I have had five spine surgeries by 3 different doctors. All of them were recommended by other doctors. Well that was all that I could take. Each time I either got worse or didnt get better. And the recoveries were the worst experiences of my life. Then doctors would refuse to see me. They treated me like I was crazy and actually I thought maybe I was. No one could tell me what why I hurt so bad. I was taking lots of pain medications and eventually doctors refused to prescribe me any. I had to go to a pain specialist and he wanted to put in a pain stimulator into my spinal cord. At that point I was almost ready to commit suicide. I k now it sounds like I am week but if anyone has ever been in that kind of pain you might u nderstand why. But at the last minute I decided to do my own research. I found a doctor named brian wieder but he lived in dnever, colorado. I sent him an email not thinking that he would respond. I explained my case and the next day he did respond! ... Personally! He didnt tell me much but just the fact the he gave me the time of day was a good feeling.
The next day, I did more reseach and googled his name and saw may papers he wrote and reviews from other patients. Then I called my surgeons office at jackson memorial hospital here in miami and asked if anyone there knew Dr. Wieder. To my surprise everyone knew him and all said great things about him.
Anyway to make a long story short, I decided to go see him. I called his office and made an appointment, his office asked to send the xrays first so I did. I called me personally and said he thinks it is worth seeing me. I was a little scared when we met because he was so young. But he was very respectful and treated me like a friend, not a drug addict. He wanted some new xrays and asked that I stay there to get them. The next day I had all the tests and he saw me again. He told me that he thought the case was a simple case. I thought he was crazy! And started to lose confidence but he showed me where he thought the problem was. I had learned alot about my spine since this started so what he was telling me I sort of understood. He recommended a surgery and told me. "i wouldn't do it if I felt there was not at least a 70% chance that I could make you better" I remember his words exactly. I started to get some hope again but was truly afraid because all the others promised me that I would be better too.
He also told me that he could do it using new surgery procedures that were less painful, and less destructive. And he wanted to operate through my side rather than go through all the scars that the other doctors had made. He told me that I would go home in 2-3 days and again I though he was crazy. It was a damn roller coaster!!!! But I becan to trust him and so I decided to have the surgery.
I had the surgery 3 months ago. Oh my god!!!!!! I want to cry when I think about it. He gave me my life back. I am virtually pain free. He fused 3 levels through my side and I have a 2 inch incision. The surgery took 2 hours. About 4 hours less than any of my other surgeries. And immediatley after surgery I knew the pain was gone. I went home 2 days after surgery but stayed in colorado for a week after surgery just in case. 3 weeks after surgery I was not talking any more pain medicines. This is the first time in 9 years that I have not taken pain medicine.
I feel that I was lied too, abused, and forgotten by my other doctors. Dr. Wieder treated me like a person and was honest and explained everything. I never felt lost. He also was the only one that I think understood what he was doing. The other 3 doctors all had good reputations and were professors, but obviously I learned that it doesnt matter.
Sorry I go on and on but I feel like the luckiest guy in the world at the time. I hope that if you have a serious problem that you can go see Dr. Wieder. I know he can help!
David westin, miami fl
