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“I want to express my gratitude to the extraordinary surgery that was performed on my back, which was a lumbar fusion. For thirty years, I had tried different procedures, medications, and other doctors. Still, I was enduring severe pain, especially on my right leg. Today, only after two months since my surgery, I am very pleased with the results. The pain on my right leg has subsided. It feels like a miracle! My experience has been extremely positive. I credit this to the great effort and expertise of Dr. Barcohana and his entire surgical team. This procedure has given me the ability to continue to maintain a healthier lifestyle. The result of my recent surgery is beyond my expectations. For any future patients that are experiencing decisions about this procedure, I wholeheartedly recommend it.
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Treating Doctor: Babak Barcohana, MD
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“I would strongly recommend Dr. Barcohana to anyone considering back surgery. I was 79 years old and had been suffering from back pain for a number of years. After therapy didn’t help, I decided that I needed to take stronger action. My doctor recommended I see Dr. Barcohana, who proceeded to thoroughly examine me through my MRI, x-rays, bone scan, and nerve testing. From the beginning, I was impressed with his careful and cautious examination. After thorough testing, he informed me I was a good candidate for surgery. At first, I was reluctant, having heard so many problem stories about back surgery. However, I was losing strength in my legs and kept falling. After consulting several medical professionals, I decided to have the surgery.
Dr. Barcohana and his staff were efficient and thorough in preparing me for surgery, and they supported my confidence. The morning after surgery, I was up and walking. I was released from the hospital in three days, and although I had some discomfort in the surgery area, the pain was nothing compared to what it had been before surgery. After three months, my scar is practically invisible, I feel completely pain free and am regaining all my strength back. The quality of my life has vastly improved and I look forward to enjoying the activities I did before my back problems. I will be forever grateful to Dr. Barcohana for what seems like a miracle.
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Treating Doctor: Babak Barcohana, MD
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“Having had three surgical experiences at SCOI and badly in need of neck surgery, it was an obvious choice to research a spinal specialist at the Southern California Orthopedic Institute. I had already consulted with two other spinal specialists in Los Angeles. My prior surgical experiences at SCOI had been rotator cuff repair with Dr. Snyder, Achilles treatment with Dr. Ferkel, and my wife’s rotator cuff repair by Dr. Burns. All these procedures went extremely well with excellent long-term results. So it was a natural choice to ask these excellent surgeons for their recommendations about who was the best surgeon to deal with my completely degenerated cervical discs. The recommendation was Dr. Barcohana. One of the other spinal specialists I had consulted recommended fusing all four of my cervical discs, which showed varying degrees of degeneration. After all the tests were done, Dr. Barcohana recommended only fusing the C5/C6 discs, which were just about completely gone. He explained that fusing those two would solve 95% of my problems, where as fusing all four would severely restrict the range of motion in my neck.
It has now been three weeks since my surgery. I had very little pain post operatively. The incision in the front was understandable sore, but I felt almost no pain in the spinal area. The pain was so minimal, that after the first few days, I stopped using any pain medication. The incision has healed so well that you have to look closely to see it and that is after only three weeks. The most difficult part of the whole experience was accepting the fact that I had to have surgery and dealing with the seriousness. Anytime someone is going to be working on your spine, it is serious and it is almost impossible to not have some trepidation about the process. I had been putting this procedure off for almost a decade and I am pleased to say that I am very happy to have it behind me and would recommend Dr. Barcohana to anyone needing this procedure.
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Treating Doctor: Babak Barcohana, MD
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“When I entered your office back in April, I was in tremendous pain. The pain in my neck and shoulder were so distracting that I could not handle simple, daily tasks. I couldn’t sleep and I was just surviving from hour to hour. The painkillers were not working well. They just took the edge off the pain. I actually felt relieved when Dr. Blecher recommended I meet with Dr. Barcohana to discuss surgery. I was willing to do anything to alleviate the pain.
From my first consultation, I was impressed with Dr. Barcohana and his staff. He was willing to take the time to listen to my symptoms, examine me, and write out his recommendation for surgery at the first appointment. He demonstrated a comprehensive knowledge of my problem and I felt hopeful that he could help me. In addition, his assistants were friendly and helpful. It made a difficult appointment easier. I also want to thank Dr. Barcohana for taking my concerns seriously about a possible metal allergy. Your willingness to obtain a sample disk and perform a skin test before surgery greatly relieved my anxiety. The anterior cervical discectomy he performed in May was completely successful. I awoke from the surgery pain free. My recovery has been easy and quick. I feel fantastic! The slight scar on my neck is the only visible evidence of my injury. I am extremely grateful to Dr. Barcohana for his skillful care. Should I ever meet anyone else in need of a spinal surgeon, I will recommend him heartily.”
Treating Doctor: Babak Barcohana, MD
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“I wanted to give my story in hopes that I can help other patients who might be considering having back surgery. I first ruptured a disk in my lower back 5 years ago. I went to SCOI and saw another doctor, who gave me medicine to help with the pain. This helped me get over the episode and I was fine for about 6 to 9 months. I then hurt my back again and was given medicine that helped me for a few months. The next year, I starting hurting again but medicine wasn’t helping, so I was given a series of epidural injections, which helped for about 6 months. I then received another round of epidural shots, which helped again. My most recent episode began in January 2010. I again received the epidural shots, but they didn’t help. The SCOI doctor recommended a specific nerve root block. I was given these blocks 3 times starting in May 2010 but the pain was constant. Seeking relief, I went to two surgeons not associated with SCOI, who told me I wasn’t in enough pain for them to do anything to help me. By July 2010, I was seeing a separate pain management doctor. The pain management doctor basically told me I was going to be on medicines for the rest of my life. This to me was unacceptable because I wanted to be pain free without living on drugs. I couldn’t accept having constant back pain and constant pain running down both my legs.
