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Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD

Accepting New Patients

(Dr. Richard Michael Thunder, M.D.)

(No ratings)

Specializes in: Spine Surgery and Orthopedic Trauma

Stanford University School of Medicine (1999)

Professional interests include: pain management, spine problems

9850 Genesee Avenue Suite #210
La Jolla, CA 92037

(858) 535-1075

Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD is a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA specializing in spine surgery and orthopedic trauma. He graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine in 1999 and has 27 years of experience. Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD is affiliated with Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Outpatient Surgery Center of La Jolla, Scripps Health and Mercy Physicians Medical Group.

Office Locations

9850 Genesee Avenue Suite #210
La Jolla, CA 92037

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Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 5%

By Volume:

injections

spine imaging

trigger point injection

In 2023, Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD performed more injections, spine imaging, and trigger point injection procedures for Medicare patients than 95% of providers in related specialties within California.

Top 10%

By Volume:

major joint aspiration

major joint injection

X-rays

In 2023, Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD performed more major joint aspiration, major joint injection, and X-rays procedures for Medicare patients than 90% of providers in related specialties within California.

Top 25%

By Volume:

inpatient hospital care

joint imaging

By Affordability:

spine X-ray

In 2012, among providers in related specialties within California, Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD performed more inpatient hospital care (for patient admitted to hospital), and joint imaging procedures for Medicare patients than 75% of them and he also had a list price for spine X-ray that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 75% of them. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated as a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA during 2012 were X-rays, spinal procedures, injections and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	271
decompression surgery	16
doctor visit	1105
hip imaging	79
hospital care	29
injections	285
inpatient care	29
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	80
musculoskeletal imaging	179
nerve procedures	16
pelvic imaging	45
spinal procedures	294
X-rays	422

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated as a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA during 2013 were X-rays, aspiration, injections and spinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	336
decompression surgery	15
doctor visit	1274
hip imaging	59
hospital care	29
injections	336
inpatient care	29
joint surgery	11
lower extremity surgery	11
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	99
musculoskeletal imaging	143
nerve procedures	15
pelvic imaging	64
reconstructive surgery	11
spinal procedures	309
X-rays	402

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD.

**Gender**
Male	245
Female	432

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	601
Black	0
Hispanic	37
Asian	0
Other	15
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	296
From 75 to 84	224
85 and over	122
Less than 65	35

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD in 2013

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	5
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	22
Dementia	9
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated as a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA during 2014 were X-rays, aspiration, injections and spinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	390
decompression surgery	18
doctor visit	1285
hip imaging	68
hospital care	27
injections	390
inpatient care	27
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	78
musculoskeletal imaging	158
nerve procedures	18
pelvic imaging	82
spinal procedures	310
X-rays	454

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD.

**Gender**
Male	253
Female	458

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	633
Black	0
Hispanic	33
Asian	20
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	295
From 75 to 84	264
85 and over	119
Less than 65	33

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD in 2014

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	17
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	23
Dementia	7
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated as a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA during 2015 were X-rays, aspiration, injections and spinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	349
decompression surgery	21
doctor visit	1182
hip imaging	64
hospital care	51
injections	349
inpatient care	51
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	59
musculoskeletal imaging	122
nerve procedures	21
pelvic imaging	70
spinal procedures	325
X-rays	437

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD.

**Gender**
Male	566
Female	810

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	1226
Black	0
Hispanic	62
Asian	0
Other	40
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	628
From 75 to 84	460
85 and over	226
Less than 65	62

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD in 2015

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	20
Dementia	6
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated as a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA during 2016 were X-rays, spinal procedures, aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	299
decompression surgery	24
doctor visit	1145
hip imaging	13
hospital care	41
injections	299
inpatient care	41
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	45
musculoskeletal imaging	76
nerve procedures	24
pelvic imaging	57
spinal procedures	326
X-rays	390

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD.

**Gender**
Male	259
Female	396

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	574
Black	0
Hispanic	38
Asian	0
Other	20
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	300
From 75 to 84	227
85 and over	102
Less than 65	26

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD in 2016

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	22
Dementia	7
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated as a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA during 2017 were X-rays, spinal procedures, aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD for Medicare patients.

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	12
aspiration	301
decompression surgery	23
doctor visit	1050
hospital care	65
injections	301
inpatient care	65
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	12
musculoskeletal imaging	69
nerve procedures	23
pelvic imaging	27
spinal procedures	306
X-rays	355

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD.

**Gender**
Male	240
Female	406

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	553
Black	0
Hispanic	38
Asian	0
Other	27
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	284
From 75 to 84	229
85 and over	97
Less than 65	36

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD in 2017

Hypertension	58
High Cholesterol	48
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	33
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	22
Dementia	11
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated as a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA during 2018 were X-rays, injections, spinal procedures and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	214
decompression surgery	15
doctor visit	1206
fracture surgery	11
hospital care	52
injections	314
inpatient care	52
joint surgery	26
lower extremity surgery	37
musculoskeletal imaging	59
nerve procedures	15
pain management	100
pelvic imaging	37
reconstructive surgery	26
spinal procedures	275
X-rays	356

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD.

**Gender**
Male	288
Female	417

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	619
Black	0
Hispanic	31
Asian	0
Other	33
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	297
From 75 to 84	274
85 and over	114
Less than 65	20

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD in 2018

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	19
Dementia	9
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated as a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA during 2019 were X-rays, injections, spinal procedures and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	140
decompression surgery	20
doctor visit	1251
hip imaging	11
hospital care	62
injections	276
inpatient care	62
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	30
musculoskeletal imaging	91
nerve procedures	20
pain management	136
pelvic imaging	38
spinal procedures	268
X-rays	347

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD.

