Dr. Stan Lee
Orthopedic Spine Surgery
W. Bloomfield, MI
25 years experience male
Locations
Specialists in Spine Surgery
Southfield, MI
Phone
Practice website
Insurances accepted
Other
Specialists in Spine Surgery
W. Bloomfield, MI
About
Bio
Having practiced spine surgery at the highest level, Dr. Lee has chosen to focus on his passion for education by consulting on spinal medicine and surgery for patients and industries to empower others to make informed, evidence-based healthcare choices. Dr. Lee truly offers clients a full spectrum perspective by drawing on his experience diagnosing and treating the most acute and complex spine conditions.
He also devotes time to a small, direct-pay spine surgery practice where he is able to spend the time and care needed to thoroughly educate and engage patients about their condition and treatment options. By focusing on informed choice and patient engagement, outcomes and patient satisfaction are significantly improved.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Orthopedic Spine Surgery
Languages spoken
Cantonese, Mandarin
Doctor Q&A
73 Answers
48 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Depends: A patient's residual lumbar motion after fusion depends on the number of levels fused. Most of a patient's functional bending happens through the hip... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
It Depends: In a patient with spondylolisthesis (forward slippage of one vertebra on the one below), an MRI is most helpful in evaluating the extent of spinal ste... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Disk replacement: Disk replacement is a surgery to replace the native disk in the neck or back. It is a newer technique that, though fda approved for safety, has shown ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
No: Spinal stenosis arises from arthritic changes in the spine, leading to spinal canal narrowing and symptomatic nerve compression. Bracing is not a wide... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Depends: What is read as "herniated disks" on an MRI report is often an incidental finding and must be correlated to symptoms. A symptomatic disk herniation ty... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Spinal Instability: Spine fusion is indicated when spinal stability and/or alignment has been compromised, resulting in risk for further spinal collapse, deformity, or ne... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 75-year-old male asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Initial care: Pain clinics can diagnose and offer some nonsurgical treatment options for symptomatic spinal stenosis. However, for refractory sciatica from severe s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
No: Spinal stenosis symptoms are due to pressure on nerves in the spine. Gllucosamine, in theory, helps preserve/restore with cartilage in arthritic joint... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Depends: A herniated disk is only problematic when it puts pressure onto a spinal nerve, resulting in pain, numbness, and/or weakness in the nerve distribution... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Very serious: Any spine surgery, and scoliosis surgery in particular, is major surgery and carries a real, though small risk of permanent nerve damage or paralysis.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Use extreme caution: It is extremely difficult to isolate an anatomic origin for low back pain. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to successfully treat low back pain wi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
There are many: There are many alternative therapies for spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis arises from arthritic changes in the spine, leading to spinal canal narrowi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Yes: Spinal stenosis symptoms arise from pressure on the spinal nerves from spinal canal narrowing. Flexion exercises of the lumbar spine may help decompre... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 57-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Varies: Scoliosis surgery is major surgery, technically demanding, and resource intensive. Like any other service, the cost to the patient depends on many fac... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
History&MRI: Spinal stenosis is best seen on mri. However, unless there are correlating symptoms by history, it is just a radiographic finding. If a patient has co... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old male asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Yes: Epidural spinal injections (esi) are established by research to be potentially beneficial for patients with radiating nerve pain from nerve compressio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Potentially: Any surgery has its inherent risks and potential benefits. Spine surgery can be very beneficial but involves an area that is very delicate and vital t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old male asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Not surgery: Spondylosis is ubiquitous in the middle ages and beyond. Research has shown that it is not possible to reliably and definitively diagnosis/isolate spo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Spinal Instability: Spine fusion is indicated when spinal stability and/or alignment has been compromised, resulting in risk for further spinal collapse, deformity, or ne... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Approximately 6mo: Similar to a surgically repaired extremity fracture, a spine fusion typically takes up to 6 months to fully consolidate. In a long fusion, such as in ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Yes: Decompressive spine surgery for a pinched nerve involves manipulation of the nerves intraoperatively which can cause short term nerve discomfort after... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Failure of formation: With a hemivertebra, half of the vertebra fails to form. There are other congenital spine defects where vertebrae fail to divide or segment, leading t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Not usually: Though whiplash can be very painful in the first several weeks, it is a self-limited condition that responds well to noninvasive measures such as phys... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Talk to your surgeon: At 7 weeks post op, your surgeon has the best perspective.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Usually Not: Following successful spine fusion, the instrumentation typically remains. Conditions such as a deep infection, nonhealing fusion, and on rare occasio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old male asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Proven techniques: For refractory spinal stenosis with correlating sciatic, surgical laminectomy has been a highly effective treatment for nearly 100 years. For low back... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Talk to ordering doc: Radiology reports must be contextualized and are not meant directly for patients without the ordering doctor's interpretation. A finding of "reversal ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
