Rafath Baig, MD

I highly recommend this surgeon. It’s been a year since my surgery and I am still pain-​free!

I only put a star so I could post my comments, this facility is not star worthy. Go to
and put Dr. Rafath Baig’s zip code in 85 206 for Mesa or 85 260 for Scottsdale then click on «Spinal cord exploration or spine fusion surgery» then «search». Dr. Baig’s name doesn’t come up for a recommended surgeon on the site. That should tell you something.

I HIGHLY recommend you go see this surgeon. I went to two other doctors before a friend of mine told me to see him. When I got there he was the one who actually called me back to the room — no doctor does that anymore! He went over my X-​rays with me and we talked about the problems I was having. I had a couple more follow up appointments and every time I just felt very comfortable that he was helping me. The office staff is very good too. They go above and beyond in doing what they can to help me too. Eventually I needed surgery and when I was uneasy about the procedure he told me he would do no more and no less on me than he would to his own mother. I had the surgery and when I woke up i felt better. Even as I recovered, the pain was gone. I finally had my life back! I know there are some bad reviews on here but you can’t please everyone. I suggest you go see what a wonderful man and surgeon he is! He is A++ in my book!

I saw this doctor and he told me I was a good candidate for surgery he didn’t agree with the MRI report after looking at the images but told me that I’d have to quit smoking for 6 weeks before you would even consider doing surgery and the surgery he explained to me was like no big deal he’s done plenty of them so I went home and you tube it the surgery and was horrified. I’ve called for several weeks to get my or his report sent to another neurologist and nothing they say they’re going to send it they never do they suck. I am so sick of the medical field and the people that work with them that they are so incompetent they can’t even fax the report. And if you have Medicare you are really in trouble.
Just got my report from the doctors office half of the report what is correct any other part was made up I hate Doctors they lie in there reports all that schooling and they can’t write a correct report

I am so glad I got a second opinion after seeing this Dr. I brought in my own Mri and x-​Rays that my primary care Dr. sent me to get and then she referred me to this guy saying he’s a conservative surgeon. First of all he seemed offended that I said «oh» when he introduced himself and I was smiling as we shook hands showing I was pleased to meet him. I was just a little caught off guard because he himself came to get me from the waiting room and he made a comment that made me feel very awkward and made him look offended that I didn’t know he was the Dr. Then as soon as we walked in the room he had my Mri on the laptop and he showed me my herniated disc which I knew I had. And he said that my only option is surgery. I asked if there are any other conservative options first and he said no and that my herniated disc was too large and nothing can make it go back into place without having surgery. Not once did he ask me my symptoms or how I’m feeling! Nor did he take a look at me other than just check my reflexes. My appointment was over in 10 – 15 min and I was in tears. He never once made me feel at ease. On the contrary when I had a question of concern I read about for this kind of surgery, he dismissed it by saying how that was the least of my concerns when he’s working with my spinal chord and he started listing all these much more scary complications that could happen and I was so overwhelmed by all the things he said that it scared the hell out of me! So he definitely didn’t put me at ease. Honesty is appreciated but he was annoyed by the only one complication I asked him about. Long story short I went to see Dr. at the Barrow Neurological Associates and was told that he has seen worse herniated discs than mine that have healed or have been managed without surgery! He also told me that surgery is a very last resort and insurance companies always like to see conservative options first. Plus I wasn’t at a disability with my neck which is also a reason to make surgery a first option. I am so happy I didn’t stick with Dr. Baig because now I am receiving therapy which is helping me! I would have given Dr. Baig and his office zero stars if I could because they were very pushy trying to schedule me in to receive surgery in that same month that I first met them and they sent me a high priced bill for only being in with the Dr. for a 15 minute visit telling me I need surgery! He also has bad bedside manners and gets offended easily! Who wants a surgeon or Dr. like that?!

