I suffered a back injury at work in June of 2017. I went to another physician, who scheduled me for an MRI, in which it was discovered that I have two bulging discs and a protruding disc which was abutting one of my nerve endings. I was first sent to physical therapy, and they tried their best to help me, but unfortunately, my condition did not change. My treating physician then recommended I see a neurosurgeon. I was given Dr. Weiss as an option on my panel of surgeons through Worker's Comp. I realize now that I should've looked over reviews of the surgeons that were offered, as I have gathered from reviews now that he is a wonderful surgeon if you are paying yourself, or if you have private insurance, but is horrible if you are a Worker's Comp case. Honestly, I did not want surgery, as I had heard the horror stories involving back surgery, but I had exhausted all other options, and I just wanted to be healed. I was (and still am) in excruciating pain. I cannot bend over, I cannot walk or stand for long periods, and I have to constantly shift positions while sitting or lying down, because pain in my lower back begins radiating down my left leg so severely that it threatens to take me to the ground. I explained all of this to him at my visit with him, but I didn't feel he was paying attention. He was in the room with me for less than five minutes, during which time he "listened" to my symptoms, ask me to bend over for him to see what my mobility was (which was pretty much nonexistent, I can only bend forward a very short distance before severe pain in my back and down my left leg begins), and asked for my MRI disc, which I did not have on me. Upon learning that I didn't have my MRI disc, he promptly left the room, almost angrily, and his assistant stated that they would request my MRI from the place that had performed the MRI, and would call me when the Dr. looked at it. I realize now that he had no intention of actually helping me, as he did not schedule a follow up or give me any advise whatsoever on managing the pain in the meantime. I waited for over a week, and called them myself. His assistant told me that he had just received the MRI that morning, and hadn't had a chance to review it, that she would have him call me back when he does. Less than ten minutes later, I received a call back from them, upon which I was informed that my MRI was "normal" (keep in mind that I have documentation stating that I have two bulging discs and a disc protrusion), and that there was nothing surgically he could do for me. I was informed by my Worker's Comp rep the next day that he had said that I could return to full duty at my job with no restrictions (I read the report from Dr. Weiss, he said he felt like I'd been out of work long enough). My whole purpose has been to return to work, but I wanted to return to work healed. Regardless, I did as instructed, and returned to work immediately. I was in constant pain, but forcing myself to work through it (my job was very physical, requiring a great deal of bending over, heavy lifting, etc.). I requested a second opinion from Worker's Comp, but was refused. After having been back to work for two days, I was informed that I was to be moved to part-time hours. I still continued to work, to the best of my ability, without complaint. After working part-time for two days, I was informed by my employer that I was to be terminated. The reason was stated that I was "unable to perform my duties to company standards". If I am unable to work, then why was I returned to work? (I was also informed by my manager that the decisions to cut me to part time and to fire me was sent down from the district manager, who had also told him while I was out on Worker's Comp leave to "get rid of him as soon as he gets back", and to cut my hours to try to "force him out"). I am still seeking employment, unsuccessfully, and am at risk of losing everything I had worked so hard for so many years to gain, and I owe the entirety of my current hardships to Dr. Weiss, whose paid-off, pitiful excuse for a (mis)diagnosis is what has, both directly and indirectly, led me to this point. I have since contacted an attorney, who has told me that what has happened to me is a classic one-two punch used by Worker's Comp, and that Dr. Weiss is a horrible doctor that is well known in legal circles for doing this exact sort of thing at the behest of Worker's Comp.
TL;DR: If you are on Worker's Comp, and are given Dr. Weiss as a choice, choose anyone else. (I'd rather choose Dr. Kevorkian than choose him again).

Submitted Oct. 18, 2017

He saved my father in-law who went in with a brain aneurism and years later
removed a benign tumor from my pituitary gland. I recommend him to any one needing neurological surgery!

Submitted July 4, 2017

The others who made negative remarks are probably drug seeking or dont want to go back to work. He did surgery on my brother who did awesome.

