Steingart Orthopedics, P.C.

The following are for the purpose of general information. You should consult either your personal doctor or Dr. Steingart for your specific needs.

What our patients say about their experience with Dr. Steingart.

Actual letter addressed to Dr. Steingart Dated August 21, 2003

08/21/03

Dear Dr. Steingart,

Before I met you, I had been to like eighteen doctors for my back. No one would help me because of my age, or because of my size, or because my L5-S1 disc herniation was on the right side and my pain & numbness was mainly on my left side.

When I sent my MRI to you, you suggested I come to Phoenix for an appointment. I did. You thought my disc looked really bad, but you thought you would be able to help me, you were willing to try.

Two months later, in June, I was in Phoenix having a selective endoscopic discectomy. I don't remember anything about the surgery. I had my surgery on a Monday. I slept, more or less, until Thursday morning, my mom and I stayed at a hotel in Scottsdale. Thursday morning the feeling was back in my legs, the numbness was gone. I had had no feeling in my left leg since January and little feeling in my right leg since April. On Friday I had a post op appointment in your office. Everyone in your office freaked out, they said they didn't recognize me! Everyone said I looked healthy, the color in my face was good, that I was sitting and acting like a normal girl. I went back to Albuquerque and two weeks later I was running on the treadmill in physical therapy, without any pain in my entire body! My PT said you had performed as close to a miracle surgery he had ever seen. And I agree. I am now back to a normal teenage life (yes, I'll be careful...) and going away to college, completely healthy.

Thank you!

Actual testimony of current Patient of Dr. Steingart Dated March 5, 2003

I was introduced to Dr. Steingart January of 2001. I was suffering from horrific back pain which was affecting both my back as well as my legs. There were days when even the most simple tasks like sitting, standing and even laying down became difficult or were filled with extreme pain.

Dr. Steingart opted for a very conservative approach with his initial addressing of my problems. First was some pain medication, which was followed up by physical therapy, after which I tried acupuncture, massage therapy epidural injections and even anti inflammatory injections and T.E.N.S. Stimulation device. Nothing seemed to provide me with any lasting relief and frankly the pain was getting worse not better.

It was only then that Dr. Steingart suggested that I consider the SED (Selective Endoscopic Discectmy) Procedure. He explained that it was minimally invasive, the risks were far less than that of full open back surgery and that I was a very good candidate for this outpatient surgical procedure. After giving this some thought and weighing all of my options I agreed to the procedure. April of 2001, the day arrived that I was to have the SED procedure. I came through the surgery okay and within hours I felt relief that I had not felt for months prior. I was very pleased and thankful for having agreed to the procedure. and to Dr. Steingart for performing it.

Unfortunately my relief was short lived. Four months after the surgery I was rear ended by a semi truck on the freeway and that, for the most part seemed to have undone the wonderful work that Dr. Steingart had performed on my lower back. Once again I was back in all sorts of therapies, medications etc. The following February, 2002 I once again opted to have SED performed on me so as to help me once again with my disabling pain. This time the surgery only gave me partial relief and now I may have some permanent nerve damage and or signs of neuropathy, however this is not because of anything Dr. Steingart has done, but rather as a result of damage caused by the accident.

I would say to anyone who is considering back surgery, to first contact Dr. Steingart. He can probably help you. The idea of going home the same day, and being back on your feet in days rather than months is incredible.

Dr. Mike, you are an incredible Doctor, and I will always be grateful for all that you have done and continue to do for me. You really do care, and it shows in both your care giving techniques as well as your friendly yet professional office staff and environment.

Actual letter to Dr. Steingart Date January 22, 2003

In September 1998, I hurt my back jumping out of my friends truck. I had sciatic nerve pain and muscle spasms. Over the next couple of years I developed herniated discs in my lower back. I was completely disabled and was out of work for months.
I had physical therapy, epidural injections, pain killers and anti inflammatory drugs. None of these therapies had a lasting effect.

In January, 2000, I saw Dr. Michael Steingart for the first time. He had a new procedure that he thought might be helpful to me. The first week in March Dr. Mike performed selective endoscopic discectomy on me. I was only the 16th patient on which this procedure had been performed. I was back in physical therapy 1 week later, and back to work within two months. Although there are not guarantees, for me - the results were nothing short of miraculous.

Thanks, Dr. Mike

Actual letter to Dr. Steingart

Everyday is Better than the One Before

I was in bad shape. I couldn’t stand, sit, walk, or lay down for any given amount of time without experiencing pain in my lower back and hips. Also, there was that screaming siatic pain compromising my left leg and foot. I had been treated with a muscle relaxer for back pain, but I knew there was something bad going on in my body. I went seeking help. I went to several specialists who wanted to perform major surgery. Everyone concluded that fusing my spine was answer. I’m only 47. I felt that that was too drastic for a person my age. Was that the only answer?

