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5 Best Spine Specialists in Houston to Get You Moving 

spine-specialists-in-houston
  • Credentials and Training: We checked board certifications, fellowships, and spine-specific experience. You’d want someone who knows their way around both stubborn back pain and complex surgery.
  • Treatment Options: We looked for clinics offering conservative care as well as surgery. The best plan shouldn’t jump straight to the operating room if simpler options could work.
  • Technology: We considered access to modern imaging and minimally invasive procedures. Better tools can mean more precise treatment and, in some cases, an easier recovery.
  • Accessibility: We reviewed clinic hours and appointment availability. Clear scheduling matters when your back’s already giving you enough trouble.

Neck pain has a sneaky way of turning simple things like driving, sleeping, or bending down into full-blown negotiations. Finding the best spine specialist in Houston can help you get back to moving without wincing every five minutes.

The right care might mean rehab, injections, or a visit with an orthopedic specialist who focuses on more complex spine problems. Not every sore back needs surgery, which is why matching the treatment to the problem matters.

Houston has plenty of spine clinics, but some make that process much easier than others. We narrowed it down to specialists worth knowing when your back or neck starts calling the shots.

How much does it cost to see a spine specialist in Houston?

Spine care in Houston can vary widely depending on the treatment you need. A follow-up visit may cost around $88 to $174, while surgery can run into the tens of thousands.

A new-patient consultation typically costs $213 to $330. Imaging adds to the bill, with spine CT scans around $149 to $169 and MRIs ranging from about $809 to $5,000+.

Epidural steroid injections usually cost $1,634 to $2,200. A disk laminectomy may range from $5,900 to $18,500 at an outpatient facility or $11,200 to $34,900 in a hospital.

Spinal fusion is among the pricier procedures. Cervical anterior fusion has a median cost of about $29,835, while lumbar fusion may cost $31,369 to $71,800.

1. Dr. Ankur Mehta, TX Spine and Joint

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Website

Address: 8830 Long Point Rd. #502

Contact: 832-849-0909 | 832-909-0869

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM

If your back pain keeps interrupting workouts, errands, or even a decent night’s sleep, Dr. Ankur Mehta brings a practical rehab-first approach. 

His own triathlon and half-marathon background gives him a useful perspective on how much active patients hate sitting still. 

As a board-certified physiatrist, he focuses on nonsurgical spine care, pain management, and minimally invasive treatments. 

That can include injections, radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulation, and other options aimed at improving function.

TX Spine and Joint has physical therapy on-site too, which makes follow-through more convenient. Patients who need structured rehabilitation can work with physical therapist Dr. Eden Kang without bouncing between unrelated practices.

The main limitation is that Dr. Mehta isn’t an orthopedic spine surgeon. If surgery becomes necessary, your care may transition to the clinic’s spine surgeon, Dr. Mohammad Etminan.

Pros

  • Board-certified physiatrist focused on nonsurgical spine care
  • Offers minimally invasive pain-management procedures
  • On-site physical therapy with Dr. Eden Kang
  • Strong fit for active patients and sports-related issues
  • Access to a spine surgeon within the same practice

Cons

  • Dr. Mehta isn’t an orthopedic spine surgeon
  • Surgical cases may require transitioning to Dr. Mohammad Etminan

Customer Reviews

Clear Back Pain Explanation

Dr. Mehta and his assistant, Jordan, were great!  Dr.Mehta took time with me to explain what was going on in my back, as well as what treatment he could do to alleviate much of my pain.  He seemed knowledgeable in his field of spine and joint pain health.  I am very pleased with not only Dr. Mehta, but also with Jordan.  I will definitely refer family and friends to  Dr. Mehta and Jordan.  I believe it is important to be satisfied and happy with a doctor as well as his assistant.

Detailed Lower Back Care Plan

Dr Mehta was wonderful. He and his staff were very thorough and explained in great detail a plan to help with my lower back pain and spine problems, and gave me options in my care and told me what I could expect in terms of relief with each procedure. Made me feel like a part of the process in my own care.

