Idaho Falls

Over 12,000 Idahoans have said goodbye to back and neck pain. Dr. Stephen R. Marano is known for treating the tough cases. Stephen Marano, M.D., owner and Medical Director of Spine Surgery of Idaho, knew in grade school that he wanted to be a physician. As one of the first neurosurgeons to establish a practice in Eastern Idaho, he found the perfect area to build his career and start a family. He and his wife Marilyn have raised their three children amid the open landscape and small town charm of Idaho Falls. Dr. Marano is not your typical neurosurgeon. Soft-spoken and unassuming, he sees surgery as the last resort unless it's a neurological emergency. He'd rather apply a conservative method to any spinal or neck injury. Physical therapy, injections, chiropractic and acupuncture are some of his initial approaches. Chiropractic? Acupuncture? Those are fighting words for most surgeons. "I look at medicine differently than many of my colleagues," said the doctor, "I think there is a lot of wisdom in these other forms of medical treatments that have been around thousands of years." When surgery is required, Dr. Marano utilizes new technology. He states that spine and neck surgery is much less invasive today. If a patient had a fractured spine twenty years ago, he would have spent months in bed. Now, with the latest technological advancements, the patient can be walking the next day. Dr. Marano has had remarkable success with spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, work-related spinal injuries, and athletic spinal injuries. He is also the "go-to" doctor for revision surgery for patients who have had failed surgery as well as for patients with "tough cases" who have not found success in resolving their pain and injury. Gary went to see Dr. Marano after a failed fusion surgery. "It was a horrible experience," Gary said. "I was in an unbelievable amount of pain. My surgeon wrote me off and sent me to a pain specialist." Instead, Gary visited Dr. Marano who removed all the original hardware and completely reconstructed the surgery. After two weeks, Gary was off the pain medications he'd been taking for five years. "I had a functional capacity test six months after my surgery," Gary said, "and it showed that my back was stronger than a 40-year-old man who has never had back surgery." These are the kind of extraordinary stories relayed over and over by Dr. Marano's patients. Tamara's first experience with Dr. Marano occurred at 3 a.m. on February 25, 2007, when he performed emergency brain surgery to save her life. When she later began experiencing migraine headaches, she again turned to Dr. Marano for help. He suggested a conservative care approach using physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture and a pain pump to relieve her pain. "He's incredible," Tamara said. "Another neurosurgeon would have done neck surgery when it wasn't needed." Other superlatives used by Dr. Marano's patients are "trustworthy," "hero," "attentive," and "the greatest doctor." Not bad for a boy who once dreamed of being a doctor. Not bad for Eastern Idaho as well. For an appointment, call Spine Surgery of Idaho at 208.497.3097 or visit SpineSurgeryofIdaho.com. For a free pain quiz go to: MyPainQuiz.com 1975 Martha Ave., Suite A, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83404 208.497.3097 SpineSurgeryofIdaho.com patients who have had failed surgery as six months after my surgery," Gary said, than a 40-year-old man who has never These are the kind of extraordinary stories emergency brain surgery to save her life. When she later began experiencing to Dr. Marano for help. He suggested a conservative care approach using physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture and a pain pump to relieve her pain. surgery when it wasn't needed." Other superlatives used by Dr. Marano's After treatment by Dr. Marano, Gary was finally able to stop taking the pain medication he'd been relying on for five years. Tamara was helped two times by Dr. Marano and says, "He's incredible."

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