Heidi Reetz

MD

Pain medicine specialist
Mother, yogi, foodie, and aficionado of nature's arts

Dr. Heidi Reetz is a pain and integrative medicine specialist who primarily treats adults. Her practice approach involves applying multiple methods of pain management, including those of integrative medicine, which combines Western methods with complementary therapies.

Reetz has a special focus on techniques that allow the body to regenerate and heal, including acupuncture, nutritional strategies, therapeutic yoga and mind-body medicine (a holistic approach that works with mental, emotional, social, spiritual and other factors affecting an individual). She also cares for patients who want help managing pain without opioids or through buprenorphine therapy.

Reetz's current research interests include integrative pain medicine and dextrose-based injection therapies, which aim to stimulate healing by injecting points involved in chronic muscle and joint pain.

Reetz earned her medical degree at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and completed a residency in family medicine – which emphasized social justice advocacy, compassionate care and personal growth – at Sutter Health. She also completed a fellowship in pain medicine at UCSF.

  • Education

    Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2008

  • Residencies

    Sutter Health, Family Medicine, 2011

  • Fellowships

    UCSF, Pain Medicine, 2016

  • Board Certifications

    Family Medicine, American Board of Family Medicine

My goal is to help patients gain a sense of control over their pain using lifestyle-focused methods that allow them to function better.

Where I see patients (1)

