Dr Lettice is honestly and answer to my prayers. For yeeeears I've been seeing specialist for my back and all said they couldn't find an explanation for my severe, disabling pain and kinda make me feel like a liar or a hypochondriac. They often made comments like "oh you have Fibromyalgia so you don't understand that the pain is not actually something wrong with your spine" or " you have an autoimmune condition and it must be depressing to live like that and that can affect how you feel pain". Really making me feel like it was in my head,even though I had a baseline MRI and yearly MRIs for 4-5 years each showing changes in stenosis,degeneration and other things. I baby my back, I stretch, I don't work or strain my back, I take a very strong immune suppression drug to keep my immune system from going after my back? So, how could I keep getting worse and this not mean anything???? I was referred to Dr Lettice by a lovely woman at El Camino hospital who said he specializes in complex cases and she thought he would be a good fit for me. I called, spoke with Diane who is amazing and got me in right away. I was Embarrassingly late for my appointment and assumed I wouldn't be seen but hoped to drop off images and reports and cross my fingers that he was the type of doctor who would look at them. Nope! I was seen in a matter of minutes by Dr Lettice. He came in calm, not rushed, sat next to me and spoke with a gentle tone and was insanely thorough. He was Kind and patient and explained what he saw, what was happening, answered all my questions and then FINALLY I got a diagnosis and a game plane for treatment!!!! I wanted to cry, for the first time in 5 years someone said YES you do have pain and YES I can help you!!! I researched my diagnosis and it was to a T! How did everyone from Stanford to Palo Alto to several private practice spine specialist not know about this condition??? I feel so honored to be able to get treatment from Dr Lettice. It breaks my heart that so many of us suffer for so long, being told it's in our head when we really are sick. This gentleman is cut from a different cloth. Compassion, empathy, understanding, knowledgeable and competent. I just can't say enough about how this one appointment has changed my life and given me so much hope. From the beginning 4+ years ago, I was told I would need to continue to use my wheelchair and walker till "I'm bad enough for surgery, when I'm in my 40's"! For the past 4 years I was living everyday in pain, depressed and defeated just counting the days that would get me to 40. That was 8 years away when this started to get severe. What a terrible way to live. I feel like I am My old self again mentally because for once I have Hope. I want to make plans and live life more because this isn't the end of my story, it's just a chapter. Thank you Diane and Dr Lettice. You both are incredible people. I hope you know how extraordinary you are and how you are changing peoples lives for the better in so many ways. Thank you so much!!! read more

Dr Lettice and Diane are excellent and caring health care professionals. I have been on 1 1/2 year journey to find out what is causing my severe lower back pain, Dr. Lettice did many tests and procedures to find out the culprit of this chronic pain. Sadly nothing showed up from all the diagnostic procedures. They did everything to try to help me and were incredibly compassionate to my suffering. My next step is going to a pain doctor to help me deal and maybe find a solution for me, he is supposed to be a excellent physician, my appointment is a month from today, the waiting... I would highly recommend going to this physician if you have any lower back or spinal problems. Thanks to both of you for my excellent treatment! read more

I went to Dr. Lettice about my severe back pain, and he quickly determined at what age I had had the injury, and what the course of action was. Within a few months, I had spinal fusion surgery that lasted 11 hours at Los Gatos' El Camino Hospital. The surgery was successful, with no side effects. I am now recovering quickly and feel none of the severe pain I used to suffer from. Dr. Lettice's bedside manner is excellent; he is patient, friendly, and kind. He's always been welcoming of the family members I bring into the room! Dr. Lettice patiently explains every aspect of my surgery, including the risks, exactly what he'd be doing, and how my recovery would come along. Needless to say, none of what I experienced came as a surprise to me. Dr. Lettice made sure I knew everything going in. I am particularly impressed by how Dr. Lettice expects me to be responsible with my intake of painkillers. We have regular follow-ups now. If anyone I know has back issues, I will be sure to send them to Dr. Lettice! read more

