Nicholas A. Shepard, M.D.

Dr. Shepard is a great doctor.

Dr. Shepherd explains things so well. And felt great to trust him with my care.

Dr Shepard is above and beyond an overall great Dr and surgeon . I had a back Fusion back in March after trying medication and shots but didn’t work and in a lot of pain . Dr Shepard walked me through everything with kindness , professionalism but yet he’s very down to earth and very much with helpful compassion. He did an excellent job with my surgery and I’m back on my feet . The staff are also very polite and very easy to feel comfortable with . Thank you so much Dr Shepard and staff . 5 star A+++ in my book . Note — my husband also goes to TOA and Dr Shepard .

Dr Shepard is so very personable. He is very knowledgeable, thorough and answers any and all questions. I highly recommend De Shepard….he is the BEST!!

Dr Shepard was very thorough and explained what was happening with my back. He listened carefully to my answers and gave good feedback. The staff was very friendly and my only concern was that it was 45-50 minutes past my appointment time that I actually saw Dr. Shepard. I fully understand that he had other patients and that it took time to review the X-rays, but it was a little cold in the exam room and there was only one chair so my husband had to stand all that time.

Dr Sheppard has a kind bedside manner. He explained my situation so I understand what he plans to do to help me

Easy to talk to, answered all my questions, looking forward to seeing and hearing about what we are going to do with my problem.

Professional and courteous

TOA was a place where I got my second opinion. I met doctor Nicholas shepherd and after talking to him my decision was made about my spine surgery. I had a fusion done between my L4-L5, a new disc was inserted. The surgery was done as an outpatient and it went well. So I highly recommend doctor Sheperd for this surgery. The surgery is called a minimal invasive spine surgery.

Dr Shepard is top notch all the way. Very thorough and really knows his business.

I had to wait awhile, but I know that sometimes happens. Listened to my ailments and very kind. Dr.Shepard and his assistant explained my xrays and course of action.

Doctor Sheppard is very detailed oriented and understanding to your questions and needs. He’s always kind, patient and helpful. I appreciate his honesty and caring attitude. My surgery was a really good experience and the follow up visits were timely and comprehensive. I felt safe and in excellent hands with Doctor Sheppard. I would recommend him to anyone needing spinal assessment or surgery.

Fast,friendly and knowledgeable.

Dr Shepherd understood every issue that I've been having and knew exactly what kind of pain and discomfort that I've been dealing with. He really put my mind at ease when explaining the options that I have and I would highly recommend him to anyone.

Kind,understand and takes tge time to listen.

Dr Shepard is always nice and polite and explains things very well

I’ve used Dr. Shepherd many times. He is so knowledgeable and such a nice guy, does good work, knows his profession well. I highly recommend him.

Absolutely enjoyed Dr. Shepard. He was great at explaining everything to me. He definitely deserves more than 5 stars.

I don’t even know where to start. I could write a book on how amazing Dr. Shepard is. I had to fight Aetna insurance For the better part of a year to get them to approve the surgery. I went to several other doctors who would not help me because they said the nerve was only moderately impinged but this doctor said the MRI does not show what’s happening when I’m on my feet moving around and that the pain I had was dynamic. I Went to seven other surgeons Before I found Dr. Shephard. He is the first one who fought for me. I owe him my life. I had dynamic retrolisthesis on the L4 Sliding backwards on the L5 and a moderately impinged nerve In the left side foraminal space in between the L4 and L5 which caused me to have very debilitating muscle spasms once a year for 18 years which I used to be able to sort of keep under control with meloxicam and then eventually it got to where it was so bad that I was bedridden. In October of 2024, I had a spasm that left me in nonstop pain for 14 months. The disc at that region was completely flat since 2008. I’m in my mid 40s and normal age related Arthritis crept in over the years and took up the rest of the space for the nerves with the added destabilization of the spine and the pain was unlike anything I can explain. I had neuralgia and radiculopothy such that I couldn’t feel the toes in my left leg, and I had extreme muscle cramping in my hips and buttocks.. Dr Shepard performed a MIS TLIF in December of 2025. I am six months postop as of June 2026 and I can’t even tell I’ve ever had surgery. I don’t even take Tylenol. He gave me my life back! Love this doctor. TOA, if you read this, You better understand how fortunate you are to have him on your staff. Before and after photos enclosed. For those of you that are scared about back surgery; it’s really not that bad. Don’t be afraid. The first six weeks are kind of tough, but I really wasn’t in that much pain. I will say this, you will know when you need surgery. When it gets so bad that you can’t stand in line in the grocery store and you can’t be on your feet for any length of time, and you’ve tried spinal injections and all of the pills, then you’ve got to make this last resort your next resort. My surgery was performed with augmented reality and the new way of doing these procedures has come a long way over the past 20 years let alone 30 or 40 years. If you’re having trouble getting insurance to approve surgery, keep fighting!

Dr. Shepherd was very knowledgeable of my symptoms, I feel confident that I am on the right path.

The Best. Highly recommend.

The wait time was one hour which I think is excessive but the staff were very friendly and Dr. Shepherd to time to speak and discuss my issues

Dr. Shepard is a great Doctor. He is very patient, friendly, and knowledgable. He has great manners and thoroughly explains everything that is asked of him. The only regret I have is that I didn’t find him earlier on during my injury.

You've been helpful thank you

Dr. Shepherd is very professional. He gave excellent advice and suggestions for further care.

Dr Shepard is such a major blessing. He has wisdom, knowledge, DR know how above most others, I trust him.

