2015

I would highly recommend Dr. Reich for not only his surgical experience, but his caring nature. Dr. Reich truly cares about his patients’ well-being which in my opinion gives him a larger stake in the outcomes of the surgeries he performs.

In my specific case, I had a bulging disk at L3-L4 and a herniated disk at L4-L5 with barely any space left between the vertebrae.

I battled pain for 10 years and extreme pain for the last 5 of them which became worse and worse over time. I received many injections over the past few years which had partially helped at first, but stopped being effective. For the last few years, I couldn’t bend forward more than 5% and sitting was horrible – I would lie down on the floor in my cube at work from being in so much pain. After what I used to call “blow outs” or “flare-ups” and being in extreme pain in bed for 2 weeks at a time three times within a 6 month period, I realized surgery was the next step and Dr. Reich had come highly recommended (I consulted with 4 surgeons who all suggested a 2 level spinal fusion).

In September 2014 I had spinal fusion surgery done by Dr. Reich in conjunction with Dr. Haim Blecher (they typically work as a team). Both disks were removed, my spine was decompressed, spacers inserted, bone grafts done, screws and rods inserted, etc. The recovery was the most painful and difficult time, but I can honestly say within 2 months I was a new person. As I write this today, one year later, my fusion is solid and my pain at L3-L4-L5 is 100% better. You read that correctly, 100%.

I just had my one year anniversary appointment and as I discussed how I felt, you could see the joy in Dr. Reich’s eyes (and mine as well). It has been an amazing journey and Dr. Reich has immensely improved my quality of life which I can now enjoy fully with my 2 little girls (ages 5 and 3).

I know every case is different and not everyone will have these results, Dr. Reich is a brilliant surgeon with tons of experience and I would recommend a simple consultation if the thought back/neck of surgery ever pops into your mind.

Submitted Sept. 23, 2015

I want to start off by saying I am 42 years old and have been around the block with back issues for over 20 years. I had my first surgery in 1991 on L4 and L5. The surgery took the before surgery pain away but there was tolerable pain for 18 years. The pain got so bad that I could not stand anymore. I scheduled another surgery with the same dr. that performed my first surgery. At this time A dr. that my wife works with told her to take me to Dr. Reich. When I met Dr. Reich he took his time answered all questions and explained everything in great detail. He made us feel we have been friends for over 20 years. I canceled my surgery and scheduled surgery with Dr. Reich. In Sept of 2008 Dr. Reich performed my 2nd surgery. Shortly after the surgery was over I felt NO PAIN!! I realized then after seeing over 7 doctors with my back issues, just because you have a DR in front of your name does not mean you are good. Dr. Steven Reich is the exception. Dr. Reich made me pain free for the first time in over 20 years!
I am an active person and hurt my back again Oct of 2014. I went to see Dr Reich and he just shook his head. He explained everything so well that I had no questions. Dr. Reich suggested physical therapy at first and did not jump into surgery. When PT did not work I was left with no options but to have my 3rd back surgery. This time it was a major back fusion surgery. I had my fusion surgery with Dr Reich in Feb of 2015. By May of this year Dr. Reich cleared me to do anything I want to do. The recovery was very fast.
Again he made me PAIN FREE!!
My wife also had fusion surgery with Dr. Reich for a fracture spine. She is Pain free!
If you need back surgery Dr. Reich is the only choice.

Submitted Sept. 11, 2015

I went to Dr Reich in part because of the reviews on this site. After my experience, I am having difficulty believing the reviews are real. Lets start with something objective, punctuality. The first time I went I waited an hour and a half to see the Dr, the second time, over 45 minutes. How can he possibly have 5 stars on punctuality? I found him to be condescending. He wasted so much time trying to make analogies to my line of work, that didn't make any sense, instead of answering my questions. When I made the appointment, I asked what the charge would be because he is not in my insurance plan. When I checked out, they charged me almost twice as much. The reason - the amount of time he spent. So- I had to pay because he wasted so much time dumbing down his explanations, to the point that they made no sense.

Submitted Aug. 17, 2015