Dr. Lettice is nothing short or amazing! My back pain, hip pain and pinched nerve had affected my quality of life to a point of not being able to function on a daily basis. After an initial consult and follow up visit with Dr.Lettice after my MRI, he went over all of my options, but explained that if I ever wanted to feel good again, I needed a spinal fusion of my L4/L5 and L5/S1 due to my Spondylolisthesis. I felt so comfortable and confident in Dr. Lettice's knowledge and expertise in having performed over 2500 back surgeries, I scheduled my surgery. Not only did Dr. Lettice and Dr. Kula repair my back successfully, they also discovered that I was born with Spina Bifida Occulta. After a 10 hour surgery, I am now pain free! I am in my 7th week of recovery and other than some stiffness and some soreness, I feel like I've been given a new lease on life! Dr. Lettice is an amazing surgeon with a wonderful bedside manner. Diane, his office manager is a super star and does an amazing job working with the insurance company! The entire team at El Camino Hospital including Dr. Kelley, the anesthesiologist, are amazing. I can't thank Dr. Lettice and Dr. Kula enough for restoring my quality of life! read more

Doctor Lettice saved my life. When I met him I could only stand for 4 minutes. I was in so much pain! I didn't know that the bottom of my back was missing. I had a 10 hour surgery with a huge team. In just months later, I am able to walk again without any walker. I can stand up straight after 30 years. I recommend him to ANYBODY that is in severe pain. read more

Exactly one year ago Dr. Lettice did my 3-level lumbar fusion, and i continue to be active and pain-free. In fact, i skied last week for the first time since the surgery-- 5-days in a row!-- with no pain, even on the bumps. A year ago i couldn't even roll over in bed or step in to a car without unbearable pain. Thanks to Dr. Lettice I am enjoying all the activities i thought i might never be able to experience again. His skill and compassion truly helped save my life. read more

I am so thankful to Dr. Lettice and Diane. My dad had a herniated disk in his back about a year ago that he had surgically addressed, but a couple weeks ago it re-herniated. He has been in immense pain ever since, can barely walk and can only sit or stand for half an hour at a time. He had a consult for a recommended surgeon a month and a half from now. I couldn't bear to let him wait so long in so much pain so I collected a list of orthopedic surgeons in the area that take our insurance and started vetting them on yelp. Dr. Lettice was the highest rated surgeon I found so I called to see when the next available appointment was, with not much hope. Diane picked up the phone and was very kind and sympathetic to my dad's situation. She asked me a few questions and then let me know that due to a cancellation, he could have an appointment the very next day! She emailed my parents the new patient forms (within several minutes of hanging up!) so that they could fill them out beforehand and not have to waste any of their appointment time. She also double checked with me that our insurance is accepted by their practice, which I really appreciated. My parents were ecstatic after the appointment. They said Dr. Lettice was kind, intelligent, and a very responsible doctor (and that Diane was just as sweet and helpful in person as she had been on the phone). He gave my dad a new medication to address the pain (none of the pain medication my dad's neurologist had prescribed was working and he wasn't being responsive to requests to change the medication or the dose). Dr. Lettice gave my dad the option of monitoring the situation rather than rushing into surgery (very nice that he wasn't pushy at all), but my dad wants to have the surgery as soon as possible to he can heal and be active again. Dr. Lettice accepted his decision and promised to process the insurance forms immediately after the appointment so that they can schedule the surgery as soon as the insurance goes through. Since he is a private practice he has a more flexible schedule for book in surgeries, another thing we greatly appreciated. He chatted with my parents about their work and seemed like an all around nice guy. He's been practicing for over 30 years so he must be a pretty solid surgeon too! Their only minor complaint was that he must be a smoker because he smelled very heavily of smoke for the first half of the appointment. My dad was originally wary of choosing a surgeon based on Internet reviews, but Dr. Lettice completely won him over. On the drive home, my mom asked my dad if he still wanted to wait and get a second opinion from the Stanford Clinic. My dad answered, "Stanford who?" read more