I had neck fusion surgery ¹²⁄₂₀₁₃. I’d been in such pain for months and was delighted to wake up in recovery and to have no pain! In the year since then I have made a full recovery and have complete range of motion in my neck. While Dr Baig may not have the best patient-​doctor inter action, he is a great surgeon and I’d most certainly recommend him. I had done research on my own and knew about post surgery treatment needed.

PLEASE KNOW THAT I GAVE ONE STAR TO BE ABLE TO POST THIS REVIEW Dr. Baig gets NO STARS. After waiting a month for an appointment, my husband and I waited in the lobby for 90 minutes, got in the exam room and the Dr. asks for the reports. REALLY. U mean the reports that I faxed when I made the appointment. so we had to RESCHEDULE. I was pissed because I left work early and got nothing, I left the office and he told my husband «you should tell your wife to calm down, this is not a quick process» EXCUSE ME. WHAT!!! Came back and he sent us for a mylogram. Ok, never did that one before. Did the mylogram, came back. He said our only option was surgery. Mind you, my husband had anterior cervical fusion on 4 levels in 2007, so we were NOT jumping into another surgery just like that. I asked what other options there were besides the highly invasive laminectomy that most people recover horribly from. He went round and round as if we were going to say «ok schedule it» when he realized I was serious he suggested pain management. Did that, lasted about a month. Decided to get a third opinion (Dr. Baig was the second). Since that appointment Dr. Baigs office has been requesting the surgery notes by fax from St. Joes. When I called to inquire if the reports had been received the medical records girl told ME to call and check in it. I called St. Joes and picked up the records within 48 hours. And that equals ZERO stars… Called Mayo clinic, the hospital that invented minimally invasive spinal surgery. Got an appointment within one week of sending reports. Did an MRI with contrast on site, went to the consult on the SAME DAY! The Dr. asked. Who is this Dr. Baig? He asked what we were told. Surgery and so on, the Mayo Dr. Shook his head in disbelief. Conclusion — My husband has some scar tissue from the previous surgery, some nerve damage that can be helped with therapy. And no bulging discs. The Dr. Couldn’t see ANY REASON to go into his spine again… My recommendation, fill out an on line appointment request at Mayo Clinic.

I am so happy with not being in pain anymore! I have arthritis so bad and was in pain when I first saw Dr Baig in August of 2012. One thing I really liked about Dr Baig was that he wasn’t in a hurry to jump into surgery without trying non invasive treatments first. I tried physical therapy and 3 months of pain management which included lumbar injections to stop pain and reduce inflammation, unfortunately these didn’t work for me. I had surgery in 2013. Everything went well & was up and walking the next day. Evening of day 2 following surgery I had a hematoma (brain bleed type stroke) while in the hospital. The 3 day I thank God that Dr. Baig came by on his day off to see how I was doing as he was the only one that noticed something was wrong. None Of the hospital staff noticed even though it was complaining of horrible headaches bad double vision. The next thing I know I am in intensive care for the next week. A hematoma can happen to anyone at anytime. You would think being in a hospital would be the best place to be if you were going to have one! Dr. Baig saved my life and I will alway be grateful. It doesn’t hurt that the lumbar surgery was a success and I’ve gone from pain meds every 3 hrs to no pain meds and no leg or back pain! Dr. Baig is honest and doesn’t sugar coat the truth. I like that, plus it is a great surgeon. Thank you Dr. Baig!

Dr. Baig has poor bedside manner and has no clue how to be a well rounded doctor. He may be a good surgeon (however I would not let him operate on me so I will never find out) but I have been to doctors that care about their patients, that don’t interrupt their patients, and that have some empathy for their patients and that are reasonably punctual). Unfortunately, Dr. Baig during my office visits has exhibited none of these critical characteristics. I know there are much better choices out there unfortunately from Dr Baig’s demeanor it is obvious that he doesn’t know that. His staff is nice, no issues. Also, he was over 40 minutes late to all of my appointments.