I decided to get one more opinion. I went to see Dr Steingart. The way he handled the situation was totally different from other Doctors. First he did not just view the MRI report as conclusive evidence that surgery was needed. He wanted to see the MRI film itself. He spent time with me to determine if the type of surgery he offered was the kind that would be right for me.

The surgery went well for me. I must though be honest and state recovery was not a piece of cake for me. There were some uncomfortable and painful times. There was a time that I had wondered why I had chosen this surgery at all. I had to have three disc’s operated on so it was more intense for me. Plus I was sensitive to pain medicine therapy.

Yes, it has been seven months since my surgery and things are definitively better.

There are still a bad day or two now and again, but over all things are better. For instance I can now sit at my computer for an hour or two (taking a stretch at intervals). (There’s nothing wrong with taking a stretch. We should all be doing those things as prevention anyway.) My energy level does increase as I learn to be friendly to the needs of my body. Daily exercise is something that I need to plan for the rest of my life. I am also learning to eat better. Being overweight is not good for people with bad backs. I’m walking in comfort. I can sleep all through the night without pain. There is a little residual siatic discomfort but that seems to be diminishing as time goes by. Like I said there must be committal to lifelong exercise and stretching.

I recommend this surgery to anyone who does not wish to have his or her spine mutilated unnecessarily. This is a progressive method and essentially I feel as if I have been given another chance to live my life close to normally. Because of this procedure, for me, everyday is better than the one before.

E-MAIL: Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2002 03:18:17 -0700

Subject: Thank you for helping with the pain

On August 19, 2002, I underwent a Selective Endoscopic Discectomy to relieve pain in my lower back. The procedure was a little painful in the beginning, however, after Dr. Steingart and assistant Dr. Powell pin pointed the area, there was no more pain during the procedure.

There was no hospital stay, and I was able to go home the same day and start recovering. Since the procedure, my lower back pain has reduced about 40 % and it's getting better every day. The pain appears to be from the healing and not the disc itself. The day I had the procedure done I could feel the difference right away. In fact, about a month
before I had the procedure done, I had terrible pain in my hands at night when I was sleeping. After the procedure the pain in my hands has never returned. Also, occasional back spasms and cramping in my leg have been reduced to about half.

I can't say enough about the procedure; I am very pleased. I have talked about and sent the brochure to friends and people that I have met who have told me of their back and leg pain. As to Dr. Steingart and assistant Dr. Powell, they are the best. They are both very
compassionate and will help you any way they can; you couldn't ask for better doctors. In closing, I must say I am very happy with the results of my Selective Endoscopic Discectomy procedure. I would recommend it to anyone.

Actual letter to Dr. Steingart

Dear Dr. Steingart,

Thank you so much for the improvement in my back and nerve pain with the Selective Endoscopic Procedure.

As you know I have been a nurse for 33 years and have seen and heard a lot about back surgeries. This is why it took me 2 years and a few doctors to get to you and the SED Procedure. I knew that if there was a way to get some relief without such an invasive surgery it could only benefit me in the long run. The other doctors told me that there was a 50% chance of any improvement if I were to have fusion. That wasn’t good enough for me to take the risk. Well, I got the 50% improvement with your procedure and I didn’t have to spend days at the hospital or worry who going to pay the bills or worry about who was going to take care of me. The minimal pain with this procedure was nothing compared to what it could have been with a major surgery. The other benefit was that as an outpatient procedure, I walked out of the surgical center and went right home.

So I still have pain? Yes. Can I stand up straight now? Yes. Can I function somewhat normally? Yes. I have learned to adjust and listen to my body, and I know what I can and cannot do.

Thank you again for everything and I would recommend this procedure or your services to anyone and I have.

Actual letter dated: June 3, 2002

To Whom It May Concern: Health Care Hero

I have been a patient of Dr. Michael A. Steingart for over a year. When I met him, I had been dealing with a work related injury for months and fighting the worker compensation system. Since the beginning he went beyond his duties to try to help me, my condition was worsening as the legal process was taking a long time. Dr. Steingart decided that he was not going to wait on the decision of the court, so he offered to do my back surgery not caring how or when he was to be paid. So he did, and was also more than willing to testify on my case, which he did. In all this he always showed more concern for my health and welfare than any other physician I have ever come into contact.

In my case he accomplished 3hat I would call a Miracle. My back injury was so server that I could not hold and upright position, all related to life was a big challenge. After the surgery he recommended me to the best physical therapist he knows, and 6 weeks after surgery I was back to work!

My family, extended family and Church family are all very grateful to Dr. Steingart for what he did for me. Because his generosity, integrity and the success that he accomplished in me, I know that many would seek his help if they were ever in need of his expertise. When you receive your UPS package in time, thank Dr. Steingart, for the UPS man that brings your package me be me.