**Gender**
Male	283
Female	441

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	632
Black	0
Hispanic	34
Asian	0
Other	29
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	283
85 and over	123
Less than 65	23

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD in 2019

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	33
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	19
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	20
Dementia	10
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated as a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA during 2020 were X-rays, spinal procedures, injections and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD for Medicare patients.

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	12
aspiration	147
decompression surgery	12
doctor visit	989
hip imaging	13
hospital care	17
injections	283
inpatient care	17
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	32
musculoskeletal imaging	85
nerve procedures	12
pain management	136
pelvic imaging	25
spinal procedures	287
X-rays	330

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD.

**Gender**
Male	229
Female	388

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	539
Black	0
Hispanic	24
Asian	0
Other	29
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	260
From 75 to 84	251
85 and over	87
Less than 65	19

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD in 2020

Hypertension	55
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	21
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	20
Dementia	8
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated as a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA during 2021 were injections, X-rays, spinal procedures and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	238
decompression surgery	15
doctor visit	1261
hip imaging	29
hospital care	40
injections	369
inpatient care	40
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	79
musculoskeletal imaging	134
nerve procedures	15
pain management	131
pelvic imaging	13
spinal procedures	311
X-rays	364

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD.

**Gender**
Male	301
Female	449

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	655
Black	0
Hispanic	35
Asian	0
Other	34
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	298
From 75 to 84	319
85 and over	115
Less than 65	18

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD in 2021

Hypertension	55
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	18
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	5
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	20
Dementia	7
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated as a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA during 2022 were injections, X-rays, aspiration and spinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	288
doctor visit	1317
hip imaging	26
hospital care	45
injections	449
inpatient care	45
joint surgery	13
lower extremity surgery	13
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	66
musculoskeletal imaging	150
pain management	161
reconstructive surgery	13
spinal procedures	238
X-rays	322

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD.

**Gender**
Male	281
Female	461

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	667
Black	0
Hispanic	24
Asian	0
Other	26
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	296
From 75 to 84	329
85 and over	103
Less than 65	14

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD in 2022

Hypertension	62
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	22
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	17
Dementia	4
Cancer	19

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated as a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA during 2023 were injections, aspiration, X-rays and spinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	314
decompression surgery	18
doctor visit	1064
hip imaging	16
hospital care	61
injections	486
inpatient care	61
joint surgery	12
lower extremity surgery	12
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	38
musculoskeletal imaging	135
nerve procedures	18
pain management	172
reconstructive surgery	12
spinal procedures	185
X-rays	264

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD.

**Gender**
Male	256
Female	396

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	559
Black	0
Hispanic	30
Asian	0
Other	38
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	264
From 75 to 84	278
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD in 2023

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	25
Atrial Fibrilation	22
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	19
Dementia	6
Cancer	16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2023

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated as a spine surgeon in La Jolla, CA were X-rays, injections, spinal procedures and aspiration.

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	12
aspiration	273
decompression surgery	17
doctor visit	1177
fracture surgery	11
hip imaging	37
hospital care	43
injections	344
inpatient care	43
joint surgery	15
lower extremity surgery	18
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	56
musculoskeletal imaging	116
nerve procedures	17
pain management	139
pelvic imaging	45
reconstructive surgery	15
spinal procedures	286
X-rays	370

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2023

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD.

**Gender**
Male	266
Female	421

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	1
Non-Hispanic White	604
Hispanic	32
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	24

**Age**
75 to 84	261
85 and over	100
Less than 65	23
65 to 74	268

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD From 2012 - 2023

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and depression.

Hypertension	54
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	7
Osteoporosis	14
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	18
Atrial Fibrillation	14
Cancer	12
Dementia	7

Education & Training

Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine in 1999. He completed residency at Stanford University Medical Center. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery and has a state license in California.

Medical School: Stanford University School of Medicine (1999)

Residency: Stanford University Medical Center (2004)

Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery (2007)

Licensed In: California

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla

Outpatient Surgery Center of La Jolla

Scripps Health

Mercy Physicians Medical Group

Ratings & Reviews

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Richard M. Thunder, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Stryker Corporation	$5,529 ES2 $772	TRAUMA & EXTREMITIES $680	ANCHOR C $601	NEURO SPINE ENT $558	Tritanium $520	Other $2,398
Globus Medical, Inc.	$2,624 COALITION $605	CREO $488	CALIBER $424	CREO Degen $161	Altera $133	Other $813
Smith & Nephew, Inc.	$679 Recon Hips $439	Navio Surgical System $240
Davol Inc.	$500 $500
NUVASIVE, INC.	$469 PLIF $51	TLIF $28	$390
Other	$2,192 Advanced Energy Cutting Device $156	FORTEO $126	XIAFLEX $126	DSS $125	ACTIS $110	Other $1,550

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$8,815
Travel and Lodging	$2,662
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$500
Education	$17

Biography

Dr. Richard Thunder is a specialist in orthopedic trauma and spine surgery. He works in La Jolla, CA. Dr. Thunder's areas of expertise consist of pain management, spine problems, and orthopedic surgery. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and Outpatient Surgery Center of La Jolla. He graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine and then he performed his residency at Stanford University Medical Center. Scripps Health reports that he is accepting new patients at his office in La Jolla, CA.