NOVA Spine and Injury

Dr. Shaffer is great.
I had surgery on my Achilles tendon and tried several physical therapists for post-​surgery recovery. I kept switching because they did a terrible job. One did more talking than therapy and another was too busy with other patients to do anything other than show me a simple stretching exercise, run off, and then shout at me from across the room to do more repetitions. I had almost given up on physical therapy but decided to give Dr. Shaffer a try.
Dr. Shaffer did a great job. He used a lot of different techniques both to increase my mobility and reduce my pain, and I felt well cared for. I got off of my crutches and out of my walking boot, and my Achilles tendon has never felt better.
I’ve seen Dr. Shaffer for other injuries since then, including a lower back injury and accompanying nerve dysfunction. The chiropractic portion of the treatment was a bit nerve-​wracking at first, but I got used to it and was ecstatic at the relief it provided.
Dr. Shaffer is very knowledgeable and works hard to help. His office is tidy, he takes time to answer my (sometimes stupid) questions, and I have never had to wait to be seen. I would highly recommend him for both physical therapy and chiropractic care.

Was a little hesitate over this place after the curt greeting I got from the receptionist (later found out she was dealing & a computer crash), the after meeting with Dr Shaffer I highly recommend this place. I’ve been having neck pain for years & recently started having leg numbness too, he listened to my concerns immediately. Didn’t railroad the conversation to what he thought it was. Very personable, can’t remember the last time I laughed with a doctor during an appt. The combination of muscle stimulation/​heat, massage therapy, spinal manipulation, then the final laser/​ice treatment had my feeling better when I left.
If you need a good place to go for pain relief, go here.

I suffered from EXCRUCIATING pain for over a year and a half due to a herniated L5/​S1 disc in my lower back. I had unbearable pain in my lower back and buttocks as well as sciatica due to the pressure from the herniation on my nerves. I was to the point that no position (sitting, laying, standing, etc) was comfortable. Following an MRI and consultation with an orthopedic surgeon, I was officially considered a «surgery candidate». Surgery was not an option for me and I decided that I would exhaust all other measures before considering it. I scoured the internet for information on non-​invasive forms of treatment and personal stories from anyone who had dealt with this form of pain/​injury. After much research, I discovered something called IDD (Internal Disc Decompression). IDD basically creates a vacuum effect (or maybe more accurately known as negative pressure) inside the herniated disc and helps restore the disc to its original shape and create a healing environment. I was convinced I needed to try this and upon researching in the NOVA area, I found Dr. Shaffer offered this therapy. To level set expectations, you will also ABSOULTELY need physical therapy in conjunction with this treatment!
My experience with Dr. Shaffer and his practice were positive from the moment I first interacted with them. Before booking an appointment, I called the office and explained my situation to the gentleman at the front desk who listened intently. He suggested I speak with Dr. Shaffer directly, took down my information and once Dr. Shaffer had finished with his last patient, he called me back personally. He spent over 30 minutes listening to my story and answering questions I had about what I could expect if I came in. Feeling pleased with his attentiveness, I booked my appointment with him for the very next day.
I started seeing Dr. Shaffer in January, 2011. My pain level was absolutely a 10 (on a scale of 1 – 10). I had trouble doing basic every-​day things (putting on socks/​shoes/​etc, shaving my legs, picking things up off the floor, etc). As previously mentioned, I was uncomfortable in every position, I was mostly immobile, had very limited range of motion to do anything, had no reaction when Dr. Shaffer tested my reflexes in my left leg at all. My treatment with Dr. Shaffer included a variety of modalities which consisted of E-​stim, laser therapy, INTENSE physical therapy (designed around my pain threshold), manipulations, massages, and IDD therapy. I walked out of his office in May 2011 (5 months later) with absolutely no pain at all. Did he push me hard? Yes. Were there days where I felt sick because he pushed me to my physical limits? You bet! Did I ever go home sore? Absolutely! BUT… ANY person that can take my pain from a 10 to a 0 will hear my praises, and Dr. Shaffer is that guy! He is wonderful and has a great personality (and contagious laugh) that made going to these sessions surprisingly fun. He’s straight forward and to the point and tells you what you NEED to hear so that he can get you back to your healthiest state. If you’re not going to him, you absolutely should be!

I was one of those people who didn’t believe in chiropractors. «Oh, it’s a junk science. If my back hurts, the only remedy is medication…» Well, Dr. Shaffer totally changed my view on that.
I’m a pretty common case: I work 10 to 6 in an office job, sitting in front of a PC all day. I didn’t keep up with exercising as my graduate school work became more and more demanding. This led to me waking up with back pain in the 6 to 8 range. I even self-​diagnosed myself with fibromyalgia and sciatica.
The multi-​faceted approach that Dr. Shaffer uses is what really sets him apart. It’s not like «come in for an adjustment and you’ll feel better.» He’s one of those honest doctors that want you to recover and, eventually, not need him anymore. I wasn’t quite able to complete all the exercise training due to other obligations, but I learned enough to get by. I have not seen Dr. Shaffer in over a month, but my pain is still down in the 0 – 1 range.
Dr. Shaffer also doesn’t do quackery practices such as recommending herbal remedies or «maintenance adjustments.» A healthy spine does not need maintenance. He will lay out a plan of treatment and get you better, without having to become a «frequent flier» at the his office.
So no, I guess I don’t have fibromyalgia after all. Darn.

I just went there for the first time today. The staff was really friendly and the doctor was great too. I’ve been to a chiropractor before and this one was really nice. They were able to work with my insurance provider and provide me with a good rate. THey have pretty flexible hours and this allows me to go after work. Right now my back feels great but I will continue to update this review throughout the process!

