Spine Team Texas - Rockwall

perry gentry

I was apprehensive about my visit before I got there but I can say that Dr McPherson, Shannon and everyone I dealt with today far exceeded my expectations. I was so scared of the possible outcome regarding the issue I was having, but Dr McPherson listened , educated and together we came up with a plan that I am pleased with. I appreciate the time he took in getting to know me, and his formulating an option that,hopefully, will take care of my issue and that he didn't just rush to surgery, which is what I'd dreaded. From the bottom of my heart, thank you and I look forward to seeing the progress I make before my follow up visit! Linda Gentry

Stephen May

Today was my fifth visit to Spine Team Texas. I have had a very positive experience with their physical therapy department, and the front office staff and nurses are just fine. However, Dr. Cooper seems to be much more interested in covering his rear end than actually helping me with my pain. At his request I had an MRI which showed fairly severe damage to my spine with cracks in every vertebra due to osteoporosis. I have a tremendous amount of lower back and leg pain. The leg pain is akin to diabetic leg pain, but in my case was caused by the two back surgeries that I had in 2016. On my second visit, Dr Cooper prescribed two 10 mg oxycodone pills a day. This did not provide any lasting relief to my pain as the pain relief from those pills only last about 6 hours. So I asked him to increase my dosage to three pills a day, which he did. He suggested that I have an injection in my spine, which I had. It helped, but it wore off very quickly and it actually increased the pain in my left leg. On the next visit I asked him to increase my dosage, which he did, to three 10 mg oxycodone pills a day. It still did not provide around the clock relief, so I today I again asked him to increase my dosage to four 10 mg oxycodone pills a day. He told me that he would not increase my dosage because he was worried about how it would appear to the DEA. Specifically, he said, "Do you know how many patients have been put in jail for being over prescribed? None! Do you know how many doctors have been put in jail for over prescribing? Many of them". I was absolutely flabbergasted and appalled! He was clearly more concerned about his reputation and standing then he was about relieving my pain. I said to him,"I believe that one of the major tenants of the hypocratic oath is to do no harm. By not treating my pain you are harming me". He muttered something under his breath and left the room. To put this into perspective, my primary care doctor in Phoenix, where I was living until about 4 months ago, prescribed three 15 mg oxycodone pills a day, a total of 45 mg. I was asking him to increase my dosage to a total of 40 mg a day. So a person who bills himself as a pain doctor was not willing to prescribe a pain killing dose because he was concerned about how the DEA would view him, not about ameliorating my pain! He never said a word about whether he thought that I did not need the extra medication, which would have at least been a valid reason to not increase my pain medication dosage. He then suggested that I seek another pain clinic. I have done everything that they asked, the x-rays and MRI to show where my pain is coming from, and having the injection in my back that Dr Cooper recommended. The urine tests that I have had show that I am taking my medication as directed, but despite all of this he was not willing to increase my dosage to a level that would still be lower than my GP prescribed in Phoenix. So thank you very much, Dr Cooper! I will definitely be seeking another pain clinic where maybe they will treat my pain rather than worrying about covering their backside with the DEA. From other reviews that I have read about this medical practice it appears that there may be other doctors there that have a different attitude, so this review is, in a way, unfairly negative about the entire practice, which is unfortunate. However, because of my experience with Dr Cooper I simply cannot recommend this organization. Caveat emptor!

Eddie Liberato (EdFreemen)

I met with 3 different physicians wile working with the Rockwall location. Dr. Richard McPherson, Dr. Joseph Platon and finally Dr. Leonard Kibuule. All of these appointments left me with the impression that my medical issue was not the priority. I don't know if it is a policy or individual internal bias on the part of the physicians but it seemed as if all the staff were practicing defensive medicine and that the goal was not to treat my issue but to protect the organization from liability there was to my assessment an unreasonable emphasis that my issue was being caused by my diabetes rather than a mechanical issue related to the obvious bulging disk identified on the MRI imaging and then confirmed by the nerve test I was required to undergo. At my final appointment Dr. Kibuule came in had me take a few steps around the exam room and determined that I would require surgery to resolve the issue. He stated with no hesitation that because of my size he was unwilling to conduct the surgery himself and would instead refer me to a different spine specialist across town. No other treatment plans were discussed or options presented. I was shuffled to the pay counter and then out the door. While paying my bill I asked if the office would be sending the referral and was told yes. 2 weeks went by, I contacted the office I was to be referred to and found out that the referral had not been sent. I contacted the Rockwall location and was informed that they had no notes or indication that I was to be referred to another Dr. I was also informed that my case was closed as far as they were concerned. In the end it is my assessment that Spine Team Texas is not in the business of helping people with their medical need but rather extracting as much money as possible from patents and insurance and providing less than the minimal services they state on their website and marketing materials.

Johnna Stephenson

Dr. Berg was great with my 85 year old father. He was genuinely concerned about his over all well being. He read the reports, then pulled his chair in front of my Dad and compassionately said, "Tell me what's been going on with you." We had recently lost my Mother and Dr. Berg listened with kindness, and a sympathetic heart. We feel fortunate to have my father in Dr. Berg's care.