Having problems choosing Surgeons

jbcool35 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-18-2011, 08:48 PM

Does anyone have any information on Dr. Frank Acosta out of Cedars Sinai in Beverly Hills, CA? He is the one I'm scheduled to have surgery with next month. Would like to know if there is anything good to say about him.

joejoe · #2 (**permalink**) 04-19-2011, 05:12 PM

I dont have any experience with Dr Acosta. Im with Maria on Dr Delamarter. I recently had a fusion at L1-2, and 2-3, and a Disc replacement at L3-4, and L4-5. He was a great doctor. I feel after a lot of research ,and talking to others that he was one of the best . I am 7 months out of surgery and am very happy with the outcome.

jbcool35 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-19-2011, 08:42 PM

Well I'm gonna go over my current MRI and digital x-rays with the Doctor and I'll go from there. I'm leaning toward no more surgery. It just doesn't feel right in my gut.

Maria · #4 (**permalink**) 04-19-2011, 09:32 PM

I followed this too in latter years and haven't been displeased. Who knows maybe I woulda been better w/more surgery, maybe not. All I know is I wasn't psychologically prepared to be worse at all and felt Ok w/where I was at compared to where I had been post 2nd surgery and quite a number of years.

Then again.. who knows. Some people would say you're going to feel some "gut" reaction anyway and being nervous/scared is normal though I'm trusting my own instincts more and more after some bad trial and error. Again all is subject to change at any time re more surgery~ just felt that the time surgery was auth'd I wasn't really ready or had been more ready at an earlier time when WC was taking their time w/the auth (gave it, took it back, had to go another 2 more years to get it again and by then I felt differently spine wise).

Good luck either way. I'm sure you'll make a well researched thought out decision whatever you do.

dshobbies · #5 (**permalink**) 04-19-2011, 09:38 PM

While no one should tell you to have surgery or not, you are right in not going forward if it doesn't feel right.

Only you will experience any benefit with a positive outcome or suffer with a negative one. We've all second guessed ourselves into oblivion so if you're not sure but 'give in', you could very well spend the rest of your life playing the what if game.

Dr. Delamarter and Dr. Regan are both excellent surgeons with great reputations and egos that match. However, you're not shopping for a friend, you want the best.

Good luck, Dale