Injured my knee from overuse hiking/​running back in February. I went to my general doctor first who said it was tendonitis. Four weeks later the pain was much worse to the point where I could barely walk or put weight on my right leg. I called Dr. Shaffer and was seen in a few days. He was pretty quick to diagnose it as ITB (iliotibial band syndrome), and put together a roughly 6 – 8 week recovery plan. I saw him twice a week for just over 6 weeks and thankfully I can say now I am much better off! I have completed two 5k races and a 26 mile 2 day hike since my therapy has ended, and overall my knee seems to be holding up. Still some slight discomfort, but I am working on that with strengthening and stretching, as well as using a foam roller.
Dr. Shaffer is easy going, easy to talk too, and seems very knowledgeable. His office is great, modern, and comfortable. His staff was great to work with as well. Overall great experience, and I will be back to see Dr. Shaffer again if need be. (hopefully not)

I highly recommend Nova Spine and Injury practice run by Dr. Shaffer (Doctor of Chiropractic medicine). After having tried massage therapy, pain killers, and personal training, to relieve persistent low back pain (with a sudden catching spasm and sharp pain), upper back pain often leading to tension headaches and muscle spasms, I decided to try and look for a chiropractic advice. My research led me to Dr. Shaffer’s website, which convinced me that he was reliable enough to give it a try (most people do not trust chiropractors and neither did I). With a first visit, Dr. Shaffer explained what possible causes of persistent pain might be in my situation and what the course of treatment would be and approximately how long it would take. I like to know what is going on with me and why, and to have an intelligent chiropractic doctor whose up to speed with current medical research in the area of pain, spine, and neuro-​muscular physiology is a plus. I have been in treatment for 3 weeks now, and have improved a lot (I do not need pain killers any more for pain management; I do not wake up due to pain so sleep is better; I started working out again; and the pain does not distract me from work any more). I still have a ways to go to become completely pain-​free but for the first time I have hope that I can have a normal life again when I can sleep without pain (by early morning I used to wake up just because back pain would become severe and keep me awake), workout without muscular spasms, pick up our toddler without fear of dropping a child due to muscular pain, and feel energetic again. Dr. Shaffer’s program includes among all the pain-​relieving treatments a «neuro-​muscular re-​education» (using his words) where through carefully chosen exercises, he teaches you how to perform core-​strengthening exercises correctly. His goal is to have you pain-​free and strong so that you can enjoy life again. I highly recommend Dr. Shaffer’s practice and treatment to anyone who is suffering from persistent back pain, neck pain, headaches, and other muscular-​skeletal pain.

Dr. Shaffer is the coolest chiro in the country. Lot of personality, very clean and modern setup at his place making it stand out from typical chiropractor offices. It’s like a little gym in there with his cool gadgets he uses to train you to recover from your injury. He also has the coolest music collection on his Ipod which makes me a music guru want to copy his play list onto mine. He plays all types of hip and urban music which distracts you from the pain you might be feeling. It is conveniently located at the Fairfax Corner Shopping Center right next to Ben and Jerry’s.
Well anyways enough about the place but about the medical service which is yours and my priority. I had tension headaches and low back pain from years of poor posture and after a few sessions I was relieved of my pain in both areas. He’s really talented and has great pain relieving skills to get you up and running again. I like the fact he is honest and does not make you commit to a million sessions if you don’t need it unlike other chiropractors out there. You can expect to get there with gym gear on or bring it with you. He has spare gym shorts if you do not bring any.
When you get there sign in on the computer and fill in your progress with an idiot proof pain management program. Change in gym gear and lay down to receive your electrical stimulation with a heat pad depending where your pain is located. Then go to his office to receive a quick therapeutic massage to be followed by adjustments as determined by Dr.Shaffer. Then the fun starts with some exercises to strengthen parts of your body to prevent pain from developing again. The exercises are strenuous but his therapy isn’t complete without it. After completing some exercises you get to ice and receive additional therapy e.g. laser, decompression, etc as needed. Strongly recommend Dr. Shaffer for his medical work expertise and definitely because of his unique office setup! Woohoo! As good as it gets!

This is the second chiropractor I have ever been to in my life when truly and honestly needed. I have a jaw condition called anterior disc displacement with reduction which basically causes extreme jaw pain, neck pain, back pain and headaches. Not to mention the trouble eating some foods and sounding like a popcorn machine.
I was being treated with medication to alleviate the pain and inflammation when my oral surgeon suggested I go to a physical therapist/​chiropractor to see what type of adjustments and/​or deep tissue work he might be able to do. So off I went, not knowing what to expect.
I went out looking for reviews or tips from friends who may have been treated, but there isn’t a lot of information or reviews out there on chiropractors. Hence the Unilocal account!
First of all — Dr. Shaffer is exactly the kind of doctor you want to have in any situation. Up front and direct. I always heard that chiropractors are like bad mechanics — they take your money without doing the stated repairs. This is not the case with Dr. Shaffer.
I’ve been going 2 — 3 times per week for nearly four weeks now and my neck/​back/​jaw pain is Significantly (with a big capital S) reduced to the point where I no longer thing about it ²⁴⁄₇ and honestly have a better quality of life.
He let me know what progress is being made and also discusses «what if» he can’t do anything for me at a certain point. I completely appreciate the direct and honest diagnosis and reporting.
The space is great — centrally located in Fairfax Corner. Décor is relaxing and casual. Not your typical musty or clinical medical park office. Bonus points for having amazing music playing on every visit (makes me want to copy his iPod) which makes for a great atmosphere. As a person, he’s easy to work with and is a funny guy which surely helps when the deep tissue work isn’t so pleasant at the time of delivery…
Four stars for an all around great experience, maybe five if I am totally healed at the end :-)