Robert M. Gorsen, MD

I didn’t choose Dr. Gorsen, he happened to be the unlucky neurosurgeon at the ER when I showed up, and had worked extensively in the past with the orthopedist I was seeing. I had to have emergency back surgery in August of 2013 due to 2 huge ruptured discs and because I developed Cauda Equina Syndrome. I then had to have a second surgery in October 2013 because there was still disc material pressing on the cauda equina (which I do not fault Dr. Gorsen for — my discs basically exploded and they were removed in chunks so I am not surprised there was some left).
Dr. Gorsen has never treated me with less than 100% of his attention, compassion, and honesty. His staff at the office are friendly, and it is not a typical «get as many patients packed in to an hour as possible» environment so he rarely runs more than a few minutes behind, and I never feel rushed. Over the 2 years I’ve been seeing him, I have been very thankful that he got stuck with me that day. And while he couldn’t fix the damage that had already been done, I appreciate all he did and continues to do.

I didn’t WANT to make the long trip out to Annandale after an agonizing workday…
But it was worth the drive.
After years of condescending doctors looking down their noses while chucking multitudes of medicines at me for my low back and sciatic pain, I was nearly at my wit’s end.
However, the moment Dr. Gorsen walked into the evaluation room to greet me, I felt like someone was finally in my corner. He had a jovial tone (although he took me seriously), read my chart thoroughly, reviewed my MRI’s extensively, let me speak without cutting me off, actually LISTENED, and fully processed what I had to say before responding.
I can tell when a doctor enjoys his work by his bedside manner, and this doctor has a stellar one.
While he’s extremely busy (engaged in various side projects, inventions, and work with sports injury patients), Dr. Gorsen still took his time with me, didn’t make me feel rushed, did make me feel comfortable, and managed to quickly devise and explain to me several prospective lines of attack to get to the root of my suffering.
He patiently conveyed what I didn’t understand in lay terms, and even offered an interim solution between now and the next time I would follow up with him — going back and forth several times to his supply room, working with me to find just the right sized back brace, and educating me on how to use it.
If a guy this busy can manage to have a good humor, patience, and sympathy for his patients, the rest of you cocky doctors with atrocious people skills running patient mills should be ashamed.
Additionally, the staff was pleasant, the office wasn’t crowded with over-​booked patients, and I’ve definitely had longer waits.
Because of Dr. Gorsen, for the first time in three years, the light at my tunnel’s end doesn’t just seem like a freight train. He may or may not be able to help see me back to restored health; but at the very least, he HAS offered two very important things to me which no other doctor has bothered to even attempt thus far — and those are sincerity and hope.
He has accrued an array of accolades over the years, and I can see why. I would recommend this neurosurgeon to anyone — near or far.