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Dr. Richard Thunder, MD

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedic Trauma Specialist

La Jolla, CA

Accepting patients

Affiliated with a Castle Connolly Top Hospital

    Who is Dr. Thunder, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon in La Jolla, CA?

    Dr. Richard Thunder, MD is an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, who primarily practices in La Jolla, CA with 1 additional practice location. He is board certified. Dr. Thunder graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Stanford Univ Hosp, Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Thunder is fluent in English and Spanish, and is currently seeing new patients. Dr. Thunder’s practice accepts Kaiser Permanente, Medicaid, Medicare and other major insurance plans. To book an appointment or to confirm insurance options, please call Dr. Thunder’s office at (858) 535-1075.

    Where did Dr. Thunder go to medical school and complete their residency?

    • Residency: Stanford Univ Hosp, Orthopedic Surgery | Stanford Hospital and Clinics Program

    • Medical School: Stanford Univ Sch Of Med- Stanford Ca | Stanford University School of Medicine

    Is Dr. Thunder board certified as an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon?

    Yes, Dr. Richard Thunder, MD is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

    What languages does Dr. Thunder speak?

    Dr. Thunder and their clinical team can communicate with patients in the following languages:

    • English
    • Spanish

    What conditions does an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon like Dr. Thunder typically treat?

    As an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, Dr. Thunder diagnoses, treats, and manages a wide range of conditions. This condition information is derived from anonymized insurance claims and highlights the medical conditions most commonly treated by Dr. Thunder. It provides insight into the doctor’s areas of experience and expertise based on real-world patient encounters from the past two years, updated quarterly. Learn more about our claims-based healthcare methodology.

    Also known as:

    • Low Back Pain
    • Back Pain
    • Lumbago
    • Lower Back Ache
    • Backache

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • M5450: Low back pain, unspecified

    Also known as:

    • Osteoarthritis of the left knee
    • Primary Osteoarthritis in Right Knee
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Degenerative joint disease
    • Wear-and-tear arthritis
    • Arthrosis
    • Joint degeneration
    • Right Knee Arthritis
    • Right Knee Degenerative Joint Disease

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • M1712: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee
    • M1711: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee

    Also known as:

    • Lower Back Spinal Stenosis
    • Spinal Stenosis
    • Narrowing of Lower Back Spinal Canal
    • Lumbar Spinal Canal Narrowing
    • Lumbar Stenosis

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • M48061: Spinal stenosis, lumbar region without neurogenic claudication

    Also known as:

    • Pain in Right Knee
    • Knee Injuries and Disorder
    • Pain
    • Right Knee Ache
    • Right Knee Discomfort
    • Sore Right Knee

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • M25561: Pain in right knee

    Also known as:

    • Neck Pain
    • Neck Injuries and Disorder
    • Cervical Pain
    • Sore Neck
    • Neck Ache

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • M542: Cervicalgia

    What procedures does an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon like Dr. Thunder typically perform?

    As an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, Dr. Thunder performs a variety of medical procedures. This procedure information is derived from anonymized insurance claims and highlights the medical procedures most commonly performed by Dr. Thunder. It provides insight into the doctor’s areas of experience and expertise based on real-world patient encounters from the past two years, updated quarterly. Learn more about our claims-based healthcare methodology.

    Also known as:

    • Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery
    • Laminectomy
    • Facetectomy
    • Foraminotomy
    • Spinal Stenosis Surgery

    CPT Codes:

    • 63047: Laminectomy, facetectomy and foraminotomy (unilateral or bilateral with decompression of spinal cord, cauda equina and/or nerve root[s], [eg, spinal or lateral recess stenosis]), single vertebral segment; lumbar

    Also known as:

    • Lumbar Disc Herniation Surgery
    • Lumbar Laminotomy
    • Herniated Disc Decompression (Lower Back)
    • Microdiscectomy (Lumbar)

    CPT Codes:

    • 63030: Laminotomy (hemilaminectomy), with decompression of nerve root(s), including partial facetectomy, foraminotomy and/or excision of herniated intervertebral disc; 1 interspace, lumbar

    Also known as:

    • Additional Spinal Decompression Segment
    • Laminectomy for Spinal Stenosis
    • Facetectomy for Nerve Decompression
    • Foraminotomy for Pinched Nerve

    CPT Codes:

    • 63048: Laminectomy, facetectomy and foraminotomy (unilateral or bilateral with decompression of spinal cord, cauda equina and/or nerve root[s], [eg, spinal or lateral recess stenosis]), single vertebral segment; each additional vertebral segment, cervical, thoracic, or lumbar (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

    Also known as:

    • Joint or Bursa Injection/Fluid Removal
    • Arthrocentesis
    • Major Joint Aspiration
    • Bursa Injection
    • Joint Fluid Removal

    CPT Codes:

    • 20610: Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, major joint or bursa (eg, shoulder, hip, knee, subacromial bursa); without ultrasound guidance

    Also known as:

    • Total Hip Replacement
    • Hip Replacement
    • Hip arthroplasty
    • Artificial hip surgery
    • Hip joint replacement
    • Femoral head replacement

    CPT Codes:

    • 27130: Arthroplasty, acetabular and proximal femoral prosthetic replacement (total hip arthroplasty), with or without autograft or allograft

    Also known as:

    • Total Knee Replacement
    • Knee Replacement
    • Total Knee Arthroplasty
    • Knee Joint Replacement
    • Full Knee Replacement
    • TKA Surgery

    CPT Codes:

    • 27447: Arthroplasty, knee, condyle and plateau; medial AND lateral compartments with or without patella resurfacing (total knee arthroplasty)

    Also known as:

    • Trigger Point Injection
    • Muscle Pain Injection
    • Myofascial Trigger Point Injection
    • Trigger Point Release Injection

    CPT Codes:

    • 20552: Injection(s); single or multiple trigger point(s), 1 or 2 muscle(s)

    Also known as:

    • Spine Allograft Placement
    • Spinal Bone Graft
    • Osteopromotive Material Spine
    • Donor Bone Graft Spine
    • Spine Fusion Material

    CPT Codes:

    • 20930: Allograft, morselized, or placement of osteopromotive material, for spine surgery only (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

    Does Dr. Thunder accept my insurance?

    Dr. Thunder accepts most major insurance plans. Important: Please call our office at (858) 535-1075 before your appointment to verify that your specific plan and network are accepted.

    What insurance plans does Dr. Thunder accept in La Jolla, CA?

    Dr. Thunder in La Jolla, CA accepts plans from many carriers. While this list is updated regularly, it is not a guarantee of coverage.

    Top Insurances

    • Alignment Healthcare

    • Blue Shield of California

    • Cigna Group

    • CVS Health (formerly Aetna)

    • Federal government of the United States

    • Humana

    • Medicare

    • Other Health Care Provider

    • State of California

    • UnitedHealth Group

    View All Insurances

    Where is Dr. Thunder's office located?

    Dr. Richard Thunder's Primary Practice

    9850 Genesee Ave Ste 210

    La Jolla, CA 92037

    (858) 535-1075

    Get Directions

    Dr. Richard Thunder's Practice 2

    12865 Pointe del Mar Way Ste 200

    Del Mar, CA 92014

    Get Directions

    What is Dr. Thunder's NPI number?A National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a unique ID number that identifies doctors and healthcare providers nationwide.

    Dr. Thunder's National Provider Identifier (NPI) number is 1780602276.

    What common questions do patients ask about Dr. Thunder?

    Here are answers to patients Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about Dr. Thunder

    What is Dr. Richard Thunder's specialty?

    Dr. Thunder is an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon near La Jolla, CA.

    What does an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon do?

    Orthopaedic surgeons specializing in the spine, recognized by several state medical boards as a fellowship subspecialty of orthopaedic surgery, focus on the evaluation and treatment for both nonoperative and operative of a wide range of primary spinal disorders. These include trauma, degenerative conditions, deformities, tumors, and reconstructive issues related to the spine.

    Is Dr. Richard Thunder affiliated with a ranked Castle Connolly Top Hospital?

    Yes, Dr. Thunder is affiliated with Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Scripps Green Hospital, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, Renown Regional Medical Center which are a Castle Connolly Top Hospitals. Castle Connolly Top Hospitals are healthcare institutions recognized for their excellence in specific medical procedures and overall patient care. They are identified through a rigorous peer nomination process, evaluating factors like patient outcomes, quality of care, and expertise. The list recognizes hospitals that excel in 20 or more specific medical procedures, representing the top 25% nationwide. Castle Connolly Top Hospitals

    When to see an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon?: Guides for symptoms, conditions, and treatments

    Understand your symptoms and know when it’s time to see an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon. Explore insights from trusted medical experts on EverydayHealth.com, where you'll find the most relevant content and helpful condition guides for up-to date information about symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and more. See all our health guides to find trusted information on medical conditions from our experts at Everyday Health.

    Is Dr. Richard Thunder accepting new patients in La Jolla, CA?

    Yes, Dr. Richard Thunder is accepting new patients at this time.

    Does Dr. Richard Thunder offer online booking?

    Please contact Dr. Thunder's office at (858) 535-1075 for information about online booking, telehealth, or to schedule an appointment.

    How can I make an appointment with Dr. Richard Thunder?

    Please contact Dr. Thunder's office at (858) 535-1075 to schedule an appointment.

    Where is Dr. Thunder's office located?

    Dr. Thunder's offices are located in La Jolla, CA and Del Mar, CA.

    Which board certifications does Dr. Richard Thunder have?

    Dr. Richard Thunder is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.