Best Medical experience I've ever had. About 15 years ago, i sustained a sports injury, which damaged the structure of my cervical spine and caused intense daily pain. I've spent 15 years searching for a solution and every Dr. told me they could not identify or resolve the issue. I went through Acupuncture, Physical Therapy, and Chiropractic care without a solution. Each Dr. I met with wanted to kill the nerves and pushed towards this option. I was referred to Dr. Lettice and told if anyone could resolve my issue it would be Dr. Lettice. My 1st visit was 2 hours long. Dr. Lettice was excellent.. He is the most accomplished Dr. I have met yet had no ego. He listened to everything I said instead of dismissing my info like every other Dr. I met with did. he conducted X-Rays and identified my problem that day and informed me of the process he would use to correct my issue and alleviate the pain. After surgery, the pain I endured for 15 years is gone and the incision site is looks great and is not noticeable on my neck. Every interaction was an A Level experience. Diane (Dr. Lettice's Administrative Assistant) is wonderfully pleasant and fully reliable. There was a large amount of administrative work that needed to be cared for with this process and Diane was great through all of it My care and well being was top priority and it was evident through the entire process. Thank you for giving me my life back. read more

After years of debilitating back pain, ineffective physical therapy, countless wasted doctors appointments & no clear diagnosis-I came to Dr. Lettice. I was an inch away from hopelessness. I felt like I was never going to be able to live the life I wanted. This might seem dramatic but if you suffer from chronic back/nerve pain, you understand. 10 minutes into my consultation with Dr. Lettice, I knew more about my back then I had learned in 4 years. He took his time to answer all of my questions and gave me multiple options & suggestions. After I left, I decided that I was going to have a spinal fusion (L5-S1). I always swore off the idea of having back surgery. Everyone makes it seem so scary and painful but Dr. Lettice made me feel so confident in his ability to fix me. I knew that it couldn't get worse that what I was currently going thru. Diane was also so helpful. She helped me thru any and all insurance issues & she was always such a pleasure to speak with. The surgery was done at El Camino Hospital Los Gatos. After the surgery, Dr. Lettice & his team visited me daily in the hospital. I am about 6 months post-op & I have my life back. I have NEVER felt better. I feel like I owe my life to these people. Diane, Dr. Lettice and the rest of his team are as good as it gets. So so so grateful! read more

Dr. Lettice gave me my life back. I couldn't walk more than a few minutes before the surgery after the surgery, no more nerve pain. The entire experience was really good with special work done by the anesthesiologist and the team at El Camino Los Gatos. I would highly recommend Dr. Lettice to anyone thinking of back surgery. read more

Dr. Lettice is really experienced, explains things very well and has an amazing bedside manner. My wife went to him for some really bad back and leg pain as a result of a tear in her disc which was impairing a nerve and bone issues with the nerve. She had 3 spinal injections in the past 14 months and they stopped working. . After a visit, initial consult, it was determined she needed a discectomy, lamonectomy and some hardware inserted. Big surgery, however dr lettice set expectations and now a month after surgery the leg pain is all but gone and she can walk close to a mile (has not been able to do that in several months). It's a long recovery but so much better. Diane in the office is just amazing to work with as well. Thank you dr Lettice! read more