I called SCOI and was directed to Dr. Barcohana. When I saw him, he looked at my MRI and right away said that the only thing that would help me was to have a spinal fusion. I had my surgery on May 17th, 2011, and immediately, the pain was gone from my legs and the back pain I had was different. I could tell that the pain was surgery pain and not the constant pain I had been enduring. By the time I went for my six- week check, I was off all drugs. If my back was bothering me a bit, I would take Tylenol and the discomfort disappears.
Today is August 17th, 3 months after my surgery. I just graduated out of physical therapy, I am drug free, back to work, and most importantly, pain free. I can’t thank you enough for the help you gave me.”
Treating Doctor: Babak Barcohana, MD
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“When I first met Dr. Barcohana, his confidence and promise for successful surgery assured me of positive outcome, which we all witness together today, at my follow-up visit. I surely will refer everyone to him for similar medical procedures as I have a vast friendly circle, as well as large extended family. May god bless Dr. Barcohana in all his medical endeavors and in his personal life.
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Treating Doctor: Babak Barcohana, MD
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“I’m writing this for those of you who would rather live with chronic back pain then consider surgery. Three weeks ago, I had my lower back fused. After my initial back injury in 2009 and several injections by a pain management doctor, I decided to consult a surgeon. My L4 L5 disc ruptured, which caused a lot of pain and burning down my leg. My surgeon took out the ruptured portion that was pressing against the nerve and causing the pain, but he warned me that the basic instability of the discs might necessitate another surgery to fuse them in the not so distant future. This was June of 2010.
The initial relief from the surgery was wonderful, but as I resumed my active life style, the disc ruptured again and my surgeon recommended fusion of the disc to keep them stable and prevent this from happening again. Many people had advised me to avoid back surgery at all costs, but I refused to consider a life without boating, hiking and my weekend hobby of showing dogs. Living with the constant pain was not an option for me. So I went forward with the second surgery on April 2011. I spent 36 hours in the hospital and was up, walking in less then 24 hours. Except for the normal post-op soreness, I have been pain free ever since.
If back pain is changing the way you live your life and could be improved with surgery, then find a great surgeon who you are comfortable with and let them help you get on the path of getting your life back. Back surgery is NOT as scary as most people believe it is. I’m living proof.”
Treating Doctor: Babak Barcohana, MD
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“The following is a recap of my surgical procedure performed on October 7, 2008.
After suffering from a pinched nerve, sever back and leg pain, an MRI revealed that I was experiencing a severe degree of central canal narrowing, or stenosis, caused by a disc herniation. I opted to schedule the earliest possible surgery. Upon my recovery from the five-hour surgery, I was informed that all had gone well. The afternoon of the surgery, I was able to walk the length of the hallway twice. The second and third day, I was able to increase the walking distant during three daily walks. These two days proved to be the most painful, with a rapid abatement of pain from then on. I was released on the fourth day, which was the last day I required pain medication. On the sixth day, when I awoke, the pain had all but disappeared.
In my opinion, the keys to success in this procedure and subsequent recovery were the outstanding skill, knowledge, and attention to detail of Dr. Barcohana and a concerted effort to optimize physical conditioning and especially, core strengthening prior to surgery. Beyond this, the SCOI physical therapy department has proven extremely beneficial in my return to good health and normal activities. My sincere thanks to Dr. Barcohana and my best wishes to him in his continuing efforts to enhance his patient’s health and quality of life.
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Treating Doctor: Babak Barcohana, MD
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“I want to express my appreciation for the expertise and care I received from Dr. Babak Barcohana and his staff. I also want to applaud the SCOI facility and organization for the attention I received while preparing and undergoing back surgery, which was on 3/28/11. From the initial consultation, the surgery itself, the aftercare, was all first rate. As all would agree, communication during a time of surgery, especially the obvious fears involved with spinal surgery, this is extremely necessary and important to the patient. Dr. Barcohana and his excellent staff are second to none. In case I forgot to mention, the extreme pain and discomfort I had prior to the surgery is gone. After all, that is what it’s all about! Thanks again, Dr. Barcohana and staff.”
Treating Doctor: Babak Barcohana, MD
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“Dr. Barcohana performed surgery on me last month. It was a double discectomy and double fusion and I’m very pleased with the results. I had severe back pain for five years and I want to tell others who are suffering in pain, to not be afraid. You really are in good hands with Dr. Barcohana. I put my fear on hold, having a choice of being in severe pain for the rest of my life or taking a positive chance with a good doctor. I was already in constant pain. So for me, there was nothing to lose.
I greatly helped myself by keeping my weight down, walking my dogs daily, taking weight-training classes, and yoga. Even though I hurt all the time, I kept on walking. Although I was in good shape before the operation, it wouldn’t have been successful without my very gifted surgeon, Dr. Barcohana. I highly recommend him.
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Treating Doctor: Babak Barcohana, MD