2. UTHealth Houston Neurosciences – Spine Center

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Website

Address: 6400 Fannin St, Ste 2150

Contact: (713) 486-8100 | Fax: (713) 486-8101

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM

Complicated spine problems sometimes need more than one specialist in the room. UTHealth Houston Neurosciences – Spine Center brings neurosurgeons, pain specialists, neurologists, and therapists together for coordinated care.

Their neurosurgeons perform more than 3,000 spine surgeries each year, but they don’t rush everyone toward the operating room. 

Conservative treatments are considered first, with minimally invasive options available when surgery becomes necessary.

Patients can see specialists like fellowship-trained spine neurosurgeon Dr. Jessica R. Stark for trauma, degenerative conditions, and complex spinal problems. 

As part of McGovern Medical School, the center even offers research-driven care and potential access to relevant clinical trials.

However, the Texas Medical Center location can make appointments feel like a production. Parking and navigating a large medical complex may be less convenient for patients already dealing with limited mobility.

Pros

  • Multidisciplinary team of spine specialists
  • More than 3,000 spine surgeries performed annually
  • Conservative treatments considered before surgery
  • Minimally invasive procedures available
  • Access to fellowship-trained neurosurgeons
  • Potential access to clinical trials and academic research

Cons

  • Texas Medical Center location can be harder to navigate
  • Parking and long walks may be inconvenient for patients with limited mobility

Customer Reviews

Knowledgeable Spinal Injury Evaluation

Extremely happy with my care team. Dr.Stark and nurse practitioner Jill Wittman provided top-notch care recommendations with the highest degree of knowledge and experience. I definitely recommend this practice team to anyone seeking evaluation for spinal injuries.

Compassionate Neurological Spine Care

Dr. Dhanani and her staff are wonderful! I wish all of my healthcare providers were as compassionate and caring as Dr. Dhanani and her staff. I would highly recommend them to anyone having neurological/spinal problems.

3. Dr. Ryan Stuckey

dr-ryan-stuckey

Website

Address: 7401 Main Street

Contact: (713) 794-3423 | Fax: (281) 501-5972

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM

When neck or back pain starts turning everyday movement into a negotiation, Dr. Ryan Stuckey offers the kind of specialized care worth knowing about. 

He’s a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon with dedicated fellowship training in the Texas Medical Center.

His procedure list covers everything from cervical disc replacement to minimally invasive TLIF and other complex spine surgeries. 

He’s also received Patients’ Choice and Compassionate Doctor recognition, which adds a nice human touch to all that surgical expertise.

What we like here is the balance between technical depth and straightforward patient care. For someone dealing with a stubborn disc problem or a more serious spinal condition, that combination can feel reassuring.

However, the office is closed on weekends. Patients with packed weekday schedules may have fewer appointment options.

Pros

  • Board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon
  • Fellowship-trained in spine surgery
  • Performs cervical disc replacement and minimally invasive TLIF
  • Treats complex cervical, thoracic, and lumbar conditions
  • Has received Patients’ Choice and Compassionate Doctor recognition

Cons

  • Closed on Saturdays and Sundays (weekday-only hours may be restrictive for busy patients)

Customer Reviews

Thorough Spine Surgery Guidance

He is a very busy surgeon, but is very thorough and takes the time to explain what is needed to be done. The wait to see him is long for an appointment, but well worth it. My husband and I trust him with our care. Have highly recommended him to several people with spine/back problems.

Lower Spine Surgery Recovery

When I went to Dr. Stuckey several months ago, I couldn’t stand straight or walk very far because of the pain in my back. He made a plan to repair my lower spine. It’s been 2 weeks since surgery, and I’m standing straight and walking with no pain in my back. I’m very pleased with the results.

4. Andrew C. Roeser, MD

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Website

Address: 6560 Fannin Street, Suite 1200

Contact: (713) 790-1211

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:30 AM – 4 PM | Friday, 8:30 AM – 3 PM

Complex spine problems call for more than a quick once-over, and Dr. Andrew Roeser brings serious training to the table. 

