Orthopaedic and Spine Institute

Terrible office with scheduling apt. I made an appointment with Dr. Cyr himself, but got pushed off to a nurse assistance. I brought in my xrays, MRI reports, etc, but still had to get more xrays done just so they can charge my insurance more. Waited over 3 hours to be seen. After a few appointments, I finally got to meet Dr. Cyr who informed me that I do in fact need surgery, but would need further testing Done which I agreed to. However after waiting 3 months for a nerve study referral, and trying to actually get these test scheduled I figured it was Time to find a more organized office where I was not just a number and $$$ to them.

I have been going here for three years, have had everything, MRI, X-​Rays, nerve conduction, steroid injections, among numerous visits. During these visits, they have always been unfriendly, uncaring of their patients time and wanting another visit for more money. Now it’s time for surgery and I find out the surgeon does not accept my insurance. Their only response «someone should have told you!» Really? Now I can’t get my MRI, X-​Rays or notes because they have moved office to Boerne. I can come to their office and get it all for a fee. What a horrible organization! I’d never recommend them, nor would I ever say anything positive about them.

We will see how it goes

My appointment was suppose to be at 4! They said you need to be here 20 min before your appointment. I arrived at 3:35. It is now 5:44 and I have yet to be seen. Not only is this outrageous, but the staff has no courtesy to inform you that the Dr. Is running late! Seriously! This is beyond unprofessional! I will not be returning to this facility!

So far, so good. Had my initial appointment yesterday — the staff was attentive and listened to what I had been experiencing. Answered all of my questions. The wait was a little long but they were definitely busy and perhaps a bit backed up. X-​ray technicians were sweet. Waiting to get an MRI — hopefully it’ll continue to be a positive experience as I go back for my follow-​up.
My only major complaint is that you have to pay for parking — not sure why they won’t validate it. It was like 3 bucks — but still, when they make you wait past your appointment time and you’re building up the parking hours, it made me a bit less patient.

Holly wait time!
Bring a book and a blanket! I arrived early because I’m a new patient. I don’t know why, since they had me waiting for more than two hours!!! Two hour+ wait time is very disrespectful in my book. I can’t even tell you how I liked the service or the doctor as I was so mad about the wait time and freezing in the waiting room.

Terrible customer service, disorganized and office miscommunication that gets in the way of patient experience. Dr. Siddiqui and his team have let me down several times and misplaced or were misinformed about my case every time. They are terrible at customer service, an even worse at follow up. This has been a terrible, negative experience. He even said «I’m just a spine surgeon, I don’t know …» When referring to my MRI.
The office assistants are all clueless about what’s going on and are quick to blame each other and not take responsibility.
Not recommended to anyone who truly needs medical help and if you would expect basic organization and communication from a professional medical office you will be sadly disappointed.

I searched for the right doctor for seven years. Dr. Cyr and his team are who I chose because they’re second to none. Their #1 priority is your final outcome. They do many diagnostics before proposing any action so they can fix you right the first time. They are there for you every step of the way and answer all your questions — from diagnosis to physical therapy. They are always just a phone call away, and you can even text your nurse. I would never go anywhere else.

If you need spine surgery, this is the place to go. Dr. Steven Cyr is easily one of the premier spine surgeons in the country, let alone San Antonio. I had to have a fusion of my L4-​S1 vertebrae last year, and although the recovery was as you would imagine, I feel fortunate to have had him and his staff at my disposal. They, of course, also do all kinds of other procedures, pain management, therapy, etc., but spinal surgery is their specialty. The office is extremely busy and can be hectic, but once you’re «in the system» you can always be seen, and if you are having a procedure or have had one, you will be able to contact one of the nurses ²⁴⁄₇ directly via cell phone.

I have sat down to write this testimonial a million times since I hit my sixth month post-​op. I am even now finding it very difficult to express my gratitude. Each words I chose just do not seem to be enough. My first encounter with Dr. Cyr and Eloy was approximately six years ago. And as anyone can attest it takes just a few minutes in their presence to know that there is a higher power guiding the work that they do. I was attending graduate school to earn a degree as a Nurse Practitioner and I was having a lot of difficulty with spending so much time in front of computers. I could never get comfortable in my chair. I scheduled my work in the hospital where I would never do two days in a row because at the end of the day I could barely walk.
About three years previous to meeting them I had a micro discectomy. It was partially successful in that I was no longer having shooting pains down my leg however I continued to have debilitating back spasms. I simply resigned myself to believe this would be my walk through the aging process. I had heard a joke once the punch line went, if you don’t wake up every day without an ache or a pain then you is dead. I thought everyone had to go bed for two days after working out or a 12 hour shift. I used to say if this is what forty feels like then I don’t want to be fifty.
My first encounter with Dr. Cyr and Eloy lasted approximately 3 hours.
Eloy examined me and discussed symptoms that I had not recognized as relating to my back. He also spent a considerable amount of time discussing Dr. Cyr’s knowledge, education and skill. His enthusiasm was very contagious. Dr. Cyr spent at least an hour and a half explaining the findings in my MRI and back x-​ray. I had at tear in the disk above where I had the micro discectomy and the previous surgical area was unstable and the disc space was completely flat. He told me I would need further unpleasant testing and that conservative measures should be taken before I made the decision to have any surgery. He informed me he believed he could make the back pain go away.
Even though I had severe pain on a daily basis I did not feel I had the time for more testing and I was extremely afraid of the post– operative pain because when I woke from my last back surgery it felt as though someone had taken a hammer to my back. I told myself a back fusion was something that old people needed to get. I spent six years with persistent debilitating pain all the way through school. I had to take a desk job and completed graduate school doing course work in my bed with a lap top. Before each clinical rotation I got injections thinking it would make it easier to get through standing on my feet. I spent every night in my Jacuzzi and hired someone to clean my home.
On the last day of my last semester Eloy came and spoke in my class. I told myself I would take the time to deal with my back after graduation a week after I graduated I found out my husband was being transferred out of state. So I put it off again. I spent the first six months in bed, then I started working again with same viscous cycle. My husband retired and proceeded to complete his masters at UTSA. He had to commute back and forth the summer of 2010 so I decided to spend that time doing the work up for my surgery. I had my surgery the Friday before Labor Day September 2010. The day before surgery I could barely walk through the airport. I looked so bad at the airport an attendant ran up to me with a wheel chair.
When I woke up from the anesthesia Dr. Cyr was there he asked how much of my pre-​surgical pain had gone away. I thought for a minute and ironically it was a 100% gone. I am a year out now and the only regret I have is not having done something sooner. I am actually currently training for a half marathon. What’s really funny is I cannot remember the name of the physician that delivered my three children or the names of the physicians that did my micro discectomy or hysterectomy. But the day I had had enough Dr. Cyr’s and Eloy’s names came to mind immediately.
I am so excited by the work being done at OSI that I really wanted to effect a change in the lives of other individuals that are suffering. I believe that is the best form of gratitude is to assist others in determining the appropriate path for their care. Even if you are weary about surgery or have had bad experiences just spend some time with a provider at OSI the enthusiasm is addictive.
Thank you Dr. Cyr, Eloy and everyone that makes OSI run smoothly now I am looking forward to fifty and sixty.
Sharon Ross