Submitted March 7, 2016

Dr Weiss has done 5 surgeries on different peoples of my family and each time he and his staff have been EXCELLENT

Submitted Sept. 2, 2015

This man is a joke , His staff is terrible . Dr Weiss is a puppet for work comp insurance companies. He will deny work comp claims very quickly if asked by the insurance companies.He sent me back to full duty return to work in disabling pain . A year later im still in pain. Stay clear of this man.

Submitted July 24, 2015

I have hurt my back several times the 1st surgery was done by another Doctor at the old Donelson Hospial the 2nd Time was a workman's comp and was sent to Dr. Robert Weiss I chose Dr Weiss to do my surgery and The Third Time I hurt my back at home and I chose Dr Weiss again.one of the best thing about Dr Weiss is he is Honest and he is not going to cut on you unless you need it I have referred him several dozens of times and I found out the ones that wanted surgery to get off of work did not like him very well but all of the ones that really needed the surgery that he done loved him.so on a scale of 1 to 10 on being Honest he is a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 of being a excellent surgeon he is a 10 so my apinion is there is anough stars to rate him so if your not really hurt and just want off of work don't call Dr.Weiss but if you want one of the best Back Doctors in Tennessee then Doctor Manuel Robert Weiss is your man. Thank you all for reading my post and good luck to and I hope you have a very Blessed day

Submitted May 14, 2015

Was referred to Dr. Weiss last week. for ruptured disc and pinched nerve. I had done everything I could before seeing a neuro and didn't any relief. Had my surgery yesterday 4/1/2015. I feel 95% better and just sore at incision site. I have seen some bad comments on here and do not understand. He is not there to be your friend but your Doctor. He is a great doctor and does suggest surgery unless that is the only option to correct your problem. You can not go wrong with Dr. Weiss also St. Thomas hospital is the best hospital experience I have ever had!! A++++

Submitted April 2, 2015

I was recommended by my Dr to see Dr Weiss. I have lumbar stenosis. We discussed options to try before doing surgery which is inevitable. I had two epidurals and the second one I had they punctured the matter surrounding my spinal cord. I live two hrs from Nashville. I called Dr Weiss and he talked to me in length about my symptoms and determined I had spinal headache. He arranged for me to see the group where I had the epidural and they saw me that day. I could not have been treated better by his staff or him. Very caring. Several people have highly recommended Dr Weiss and I can see why. Will probably have to have surgery later on but he is working to get me relief as much as can be expected. I injured my back in 1993 and over the years it has gotten worse. This was predicted that it would back then. I feel confident to put my condition in Dr Weiss' hands. A conservative Dr. and very caring. His staff is very professional and also caring.

Submitted March 11, 2015

I was refered to dr Weiss by my chiropractor! I drove over 3 hrs to visit with him. I didn't wait more than 10 min. He preformed some in office test and we sit down and looked over the Mir I had already had done. I was in extrame pain in my leg. He recomemed a couple options but said the surgery was the real fix. I decided to do it. Dr Weiss was very helpful and so was his staff they all came to check while I was in waiting and in holding. The surgery was a success my leg feels great. Back is still sore from the surgery. Don't trust negative comments everyone's experience is different and I believe most of it is what's in ur head when u go in. I would recommend him to anyone who has a real problem and would like it to be fixed.

Submitted Dec. 24, 2014

He treated me like workers comp! It was not! He was a 2nd opinion for me. It was a complete waste of my time. He told me I just needed to lose weight! I do have pitted edema. I had 3 herniated discs. Another doctor found out that 1 of discs was herniated on both sides and and after discogram it showed 3 bad discs in my Lumbar. And I'm still waiting on the results of my cervical & thoracic from the flexible MRI. Maybe we should make a list of the doctors that are paid off by large companies? Not everyone shows their pain. And all MRI'S are not the sane! Maybe he cannot help us unless it's a simple procedure?

Submitted Oct. 22, 2014