I had a wonderful surgeon in 2009 who repaired my aortic aneurysm and saved my life. I would rate Dr. Lettice (pronounced like the salad green, but no relation) and his partner Dr. Kula just as highly. They gave me back my quality of life. I had a spine injury when I was a gymnast at age 13, and had moderate back pain everyday until I started chiropractic care in my 20s. Then the pain was minor and occasional. Then 15 years, 100 pounds, and two pregnancies later, my low back pain became really bothersome. In less than a year, the leg pain started, then it got so bad I needed opioids and a walker just to get out of bed. I had spondylolisthesis, and it was pinching the nerves to my legs. My muscles were atrophying and any position other than laying on my back on a good mattress caused pain, numbness, and spasm in my back, hips, and legs. I wanted the best surgeons I could find, and I wanted to be at an El Camino hospital because they are the best. I am now 3 1/2 months post-op (L4-S1 fusion)and I feel like I have my life back. I am walking well, off of the pain meds, having very, very little pain, and can do just about anything with the exceptions of heavy lifting, bending over, and sitting for long periods. My endurance is nearing what it was before the pain started a year ago. I am also about 3/4 of an inch taller. :-) Specific things I liked about my experiences: My first visit was with Dr. Kula. He looked at my x-rays and MRI and diagnosed the issue and said the solution is surgery but we could put it off a bit and try a steroid epidural injection to help with the pain. The doctor he recommended for that was excellent. He was also clear that my problem was not my fault and not caused by my weight. (As a large woman I get so tired of, and angry at, doctors who insist that I have no right to complain about anything because I obviously deserve to feel bad because I'm fat.) The shot worked, somewhat, for the pain, but not the weakness and numbness so I decided to move forward with surgery. So he handed me off to Dr. Lettice. When I saw Dr. Lettice, he was familiar with my films before walking into the room. He was the first of a dozen doctors who have seen x-rays of my spine to point to the picture and say "Right here you can see that some time before you were skeletally mature, your spine suffered a trauma and continued to grow in this odd shape to compensate for this change in the arrangement of your vertebrae." He then took my software engineer of a husband in hand and explained to him in detail the problem and the surgery that would fix it. We left confident in him and the procedure. They have ONE anesthesiologist that they use. Dr. Kelley called me before the operation and talked to me at length about my previous experiences and history and my expectations. He does not leave the OR for any reason during the operation, as long as it takes. Obviously, they did a great job on my back. The incision scar is the most beautiful one in my collection. Dr. Lettice was in my hospital room EVERY SINGLE DAY after my surgery, and I was in for 10 days, including Super Bowl Sunday. I am so happy with my results and the experience. I had some issues with the pain control in the first days after surgery, but that was nursing not the doctor. It worked out. His office staff is excellent. I am looking forward to a more active and less painful life. read more

After 3 previous surgeries and many procedures over 8 years my back and pain was worse than ever. On a referral I saw Dr. Lettice and learned more about my condition in my first appt than all the years w/ previous drs and surgeons. After my surgery to correct a failed fusion I now have my life back, thank you Dr. Lettice! read more

Originally, I was referred to a Dr. at Stanford Hospital in Redwood City, but the procedure she wanted me to go through was take care of scoliosis and discs in my neck as well as the primary pain site, L 4/5. That seemed extreme to me so I searched further. Then I was referred to Dr. John J. Lettice. Diane answered the phone and was so very nice and answered my questions and made an appointment for me. When I had my appointment with Dr. Lettice and he was very kind, explained what he saw in the x-rays and MRI's from Stanford . He told me that at my age and what he saw in the x-rays, he felt that I only needed to address the L4/5 bone spurs that were pressing against my spinal cord nerve and and bulging discs. He showed and my husband exactly where he would be doing the surgery and explained what he would be doing in surgery to relieve my pain. I asked about the discs in the neck area and he said it was best to do one thing at a time. He told me after surgery that one of the bone spurs was growing into my spinal cord and that was the greatest cause of pain. As I started to walk and heal, I found that the neck pain disappeared. Apparently, my walking in such a stooped position with my head raised to see where I was going was causing my neck pain. I have no neck pain any longer so surgery there is unnecessary. He only did what was necessary and so my recovery is shorter and I am moving about pain free now as long as I keep proper posture. How grateful I am that I went to see Dr. Lettice. He gave me a pain free life again and now I have graduated to water therapy to strengthen my back which I am happy to begin. read more