Dr. Richard Michael Thunder, MD

I saw mixed comments before going in so I was totally shocked to have an amazing experience. He listened well, was thorough, explained everything I wanted to know, and guided me on best next steps. Highly recommend. Office staff was great too

When a doctor asks you if your insurance is some type of Obamacare, RUN!

When I came in he looked at me like I was an idiot. No bedside manner. Very short l.. only knowledgeable on back issues. No I need to pay an actual professional to get my knee checked out

Dr. Thunder is a great doctor. He is extremely knowledgeable and delivers excellent care. Dr. Thunder’s concern for his patients is outstanding.

Dr. Thunder was recommended to me by a fellow ex-motocross racer who had similar back issues as myself.

He was wonderful with my son who got hit by a suv. My son is intellectually disabled and has autism. Dr. Thunder treated him for a broken wrist. Very good bedside manner!!

Dr. Thunder saved my 92 year old Mom with a full hip replacement, a new plate to support a broken femur and an excellent hand set for her radius after her fall. She is walking again after two months?? Thank you for your expert talent skill and bravery. We really appreciate you. Marilyn Livingstone and Annie

Dr. Thunder performed a laminectomy/discectomy at my L4/L5 vertebrate four weeks ago. The outcome has been excellent. I went from having limited torso mobility and a non-functioning left leg to relatively no pain. I have some minor numbness in the left leg that is responding to therapy. I did not have to take pain medication two days following the surgery. My thanks of deep appreciation to Dr. Thunder and the Scripps hospital staff. His office staff is always prompt and responsive.

very poor

Has great experience behind him and working in the best west coast hospital.

Dr. Thunder saved my leg after a serious motorcycle accident. Excellent surgeon that I would highly recommend.

Dr. Thunder performed my discectomy. Great surgeon and the after care was exceptional. What he lacks in personality (his bedside manner is very dry and matter of fact) he makes up for in skill. I no longer live with any sciatic pain.

As brief as possible, this physician and assistant failed from the get-go to communicate with my claims adjuster. Frankly, I was blaming my comp carrier for 11 months, only to discover 3 days ago that this physician wrote only 1 - that's right, 1 report in nearly a year. Per my visits with him, 5-6 reports clarifying matters requested by my claims adjuster were ignored. This occurred after I provided him with photocopies of each letter, highlighting those questions or issues which required addressing with my comp carrier. The basis of this debacle started with my first appointment when his assistant let my filing papers simply sit in my chart at the office without communicating to me their refusal to complete the papers. Additionally, the initial diagnosis was so far off track as to be ridiculous. Needless to say, I am in the process of transferrig my care for a ruptured disc (vice a low back strain!) to another physician.

I am very hard to please, seek out only the very best, and demanding (retired Marine colonel, I found Dr Thunder to be an exceptionally skilled surgeon, straightforward, to the point, excellent communicator, and does NOT over promise but set reasonable expectations. He listens to his patients, does not tell you what you want to hear but rahter gives you a candid assessment in non-medical terms.D o be prepared to do what he tells you to do in your recovery post surgery if you want a great result. Dr Thunder is very professional, bright, and approachable. He is an extremely competent and conservative surgeon. I base my comments on my and a close friend's personal experience and spine surgery results. I recommend him without hesitation.

I've spent a great deal of time with doctors in the last five years and Dr. Thunder is exceptional. He is a superb diagnostician,a careful and caring physician who gives deep thought to a surgical plan and let's you know that he will continue to care for you if the outcome is not what he expects.

Outstanding surgeon, very thourough and caring and spent more than enough time and explained things very well...would reccomend him highly

Dr Thunder in my opion was very professional and also caring before and after my procedure. He informend me of all the things I needed to know about the surgery then told me to really think about if this is somthing I wanted to do. I thought about it, and decided surgery was my best option. im still in recovery but so far so good. He's been great with me and checked on me numerous of times while in the hospital. I would definitly refere him to family and friends....

He saw me quickly when I had an emergency, and helped me make the right decision about my spine surgery. Follow-up was great, too!

I saw Dr. Thunder for several months in 2007-2008 for knee problems, brusitis in my right hip and shoulder, and later for and RSI problem (worker's comp) in my hand. He started out fine, but when my problems could not be solved with a cortisone shot he gave up on me. He told me I was a problem patient and had no solution for me. For worker's comp, after just a few weeks of phys. therapy he told me I was permanently disabled and wouldn't allow me any more treatment. The injury I have routinely take 6 months to a year to heal. I had to get another doctor and go though three months of therapy before I was healed (and not at all disabled). Dr. Thunder does not care about patients or patient outcomes. If you aren't a "quick fix", don't bother him with your problems.