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Vera Johnson |
I found myself in excruciating pain after a local neurosurgeon operated on my back. He cut out a huge portion of my lamina and placed “bumpers” between my vertebrae and put me in a back brace. Immediately after surgery I was in pain. The pain worsened over the next few months. He said I would be fine. Fortunately for him, Dr. Saatman’s intervention made me more than fine.
I couldn't handle the pain anymore. The stress was overwhelming and I didn't want to live anymore. I tried all pain medications in the book, but none was successful. I was restricted to bed rest with very limited walking abilities. After numerous cries for help, the previous neurosurgeon told me to go to the emergency room for further treatment. He refused to hand over the previous X-rays delaying my ability to get a second opinion.
Finally, a real person who is now a forever friend, Dr. Donna Saatman, saved my life by repairing my previous botched surgery and healing me emotionally. Dr. Saatman showed me the films of my back. The previous surgery left my spine unstable and the results left me in danger of paralysis. Dr. Saatman recommended an exploration of prior lumbar interbody fusion, posterior instrumentation of L5 to S1 and poster lateral fusion of L5 to S1. Although there were many risks involved, Dr. Saatman gave me the confidence that I lost from the previous surgery.
I was given ample opportunity to ask questions which were answered accordingly. I was also given encouragement to return to the office for treatment of any discomfort which was taken care of immediately. Now I can walk without pain and function as a normal human being. The procedure that was performed changed my life and I was very grateful to Dr. Saatman for making life worth living again.
Vera Johnson
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In October of 2006, a MRI revealed a tumor on my spine and I was referred to Dr. Donna Saatman for a consultation. My husband and I were impressed with Dr. Saatman from the start. Her professionalism was balanced with a sincere caring attitude which put us both at ease. Dr. Saatman recommended a lumbar laminectomy. She fully explained the procedure, and because nerve endings were involved, she compared it to taking wall paper off a wall and trying not to destroy the integrity of the wall. Her approach was to err on caution rather than to risk damage to the nerves. The expected four hour surgery lasted almost seven hours. Thanks to Dr. Saatman's skill and copious attention to this laborious surgery, she was able to remove the entire tumor without any damage to nerve endings. Thanks to God, the tumor was benign and I recovered quickly. I would be remiss if I did not mention Dr. Saatman's personable and capable nurse practitioner who provided follow-up care; as well as the Bay Area Neurosurgery office manager whose administrative assistance in handling of appointments, MRI films, and insurance claims etc. was very efficient. Based on my experience, I highly recommend Dr. Saatman to anyone in need of a neurosurgeon.
Cheryl Russell |
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I was in an automobile accident and was in constant pain. I had herniated discs in the cervical part of my spine. I had seen several neurosurgeons and under went different treatments, and only experienced temporary relief. After approximately one year of taking medications, I started to have side effects from the medications. I spent 11 months in pain, walking very carefully no to move the wrong way.
My doctor recommended seeing Dr. Saatman. I went in for a consultation, after researching the surgical procedure cervical discectomy. I learned more from Dr. Saatman and her associates in 30 minutes than I have in the entire year. I had considered surgery as a last resort. Visiting Dr. Saatman was the best decision I made. She was informative and right to the point on what I needed to do to get better. Her office staff was very courteous and excellent regarding any questions I had during my follow up care. I am now recovering from the surgical procedure and feel better than I have felt in one year.
Melanie Flowers |
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Oct. 6th, 2006
Ref: Dr. Donna Saatman
2005 was quite a year for me. During a routine visit to have my eyes tested for new glasses, I was referred to an eye specialist, where in turn I was sent to Brandon Hospital Emergency Room, there i was diagnosed with a Pituitary Tumor which required surgery. As a sufferer of high blood pressure for over 30 years, this was quite an emotional strain on me. For me my encounter with Dr. SAATMAN was life changing. She physically performed surgery on me that left me alive and well and emotionally through her professionalism and general concern for my well being, was able to explain my condition to my daughter and cousin who had rushed from New York to be by my side. She continued to care for me during my subsequent radiation treatments and her patience as well as valuable medical skills helped me to overcome a difficult time in my life.