    My reviews

    4.8

    Overall Experience
    119 Ratings
    About our process
    Oct 24, 2023
    This provider gives post visit instructions very fast before the procedure when I am still quite nervous. Would be great to implement a close the loop/teach back model with the patient for the most important info. I myself would receive the info better after the procedure but am not sure about other patients
    Sep 16, 2023
    Dr Reetz is attentive answers all questions and provides good explanations.
    Sep 12, 2023
    I can never say enough positive things about Dr Reetz. She has always gone above and beyond for me. I'm am so greatful for her to have made time for me in her schedule yesterday. After being in pain for weeks I called the office and got a same-day appointment. Today I woke up nearly pain free!
    Aug 16, 2023
    One of my best MD
    Jun 08, 2023
    Dr Reetz listens and discusses my issues thoroughly and intelligently. She is able to talk with me without dumbing things down or over-complicating things. It's so refreshing to be real and frank and clear with a person.
    Jun 07, 2023
    Constantly changing my appointment and stating it was a billing issue and I called my insurance and it was stated there was no issue.
    May 04, 2023
    Dr. Reetz was one of my favorite providers as she listened really listened to me. She also gave me treatment ideas that were a bit more alternative than most doctors which I appreciate. She addressed issues not directly connected to pain (but contributory) and recommended some very helpful books as well.
    May 01, 2023
    Dr. Reetz is caring and patient I never feel rushed or dismissive. She is great!
    Apr 11, 2023
    Guest drs are nice to
    Mar 25, 2023
    Dr Reetz has done her very best for me everytime without reserve
    Feb 11, 2023
    The provider was not familiar with my record or needs despite the fact that I had waited about 2 months for the appointment. She insisted on going thru a standardized checklist despite my wishes. She seemed disrespectful of my needs.
    Feb 07, 2023
    Dr. Reetz is OUTSTANDING across board. Not only is she clearly up-to-date with the latest research even for things that are still emerging she is also exemplary when it comes to the educational components of her role - both educating me as the patient - but also supporting learners (today was a Fellow). She was able to identify when the fellow had made a mistake in preparing the solution - clearly articulated what needed to be different and why - and then when he was still learning how to do the injections she seamlessly changed her position to scrub in to be able to step in and provide additional support. I never feel less confident in the care I was receiving - and I never sensed that the Fellow felt embarrassed undermined or unsupported. In medicine when there is such a culture of excellence - the art of teaching and providing effective feedback is not a skill that everyone has.
    Feb 06, 2023
    Dr. Reetz is one of my most favored doctors! She understands me as a whole person not just a pain management patient. She is willing to think out side of the box and try experimental tactics in dealing with my issues. She's a great listener. I have some unusual problems which 'clinical pathways' are not so effective on and Dr. Reetz has made valuable suggestions not usually offered by physicians. I really value her insights!
    Feb 05, 2023
    Dr. Reetz Is wonderful! Truly cares about minimizing my pain all the way down to rubbing my calf to providing comfort with anesthesia for injections.
    Jan 29, 2023
    Dr. Reetz is absolutely wonderful. She is extremely thorough professional and competent. She comes across as an expert in her field and really knows her stuff. Plus she is kind and really seems to care so much so that she readily goes above and beyond to exhaust each and every option available no matter how outside of the box they are. I am so lucky she's my doctor she's the best. Thank you Dr. Reetz!
    Dec 08, 2022
    Dr. Reetz is one of the best doctors I've ever had.
    Nov 23, 2022
    I like this doctor very much because she thinks outside of the box! We are discussing some rather unorthodox treatments which I appreciate as just about everything else I have tried has not worked very well. Also she is willing to address peripheral problems contributing to pain and not just pain itself--like sleep breathing and fatigue. On this visit we had a rather hurried discussion about using electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve as I mentioned being interested in it. She wanted to do the whole set up during our appointment--which I was not prepared for. She did grant a postponement and wrote up some instructions in her notes but later I found further and more detailed information on-line.My problem is that I have (genetic) medical issues not easily addressed and have tried many treatments and so I am grateful that someone is viewing my issues from a different lens and not just offering steroid injections!
    Nov 05, 2022
    As a physician who has seen a lot of physicians as a patient I can confidently state that Dr. Reetz is truly an exceptional physician in every way. She is sharp as a tack and her knowledge base extends beyond her specialty. She listens and genuinely cares.
    Oct 12, 2022
    Dr. Reetz is always very patient empathetic. I feel like I have a say in my treatment plan. She backs up her suggestions with research. More doctors should be like her.
    Oct 08, 2022
    Dr. Reetz is knowledgeable kind patient and efficient. The Best of The Best!
    Sep 27, 2022
    Dr. Reetz is incredibly compassionate!
    Sep 17, 2022
    Promote Dr. Reetz and hire more like her! She gives me the best care I have ever had!
    Sep 15, 2022
    My doctors were just so empathetic and so amazingly professional - they knew EXACTLY what they were doing and they did such a wonderful job. I will be them ever so thankful in particular Dr. Reetz who I have had quite a few sessions with prior. She is just brilliant.
    Sep 03, 2022
    Dr. Reetz is excellent.
    Aug 20, 2022
    Dr. Reetz is an incredibly compassionate provider. Dealing with folks in chronic pain is not easy but her patience and persistence is just what I need. I also love that she incorporates holistic ways to minimize pain too!
    Aug 06, 2022
    Dr. Reetz is amazing. She is extremely knowledgeable and so caring. I like that if she doesn't know something she will be honest about it and look it up. I like that she references research that support her professional opinion. She's never pushy so I feel very comfortable discussing different ideas for my care with her. I also really enjoy seeing the patient and calm guidance she gives to to residents. The respect that she shows towards them is indicative of the person she is. I'm glad that a doctor like her is passing on her knowledge and her bedside manners onto the next generation of doctors.
    Aug 04, 2022
    Dr. Seems very knowledgeable about her practice. However her explanations of treatments are a little too technical and hard to understand from a layman's view. Would appreciate teach back method if time allows
    Jul 29, 2022
    Upon telling another physician that I was scheduled for medical care with Dr. Reetz he said he was "going to refer a whole bunch of people to Dr. Reetz
    Jul 25, 2022
    Dr Reetz's care makes my life worth living. The fact that she even listens to what is going on and doesn't argue with you or negate you like most or many dr's. She has been struggling with insurance and mentioning getting services elsewhere. That scares me.
    May 21, 2022
    Dr. Reetz was amazing as always. She was very patient when listening to my concerns and addressed all of them. She provided many different treatment options for me to choose from. I like that she doesn't try to force me towards one treatment option like other providers do but she gives me the information so that I can make an informed decision. I liked that she didn't dumb down the information she gave me and backed up her recommendations with research.
    Mar 18, 2022
    There were only larger sized needles in house that day. Treatment hurt more than usual and I had to "tough it out". Dr looked frustrated but what could she do? She gave encouraging words... I wouldn't prefer to have to relive that easily fixable mistake.
    Feb 21, 2022
    Dr. Reetz is most kind and understanding like a good medicine she makes the pain a lot easier to bear.

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