A surgeon: Spine surgery involving direct removal of herinated disk fragments (microdiscetomy) for pain from a pinched nerve has been a widely accepted treatment... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Not usually: Mild to moderate sciatica from a pinched nerve is a relatively stable condition, with low relative risk for precipitous worsening. Return to play, wi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 77-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Ask your surgeon: If you are having surgery, be sure the lines of communication are wide open and your surgeon is listening to and answering all of your questions and c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Ask your surgeon: Your surgeon is most familiar with your case. Immediately after any surgery, your surgeon is your best resource.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Yes: The type of surgery will determine the location and size of the scar.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Nerve decompression: A laminectomy describes any procedure where the back bony covering (lamina) of the spine is surgically removed. The purpose is to gain access to the s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Yes: Major spine surgery in menstration women such as scoliosis correction often triggers menstration due to the physiological stress of the surgery. Cycle... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 16-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
More pressure: Coughing, sneezing, or any other activity that causes one to strain or bear down increases the pressure in the abdomen, resulting in increased pressur... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old male asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Different purposes: In scoliosis surgery, the first rod placed during surgery is often used to perform the majority of curve correction, while the second rod is used to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Yes: There is approximately a 5% chance of reherniation immediately after microdiskectomy. After the initial healing phase, the rate of another herniation ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Small But Real Risk: Epidural injections are typically very routine, injections done under x-ray guidance without anesthetic. However, they are not without risk (i.e. Rece... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Genetics: In a research study started in 1991 and published in 2009 (the spine journal 9 pg. 47-59), identical and nonidentical twins were longitudinally studie... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Multiple options: A herniated disk can be treated surgically by minimally invasive excision of the fragment. Prior to resorting to surgery, there are numerous nonsurgic... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Yes: Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal that results in pressure on the nerves within the spine and nerve pain or sciatica in the legs. Stre... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Yes: Anterior cervical fusion surgery is typically very well tolerated and routine, with a smooth recovery. However, because of the proximity of the spinal... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
No: Neurontin/gabapentin is a nerve stabilizing medication that can be helpful for nerve pain. Pain from multilevel disk degeneration originates from the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Fair: There is strong scientific evidence that esi for a pinched nerve from an acute disk herniation can help control symptoms, buy time for recovery, and d... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old male asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Noninvasive Treament: Though the radiology report may read annular tear, as a spine surgeon who has often correlated what was read as an annular tear on an MRI report with ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Nothing surgical: A spine MRI is a test that, if negative, definitively rules out potentially progressive or permanently impairing conditions such as nerve compression,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Yes: Once a spine fusion consolidates, very few restrictions are medically necessary. One should always use good body mechanics and back care techniques wi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Depends on Symptoms: Treatment for a herniated disk with isolated neck or back pain should focus on noninvasive techniques such as therapy, exercises, and short term medic... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 51-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Either: Neuro/ortho spine surgeons can both treat facet arthritis surgically. However, great caution should be taken, as methods to reliably identify patients... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old male asked:
Dr. Stan Leeanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Not directly: Spondylitic myelopathy is spinal cord compression due to arthritic changes of the spine. Recent research has shown that there is a strong genetic comp... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
290
Thank you notes
Jun 6, 2013
I would highly recommend Dr. Lee. He is a dedicated practitioner who’s answers are well thought out and accurate.
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Lee is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Lee is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thanks I am now awaiting another MRI he says I shouldn't have any pain.And I should be sleeping alot with the medication he has me on.Going to see him on the 5th of June but seeing my PCP This Morning...Read More
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! I can now prove to my son to look after his back as he must have a high genetic risk.
HealthTap member
Elaborate, I can stand about6 mins before pain and spasms, feeling spine is about to collapse.Takes my breath.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Michigan Medical School, MI
Graduated 1998MD
Residency
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER. 1998-2003
Awards
Clinical Lecturer, Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School. 2004-2008
Most Influential, Third Place, Ann Arbor Region, MI - Summer
2013
Top Orthopedic Spine Surgeon , First Place, Michigan - Summer
2013
Affiliations
Scoliosis Research Society
North American Spine Society
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
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