Actual letter dated September 20, 2002

I have been a patient of Dr. Steingart since October 0f 2000. In 1999 a disc in my lumbar spine ruptured and I was in desperate need of medical care. At the time I did not have any insurance so I had to apply for state assistance for medical care. Over the next 14 months I was denied care, sent to doctor's who administered over 13 injections into my lower back and was denied surgery twice. I was bed-ridden for many months could not work or go to school, and was taking 3 different kinds of pain medication. I did not know if I would get the help I needed so that I could get back to my normal life. Because of my inability to walk or be active in any way I had also gained 40 pounds.

In September of 2000, I was referred to Barrows Neurology in Phoenix, Arizona. I was told that I was not a candidate for surgery. Even though my MRI had clearly shown that I had a herniated disc I still was not a candidate! I could appeal the decision bit did not because, if the surgery had been approved it would have been an open back procedure.

I continued to fight for a second opinion, and was very insistent with the insurance company. I had no results and by this time 15 months had passed and I still needed care. In the meantime, Barrows had given me a name of a surgeon who specialized in arthroscopic surgery. I met Dr. Steingart in October of 2000. I cannot begin to express my gratitude fro what Dr. Steingart did for me. He went "out-on-a-limb" and saw me as a new patient knowing that he was not a provider for my insurance. I was in such pain and had re4ached my limit of desperation and Dr. Steingart (in his gentle way) told me he would do anything and everything to help me. He determined that I was a candidate fro his type of surgery and prepared paperwork to submit to the insurance company to see if they would consider approving the surgery.

Three months later (January 2001), I was informed that the surgery had been approved. On January 22, 2001 Dr. Steingart performed a selective endoscopic discectomy on my lumbar spine. Un until then I had severe leg pain, numbness and tingling, incredibly painful back spasms, and nerve pain so bad that I could not walk. During the surgery, the leg pain STOPPED and I felt some relief from the nerve pain. I was home that same day by 12:00 noon and was able to continue (slowly) with my college education. It has been nearly two years since my surgery and I am doing quite well. Although I have some days that are painful it does not compare with how I felt before my surgery. The nerve pain never returned,. The numbness and tingling in my leg is gone, and I have reduced my pain medications to only two pills per day rather than 8-10 pills per day. Thanks to Dr. Steingart's successful procedure, I have my quality of life back and will graduate college in the spring of 2003. I will always be grateful for the way I was treated during my time as a patient with Steingart Orthopedics. Dr. Steingart is an excellent doctor and is dedicated to help as many patients as possible. Dr. Steingart works endlessly to find ways to help all of his patients and to offer the best services available.

Actual letter dated November 11, 2002

I was young, in fairly good shape, a hand’s on kind of mom that enjoyed outdoor activities with my family. Landscaping the yard, laying bricks for our patio and planting new trees, these were a few of the activities I really enjoyed. Years earlier I injured my lower back water skiing. It took a couple of weeks to recover from the injury, but this injury seems to have been the onset of my lower back problems.

A few years later while on vacation, I awoke in the morning unable to crawl out of bed due to sever lower back pain. Something as simple as sleeping in an awkward position was enough to start the downhill process. I had experienced lower back pain off and on over the years, but nothing like this. I went to an emergency outpatient clinic where the physician took x-rays of my lower back. I was diagnosed with having degenerative disc disease, he recommended that I follow-up with an orthopedic specialist when I returned home. I met with Dr. Michael Steingart who ordered a MRI and confirmed the diagnosis; we started working on a treatment plan.

I was experiencing server pain in my lower back that radiated into my buttocks, down my leg and into my foot. I felt a numbing, tingling sensation in my foot, and had severe muscle spasms. Standing for even short periods of time was incredibly painful, sitting was uncomfortable and bending was unbearable.

We started off with muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory and pain medication. The pain did not cease which eventually led us to try cortisone injections, epidural blocks, chiropractic adjustments and physical therapy. If I felt any relief from the procedure, it was always temporary. After careful consideration, I decided to have selective endoscopic discetomy surgery. The procedure was very painful but tolerable. I experienced immediate relief and no longer felt pain radiating down my leg into my foot. The numbing, tingling sensation was gone, and the recovery period was very short. The scar was so small that it is barely visible today.

The surgery was over two years ago. At first, I was able to resume my normal activities. As time goes by, my symptoms are slowly returning. Certain movements, exercises and activities worsen the problem. I now experience lower back pain that radiates into my buttocks; sometimes I feel pain down my leg to approximately my knee. I am still taking daily medications which provide relief. I recently completed physical therapy which was helpful. Cortisone injections seem to provide more long term relief and make the pain more bearable.

Having selective endoscopic discectomy surgery was very beneficial and allowed me to have a more normal lifestyle, I am glad I chose this option.