For Brian St. Arnauld, the owner of a local heating business, every day on the job requires strength and mobility. But in January, a sudden twist while reaching for something left him frozen and immobilized.
“I felt something twist in my back, and it was really painful – I could barely walk,” Brian said.
The injury forced him out of work for weeks. A significant challenge for someone who is self-employed.
After visiting his doctor, he underwent an MRI and was diagnosed with a herniated disk. He began treatment, but when the pain didn’t improve, he knew it was time to see a specialist.
“It just wasn’t getting better. I had intense nerve pain and I felt numbness from my foot halfway up my leg to my knee,” he said. “That’s when I met Dr. Dowd.”
Richard Dowd, MD, MS is a neurosurgeon at Southcoast Health Brain & Spine who diagnoses and treats numerous conditions affecting the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Dr. Dowd confirmed Brian’s original diagnosis and quickly scheduled him for lumbar radiculopathy surgery, an option when initial medicinal treatments fail to provide pain relief.
Despite feeling anxious about having his first surgery, Brian explained that Dr. Dowd and his team made him feel completely at ease. “He’s a great doctor, calm, patient, and reassuring. He made sure I knew exactly what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. The office staff were also very communicative and answered all of my questions.”
After the procedure, his recovery included physical therapy and Dr. Dowd encouraged him to stay committed to the plan. The advice paid off with a smooth recovery and at one of his follow-up appointments Dr. Dowd left him with one more piece of encouragement – “Now go live your life.”
In addition to the treatment he received, the speed of care was an added relief for Brian, who was feeling the mental strain of being unable to work. “It wasn’t just physically painful – it was mentally stressful. I felt depressed not being able to work.”
Brian was so moved by his patient experience at Southcoast Health Brain & Spine that he nominated Dr. Dowd as a Southcoast Star through The Grateful Patient program, a meaningful way to recognize the outstanding care he received.
“I’m so thankful for everything Dr. Dowd and his team did for me,” Brian said. “I feel like I got my life back.”
If you would like to honor a Southcoast Health caregiver with an impactful thank you, please visit www.southcoast.org/the-grateful-patient-program/.
Southcoast Health 
