“I have known Dr. Raiszadeh well since college. He has undergone some of the best surgical training, and having operated with him personally can attest to his surgical acumen with even very complex cases. What is especially unique is his long-term focus on non-operative treatment and the judicious use of surgery. I personally have seen the strong mind-body connection with spinal disorders.
Also being a strong proponent of meditation and appropriate strengthening/stretching, I am confident that the reader will greatly benefit from Dr. Raiszadeh’s insight and experience.”

"Knowing what I know now, I wish I had had taken Dr. Raiszadeh's advice and exhausted all options with rehab rather than going through with back surgery. There's too much that can go wrong when you expose your spinal canal to surgery. Rehab may take time, but in the long run it's a much better choice."

“Dr. Raiszadeh brings real meaning to the concept of 'person centered care'. The optimal resolution of complex issues like back pain and function ultimately flows from support and care that empowers the individual to heal. Our challenges of opioid control, and excessive use of imaging and surgical intervention could be tempered with this physician's thoughtful approach."

“We are in the midst of a devastating opioid addiction crisis, an epidemic fueled by our collective societal delusion that our lifestyle choices don’t matter, that there’s a quick surgical or pharmaceutical fix for everything, and that our minds have nothing to do with our physical bodies or overall health. I would have thought that the last person to help light the way out would be a spine surgeon, a specialist who is expert at doing things to people, but not always for people. Which is why Dr. Raiszadeh’s book is so amazing. With a deep humility he uses personal stories drawn from his career and life to show us that we can heal when we focus on the root causes of our suffering, with compassion, patience, and wisdom. A must-read for anyone suffering with or treating chronic pain."

"In surgery they say that ‘a chance to cut is a chance to cure.’ For Dr. Raiszadeh, however, the chance to intervene is the moment to step back and offer a holistic set of physical therapy, counseling, and lifestyle services, with surgery only as the last resort. In Take Back Control he offers sensible advice, backed by the scientific literature and examples from his clinical experience, to patients suffering from severe back pain who might be rushing towards a surgical ‘solution’ even though safer and cheaper options are available. Dr. Raiszedeh exhorts the patient to take control of his health through life style changes, supported by medical care only when needed. He exhorts his surgical colleagues to remain humble in the face of the limitations and risks inherent in their skills.”

"Struggling with back pain or sciatica is tough for anyone, but I didn’t expect to be suffering from it as a retired professional athlete. After my surgery for a large disc herniation at age 42, I was determined to strengthen my back in the best way possible.  My initial testing with SpineZone showed a significant weakness of my core muscles compared to the expected norm for my age.  However, after completing the program my strength has skyrocketed to the top of the charts and my back feels better than it ever has.  I’m so grateful for the SpineZone program.  My only regret is not having started it sooner.”