Lillie Donovan
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Ron Raulerson |
"When facing spinal surgery, we become very cautious and want to explore all options. I certainly did. I went the route of physical therapy, chiropractor, and an epidural procedure, anything to avoid surgery. All to no avail in stopping the excruciating leg and hip pain emanating from the sciatic nerve. After exhausting all of the above and coming to the realization that surgery may be my only hope of relief, I then began to explore surgeons.
Since I have a condition called Transverse Myelitis, which is a spinal cord condition, I'm even more skeptical of surgery that involves the back and spinal nerves. I consulted with my neurologist at USF and my personal care physicians office, I saw one of his assistants who I have a great deal of faith in, all of who knew and recommended Dr. Saatman. My PCP's office made an appointment with Dr. Saatman and I was able to sit down and listen her explain, with great care, what my problem was and the surgery needed to correct it. After that visit, I felt certain I was in competent hands.
Surgery was scheduled and done on December 5, 2004. Everything went as Dr. Saatman had stated and much better than I had imagined. I was hospitalized for one night and that night about nine o'clock, who shows up but Dr. Saatman for a brief examination and to see how I was doing. Again, she was there the next morning to check me out and be sure I was ready for release, which I was. Within a few days I was walking and able to get in and out of the car. Within a week I was doing most everything I desired, within the limits set by the doctor.
Before surgery, I had to sleep on the floor to get any kind of relief. Even to watch TV laying on the floor was the only option, sitting in a chair was just too painful. I could not drive without terrible pain in my right hip. Pain ran down the back of my right thigh and to the ankle. Now, three months later, I am without pain and able to do everything I could prior to surgery. We now have a vacation planned to fly to Maine and drive up the coast and into Canada and on to Nova Scotia. A plan that would have been impossible prior to the December surgery, in fact, I wondered if I would ever be able to drive any distance.
The best endorsement I have heard for Dr. Saatman, came from my PCP. I was seeing him the other day and relating how pleased I was with the results of my operation. He stated he has heard a lot of good things about the doctor and "If I have to have back surgery, she's going to do it".
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Kelly Grier |
Hello,
my name is Kelly Grier and I came to Dr. Saatman in
October of 2004 after being told by several different
surgeons that I was fine. I had a degenerative L5 disc
bulge and through the years I was tired of chiropractors.
Yes, they would get me going again but I was tired
of all that, the locking up of the back and going
in to get it straightened, the pain, and the numbness
running down the leg. Well, I am here to tell you all
of that is gone. Dr. Donna Saatman performed a back
fusion of the L4 to L5 and L5 to S1. She has fixed
me and I am so grateful to her. I did as I was told
in the coming home part and went back to my job 3 weeks
after surgery with my brace of course. I graduated
out of the brace January 11th. Now I’m working
my second job on weekends and loving it. No more worries!
Dr. Saatman, you are the best. |
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Hilton S. Nicholson JD |
April 8, 2005
A note of profound gratitude:
In the summer of 2004, quite suddenly in the middle of
constructing my residence, I began experiencing weakness
in my arms and legs. After consulting with several medical
specialties, I was referred to Dr. Saatman. On my first
visit to her, she diagnosed the problem and recommended
a treatment regiment, and gave sound pertinent advice
as to what activities I was to or not to perform. Her
advice proved to be most accurate and beneficial. Today,
at five month after spinal surgery I am on the mend and
my strength is soaring, my motor skills are very improved,
and I definetly see positive signs that I will be back
to my normal condition in due time. My experience regarding
the care she afforded me was extremely positive and I
thank her for that. |
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Dr. D. Saatman,
On Tuesday, 7 February, you operated on a very good friend of mine, who had/has tumors in the brain and has made such a remarkable recovery.
I would like to express my gratitude to you and your team on your exceptional work during your surgery on my good friend.
You should know that Chris has many friends all around the world, and many were praying for the success of the surgery. From the UK England, to California, Nevada, New Jersey and too many more to list here.
