Before you commit to surgery or invasive treatment, get a fast, trusted second opinion from board-certified spine experts—all online and HIPAA-compliant.
No referrals
No travel
Just clarity
Spine issues are complex, and not every back or neck pain diagnosis requires surgery. Our spine specialists review your MRI, X-rays, and doctor notes to provide expert insights—so you can avoid unnecessary procedures and choose the treatment that’s right for you.
Up to 60% of spine surgeries are avoidable with the right diagnosis and care plan.
Make confident decisions with evidence-based, unbiased medical guidance.
Fast, Secure, and Personalized
Send us your MRI reports, doctor notes, and any test results via our secure portal.
You’ll be paired with a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic or neurosurgeon who focuses on spine care.
In 48–72 hours, receive a personalized report outlining diagnosis confirmation, alternative treatments, and recommended next steps.
Clear, jargon-free language. No pressure. Just answers.
Our second opinions come from board-certified spine surgeons affiliated with top academic and medical centers. They’re trained in:
Orthopedic Spine Surgeon
Dr. Amit Bhandarkar is a fellowship trained, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon. Dr. Bhandarkar evaluates and treats a wide variety of spine ailments consistent with his comprehensive spine training. His area of focus is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, with special interests in Endoscopic Spine Surgery (the least invasive option) for lumbar disc related disorders.
He has been practicing in Southern Illinois for the last 8 years. He has received combined neurological spine and orthopedic spine fellowship training at University of Alabama at Birmingham and Pediatric Orthopedics and Spine fellowship training at New York University. He has further enriched his spine expertise by a fellowship training in endoscopic spine surgery, Seoul (South Korea) Spinal deformity fellowship at Korea University, Travelling spine fellowship in Sendai, Japan. He also has practiced and trained in Spine Surgery and orthopedics in India and in Maldives.
Pain is the most important symptom that Dr. Bhandarkar addresses on a daily basis. He is one of the few spine surgeons who has integrated Pain in his Spine Surgical practice. He is an empathetic, compassionate physician who listens closely to his patients to help focus his efforts to locate their source of pain.
Dr. Bhandarkar confirms those pain generators with objective tests and formulates a minimally invasive plan, which is at the same time maximally effective at keeping patients pain free and functional for as long as possible. Dr Bhandarkar also calls himself an optimally invasive surgeon which means that if the burden of the pathology is such that smaller procedures cannot address or do justice to the problem completely, he may perform more complex surgeries. However, Instead of doing those complex surgeries he may graduate the patient through lesser invasive options to keep the patients’ pain and function, optimal.
Dr Bhandarkar has an excellent track record and is one of the few spine surgeons experienced in new cutting-edge spine surgical techniques like endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeries, interventional pain management and neuromodulation.
Dr. Bhandarkar has been a keen researcher and has many international publications and presentations to his credit. He is an ardent believer in evidence-based medicine, and practices only those techniques whose results are reproducible and have been proven effective.
Whether performing complex deformity surgery on children in New York or learning Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Spine Surgery in South Korea, international practice and training has provided Dr. Bhandarkar with an insight into patients’ diverse personal backgrounds in a way that helps him relate on a very personal level.
Our goal? To help you avoid unnecessary surgery—and find relief that lasts.
Not sure what your condition is? We can help you understand your diagnosis.
Because when it comes to your spine, every decision matters.
Absolutely. All physicians are board-certified and vetted for their expertise in spine care and surgical decision-making.
Perfect—our specialists can confirm or suggest alternatives to your current treatment plan.
You’ll receive a detailed report and have the option to schedule a virtual consultation if needed.
Yes. Imaging studies like MRIs are essential to our spine second opinion process.
We also review failed back surgeries and can recommend next steps or corrective options.
Before you commit to surgery—or live with pain—get expert guidance from trusted spine specialists.
Request Second Opinion NowNo commitment. All online. Fully confidential.
Have any queries, feel free to reach out to us !