Which doc: Geisler, An, Doppenberg, Karahalios?

**rebeccawlaw** · 08-16-2011, 10:11 AM

Hello everyone,

I am finally brave enough for the 4-level fusion that surgeons have been recommending to me for the past 4 years. I've gotten to the "I can't take it anymore" level!

Luckily for me, I live in Chicago and am surrounded by wonderful surgeons. I have seen/am about to see the following surgeons regarding performing the surgery:

Dr. Fred Geisler - Head Neurosurgeon, Chicago Back Institute at Swedish Covenant Hospital
Dr. Egon Michael Doppenberg - Head Neurosurgeon, NorthShore University Hospitals
Dr. Dean Karahalios - Neurosurgeon, NorthShore University Hospitals (Formerly CINN)
Dr. Howard An - Orthopedic Surgeon, Head of Spine Surgery and Spine Research at RUSH University Medical Center

Has anyone had experience with any of these surgeons? Any recommendations on who I should choose?

Thanks for the help!

Rebecca

**Katie** · 08-16-2011, 05:27 PM

I wish I could give you some feedback, but I don't know anything about these doctors, other than hearing of Dr. Geisler several times (here I think).

Good luck and congratulations with your decision. It must feel like a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders!

**Justin** · 08-17-2011, 12:54 AM

Originally Posted by rebeccawlaw

Luckily for me, I live in Chicago and am surrounded by wonderful surgeons. I have seen/am about to see the following surgeons regarding performing the surgery:

Dr. Fred Geisler - Head Neurosurgeon, Chicago Back Institute at Swedish Covenant Hospital
Dr. Egon Michael Doppenberg - Head Neurosurgeon, NorthShore University Hospitals
Dr. Dean Karahalios - Neurosurgeon, NorthShore University Hospitals (Formerly CINN)
Dr. Howard An - Orthopedic Surgeon, Head of Spine Surgery and Spine Research at RUSH University Medical Center

Has anyone had experience with any of these surgeons? Any recommendations on who I should choose?

Wow, talk about a list of All-Stars! As Katie said, congratulations on making the decision to move forward--that's 80% of the battle.

In terms of which surgeon to pick: I would go with your gut; go with the surgeon you are most comfortable with, as the surgeons listed above are all top-notch. Sorry for an answer that lacks direction. It is a very personal and difficult decision ultimately deciding your surgeon, especially if you have had long-standing issues like yourself.

You are in a great position with access to some of the best spine surgeons in the world--I think it is "gut check" time.

I wish you the very best and I do hope you keep us posted on your decision. If you need anything or just need to talk, I'm here to help as always.

**rebeccawlaw** · 08-23-2011, 08:15 PM

Thanks for your replies! Justin, it gives me confidence to know that you think highly of all these surgeons. I feel lucky to have to pick between them!

Tomorrow I am going to see Dr. Karahalios and then I will make a decision. I'll keep you all informed!

Rebecca

**mark kim** · 08-24-2011, 10:49 AM

I have not seen those doctors but I did make a trip to see Dr. Fessler in Chicago. Have you thought about consulting with him? He is one of the pioneers in minimally invasive technology for spine surgery. He was one of the first to finally find out what was wrong with my spine. The next step for me is to move forward with the surgery.

**rebeccawlaw** · 08-27-2011, 10:18 PM

Thanks Mark, but minimally invasive surgery is not an option for me- my spine is too unstable.I am so confused about what to do now. Drs. An and Geisler both said a C3-7 fusion would work well for me. I went to Dr. Karahalios last Thursday and he recommended a C4-7 fusion, leaving C3-4 unfused, because it already has an artificial disc which he doesn't think is causing me any problems. He also suggested that I repeat a rhyzotomy of C4-5 and C6-7, because if I get the same results as the last one then I can be absolutely sure that those facet joints are problematic.The problem is that I was in major pain for more than a month after my first rhyzotomy (which was only 6 months ago). I didn't sleep for almost a week afterwards and I had a fever for the first 3 days. After the first month of severe pain, I had about 6 weeks of 60% relief. From what I hear, subsequent rhyzotomies usually have the same effectiveness as the first one. It was a really bad experience and I feel sick that I may have to repeat it.I don't really know what to do now. I will keep you guys updated...

**ajj1001** · 08-28-2011, 05:53 AM

Is there no other way of checking out that its the facets? I don't know about cervical so can't advise. I had an awful reaction to a caudal epidural but then wasn't anywhere as bad with a discogram that I was dreading.

**runagain** · 08-28-2011, 07:32 AM

Bec,

I had bad reactions after any ESI, facet injections, disco, that I have had. So I can see your point there.
Why not just give the facets some steroid juice and see if it helps? You might get a reaction, but maybe not as much.
This is for you to explore. I found after my first go-around with the surgeons that you look at all the opinions and see what the most sane ones are and kind of weed out the wild ideas and go for a surgeon that fits... that can speak to you honestly and explain why he or she wants to do the surgery or plan of care this way.

Wishing you good luck. I know this is difficult but you will find a surgeon that fits you. And my ENT doctor's assistant just had a four-level cervical fusion late last year and came out great. She had an earlier fusion and some other levels went bad and the fusion did not take and so it was a re-do and it still came out to her satisfaction and she has told me each time I see her that she is pain free. She had the referral from the doc she works for; surgeon No. 1 was "fired". So my recommendation is do your homework and ask a lot of questions of the surgeons. This is your body and it is a big deal. I have learned it is not always the surgeons with the impressive diplomas that are the best. But you do have some good surgeons and it is good that you have multiple opinions; now you just have to see which one you want to hire.

r

**MDE** · 11-02-2011, 11:22 AM

I've personally worked with Doctors Geisler, An, and Doppenberg. I have no experience with Karahalios.

I'd say you can't really go wrong with the first three, but my experiences would probably lead me to pick between Geisler, has been a pioneer in the industry, and Doppenberg, who is just an incredible surgeon.

I actually know someone who is regularly in all three of their OR's and could get a recommendation from her if you'd like, but I do agree with Justin. With your choices, it's more important for you to feel confident in them than anything else. I'm positive all of them are great surgeons.