Again, thank you for your fine work. It has made a lot of people very
happy.
From Newfoundland, Canada. Thanks!!
Chris Wootton |
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Kevin Bradberry |
Dr. Saatman,
The prospect of searching for someone to place your life in their hands is a journey one should never have to take. But sometimes it is necessary.
I felt it only fitting to submit to you my deepest gratitude for your successful efforts to restore my quality of life. As you know, I fractured my L-5 vertebrae in 1996, and have since suffered from constant low back pain. As the years from 1996 to 2005 slowly passed, one painful minute after another, the increasing discomfort and chain reaction of my initial injury began sucking the life out of me. The area of my fracture allowed my L-5 Vertebrae to begin slipping forward until I was faced with a grade 3 slip and eventually irreparable damage to my adjoining lower disc(S-1). The pain naturally motivated me to begin my research for an adequate remedy to my problem. As keen as I was to my own situation at that time, I had only a vague idea of just how much danger I was in of becoming a paraplegic.
I began research to find the best orthopedic and neurological surgeons in the Country. After I felt my search was narrowed, I requested a Consult with one of the leading surgeons in the state. It took me 3 Months just to get in to see him, and then 9 hours in the waiting room. And then to top it off, his Diagnosis (in my eyes) was unacceptable. He informed me of my options, along with their limited success rate and long term potential problems. I felt I was hopelessly back to “square one” and resigned myself to the fact of never feeling pain free again.
I began intervals of facet injections every 30 days, along with prescription pain medication. While I knew it was very risky and expensive I felt I had to do something to ease my constant pain. Though the initial treatments did help me a little, I had no desire of adding additional problems such as the risk of infection, possible addictions, and long-term side effects from pain med use. In addition to that, I still had to contend with the possibility that I was now acutely aware of: A sudden blow to my back could cause paralysis, and that my slippage was only getting worse. I felt like a ticking time bomb! Needless to say, I knew this was not the answer for me.
I informed my private physician that I felt I was completely out of options, and was doomed to spend the rest of my life in what was now reaching excruciating levels of pain. He suggested that a new surgeon in town may be able to help me, and that she has already performed a surgical procedure on one of his office employees. With excellent success I might add.
So, I called and scheduled an appointment with you. It was easy to get in to see you, and your staff was very helpful and genuinely concerned about my needs. After a review of my X-rays, and updated MRI, it seemed that you knew exactly what I needed to do, and more importantly, I believed you! I deal with many different types of people in my line of work, and I feel that my sense of judgment and gauge is very accurate. I felt comfortable, at ease, and I trusted your medical assessments most of all.
You performed my surgery on April 4th, 2005, and I want to thank you for all you have done for me and my family. I can walk, work, provide for, and protect my family and I get to do it all pain FREE! Most of all, I can pick up my Three year old when she asks me to. That brings me the most joy! Thank you again for your confidence in yourself, passion, skill, and conviction for your trade. Most of all, thank you for your genuine efforts to giving people back their quality of life. Myself, and family are eternally grateful.
Sincerely,
Kevin Bradberry |
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Dr. Saatman and Staff,
In April of 2005 I wrote you a letter of recommendation for the procedure you performed on my lower back. The surgery was extensive, and your assessment, recommendation, procedure, and predictions where all accurate, and flawless. It is now 1 year and 4 months after that first surgery, and I am recovering from my second (pre-planned removal of the hardware) surgery that you performed on August 7th 2006.
Thank you again for all you’ve done for me and my family. As you predicted, and am recovering from the second surgery very rapidly, and am happy to report, that I feel strong and confident about my physical condition and promising return to a normal physically active lifestyle. I have recommended you to many people, including the X-ray staff at Signet Diagnostics Imaging Services, My private physician, and his staff, friends and family with similar conditions, and many others. Thank you for being a true professional and genius in your field. If you have patients, or others who need a personal reference on you, feel free to give them my Email address. I will be happy to explain things from a patient’s perspective. Thank you again, and I will see you on my post op follow up. Keep up the great work, and God Bless.
Kevin Bradberry
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