He’s a board-certified neurosurgeon with fellowship experience in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery.

His work covers disc herniations, spinal stenosis, deformities, fractures, and spine tumors. That broad scope makes him a strong option when your condition isn’t exactly a simple sore-back situation.

He practices with Neurosurgical Group of Texas, a long-established Houston team with experience in advanced spine procedures. 

The group uses minimally invasive techniques and includes surgeons familiar with robotic and endoscopic approaches.

One catch is that the practice doesn’t accept motor vehicle accident, work-injury, or legal cases. If your spine problem is tied to one of those situations, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Pros

  • Board-certified neurosurgeon
  • Fellowship-trained in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery
  • Treats disc herniations, spinal stenosis, deformities, fractures, and spine tumors
  • Part of a long-established Houston neurosurgical practice
  • Access to minimally invasive and advanced spine techniques

Cons

  • Doesn’t accept motor vehicle accident cases
  • Doesn’t take work-related injury or legal cases

Customer Reviews

Confidence Through Repeat Spine Surgery

Just had my third surgery performed by Dr. Roeser.  Obviously, if I’ve had him cutting into my cervical/lumbar areas now 3 times, I have confidence in his abilities and expect another positive outcome.  He is easy to communicate with, and he listens.  I highly recommend him to anyone facing spinal surgery.

Successful Spinal Fusion Recovery

Dr. Roeser is an amazing doctor.  I had a spinal fusion, was walking the day of surgery, and returned home the day after.  The numbness in my leg was immediately relieved.  It has been continued success ever since. Dr. Roeser is so deserving of his Most Compassionate Doctor and Patients’ Choice Awards.  Thank you, Dr. Roeser, for improving my quality of life!

5. R. Alexander Mohr, MD – Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

r-alexander-mohr-md-orthopedic-spine-surgeon

Website

Address: 10425 Huffmeister Road, Suite 320

Contact: (281) 955-7577 | Fax: (281) 955-5875 | [email protected] 

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM

Dr. R. Alexander Mohr doesn’t treat every spine problem as if it came off the same assembly line. 

He’s a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon who chooses between anterior, posterior, lateral, and oblique approaches based on the patient’s diagnosis and anatomy.

His background gives him a useful perspective on sports-related injuries too. He played collegiate football on a full athletic scholarship, so he understands just how punishing repetitive impact can be on the back.

He previously led the Division of Orthopaedic Spine Surgery at the University of Connecticut and continues to teach advanced techniques to other surgeons. 

That mix of clinical and teaching experience gives his practice some serious depth.

However, he works across multiple Houston-area offices. Double-check your appointment location before heading out, especially if you’re already moving carefully.

Pros

  • Board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon
  • Uses multiple surgical approaches based on the patient’s condition
  • Firsthand background in collegiate football
  • Experienced with sports-related spine injuries
  • Former university spine division director
  • Teaches advanced spine techniques to other surgeons

Cons

  • Practices across multiple Houston-area locations
  • Patients need to double-check which office their appointment is scheduled at

Customer Reviews

Personalized Spine Care Coordination

Dr. Mohr and Stephen Miller always provide excellent care and communication. Stephen answered all questions and provided tailored medication and treatment recommendations based on my concerns, and offered to help coordinate anything else I felt I needed and what would work based on my schedule. Having direct knowledge of their surgical care and expertise, I would without hesitation choose them as my surgical team in the event spinal surgery was needed and always recommend them to those seeking any spine-related needs.

Cervical Disc Replacement Recovery

I had two of my cervical spine discs replaced by Dr. Mohr and his team. Finally, the pain is gone!! They did an amazing job with the surgery, and a week later I was able to take off my neck brace and begin to restore mobility little by little. I thank God for putting Dr. Mohr and his team in the pathway to help me out. I cannot commend them enough.

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