After moving from Toano, VA, to Wilmington, NC, John Stafford didn’t expect back problems would bring him back hundreds of miles to a surgeon he already trusted. But when new symptoms began affecting his neck, balance and mobility, he quickly realized that not all recommendations were the same.
“I spoke with three different PAs and got three different opinions,” he recalled. “None of it made sense to me. I kept thinking, this isn’t what Dr. Kostov would do.” Even after meeting with a highly recommended orthopedic surgeon, he hesitated. “He was professional and well respected, but I wanted a neurosurgeon. That made a difference to me.”
John had a long history with Dr. Dean Kostov, a neurosurgeon at Riverside Hampton Roads Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists. He had previously undergone multiple successful procedures, including lumbar fusion surgery, cervical disc surgery and bilateral carpal tunnel release. “He’s the only one who’s ever been in my back and neck. When you’ve built that kind of trust, it’s hard to hand that over to someone else.
After careful consideration, John and his wife decided the drive was worth it. Despite insurance hurdles, they worked through the process and scheduled a consultation.
“As soon as we walked out of the appointment, I felt this sense of relief. That’s not something you can fake. I had been struggling with this decision for over a year, and after seeing Dr. Kostov, I was finally at peace.”
What stood out most to John was Dr. Kostov’s confidence and honesty.
“He looks at your X-rays and MRIs and tells you exactly what he can help with. He doesn’t promise to fix everything. He says, ‘This is what I can improve,’ and he backs it up with facts. Everything he told me he could help with, he has. He’s been a man of his word.”
Only months after his recent cervical revision surgery, John has already noticed significant improvement.
“The arm pain I had is gone. My balance has improved. I couldn’t even do a heel-to-toe walk before, and now I can. I was dropping things constantly, and now my hand strength is coming back.”
Today, John doesn’t hesitate to recommend Dr. Kostov to others, even strangers.
“I tell people all the time, I know it’s a long drive, but he’s worth it. You’re not just another number to him. He truly cares. And when it comes to your spine, that trust means everything.”