Dr Shepard is amazing. Very good at explaining things and answering questions.

Very happy with my visit to see Dr Shepard. He was very knowledgeable and took his time to explain everything to me and even showed me the images of my MRI and explained all that to me.

I was in pain for almost 2yrs before meeting Dr. Shepard! The work he did on my spine got me my life back. Would highly recommend him to anyone going through spine problems.

He explains everything in detail where you understand it.

Very polite very knowledgeable. Will definitely recommend to f&f

Dr. Shepard sat down and really listened to my issue. Other doctors had passed me off and told me to “stay in pain management.” He’s the first one to tell me it was possible to get long-term relief with a procedure. I see him yesterday and I am already scheduled for surgery. I would HIGHLY recommend this place and Dr. Shepard. Thorough and efficient.

Dr Shephard is a caring man. He makes you feel very comfortable when explaining your surgery and what to expect before and after the procedure

Dr Sheppard is amzing ! Very honest and cuts straight to the chase. Doesn’t keep you waiting long .

Dr. Nicholas Shepard was truly a blessing. From the moment I walked in, he was kind, patient, and took his time to really listen to my concerns. He didn’t rush me and made sure I understood everything about my condition and next steps. You can tell he genuinely cares about his patients and wants the best for them. I’m very thankful for the care I received and would highly recommend him to anyone needing orthopaedic care!

Dr. Shepard is amazing, my back has never felt better!

(Translated by Google) Excellent service and a perfect explanation. (Original) Excelente atención y explicación perfectamente

Very nice and explained everything so well.

Dr Shepard and his staff was very friendly. He explained all my options and surgery expectations.

Dr Sheperd surgical skills are truly amazing. I am 78 and needed a cervical spinal surgery due to having severe spinal stenosis. I was having numerous concerning symptoms. In June Dr Sheperd preformed the surgery and what an amazing surgeon. The surgery was so successful. Hardly any discomfort after the next day. The incision is perfectly healed and I was up walking that day after surgery. His skillful techniques are a credit to his patients. He is kind, skillful, answered all concerns, and a brilliant surgeron.That's an amazing qualities that you want want with such a very delicate surgery. My recovery was Amazing. Thank you TOA for having one of the finest surgeons. Also noted The Stone Crest hospital team was the absolute finest that he works with Great job and I am singing his and the surgical team praises everywhere.Tgank you Dr Sheperd. I am a retired RN of 34 years. I understand how hard it is to find such an amazing Surgeon and DR. Sincerely, Ila Carroll.

Great

Dr. Shepard is very attentive and genuinely cares about his patients. I would highly recommend him to other people

Thank you for everything you have done for me throughout the years. I am very satisfied with all the help and healing you have provided me with. Thank you.

Dr. Nicholas Sheppard is a super hero spine surgeon in my book. A year ago the pain could be so bad and I was beginning to wonder if I was gonna walk again. He and his team spent over 8 hours getting my nerves pushed back where they belong. They fused it where needed, and installed hardware. I cannot say enough about TOA and their whole team of professionals. They took my dire situation and gave me a life back. I can now walk, often without a cane, about a half mile before my other problems sit me down. This is my 3rd successful surgery at TOA Murfreesboro. I would go back to Dr. Greenberg or Dr Cavallero in a heartbeat if needed. They have all earned my trust.

Very impressed with Dr. Shepherd and the staff. I'M looking forward to my surgery and getting well. Thank you for getting me in fast.

Dr Sheppard was great as usual. Let me know what was going on with my back

Dr. Shepard is great. He really took time to answer all my questions and made sure I understood what is going on today and what to expect in the future.

It was good appointment

Wonderful doctor, explains everything well. Stays up to date on all the latest technology to help his patients! I highly recommend him for back surgery.

I love Dr Shepard he is very kind and takes his time and listens to you. He always has smile on his face.

Dr. Shepard is a great ortho! He truly took the time to listen to my concerns and made me feel heard, which is something I really value in a provider. He explained everything clearly, walked me through what was going on and gave me multiple options instead of pushing a one-size-fits-all solution. I left feeling informed, supported, and confident in my next steps. It’s not always easy to find a doctor who combines expertise with this level of care and attention—highly recommend.

The absolutely best Dr I have ever had! He has done 4 surgeries on my back and I am doing great. I am up to walking 2 miles a day. He is very attentive and caring. His bedside manner is amazing! Would HIGHLY RECOMMEND DR SHEPARD!

Great Doctor and Staff

I was unsure going into this appointment, but after meeting and talking with Dr Shepard I was very glad he is who I scheduled with. It absolutely seemed he is experienced and new how to handle things moving forward. I am very hopeful in my progress

Met with Dr Shepard at Westlawn with back pain. We discussed options and was pleased with the plan. Very professional and courteous.

He was very thorough with the exam

I enjoyed meeting Dr. Shepard. He's very nice and easy to talk with. He was thorough with his explanations and listened carefully to what I said. I'm so happy he's my doctor.

This was my 12th surgery and 4th spine surgery. Bar none, this was the nicest, cleanest, and best operated surgery center I've ever experienced. Dr. Shepard did an incredible job as did all the nursing and support staff.

Dr. shepherd performed surgery on my back a few years ago. Now I have a separate issue and I automatically scheduled an appointment with him, as I knew he would take good care of me and my issue. He is an excellent surgeon and man.

Dr Shephand is is easy to talk to and takes his time explaining the how and why in a why anyone can understand.