The Maine Spine & Nerve Institute, Dr. Douglas VanderPloeg’s Damariscotta office closed Aug 22 after treating the people of the area for over 12 years. The decision to leave his practice was not easy, VanderPloeg said.
During a telephone interview last week Vanderploeg said he was saddened to leave Damariscotta. When he opened the second Maine Spine & Nerve Institute in Scarborough this past May, his plan was to keep both the Damariscotta and the Scarborough offices open. However, after a few months of working between the two facilities, he became overwhelmed and decided he had to close his Damariscotta office, Vanderploeg said.
He said he will miss the people and his patients in the Midcoast area greatly. “I was humbled by the welcome I received here,” he said. “Leaving Damariscotta was not a decision I thought I would ever have to make. It was very difficult. My family and I have been a part of this community for over 12 years. We will miss everyone very much.”
Dr. VanderPloeg opened the Maine Spine & Nerve Institute in Damariscotta in October of 2001 after moving to Maine from Nashville, Tenn. where he had practiced as a chiropractic physician for 15 years.
He also opened a Headache, Back and Neck Pain Clinic in Rockland for a period of time while in Damariscotta working between the two facilities. In 2006 he closed the Rockland office because he added non-surgical spinal decompression treatment to his Damariscotta practice.
According to the Maine Spine & Nerve Institute’s website, their purpose is to treat patients suffering with degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, disc bulge and when appropriate spinal stenosis with non surgical medical technology. They also specialize in the treatment of symptoms caused by peripheral neuropathy.
Dr. VanderPloeg’s new office in Scarborough is located at 200 Professional Drive #2, just off Route 1. For more information call 219-8082.
