Dr. David Yeh

On April 2, 2019 I wrote a letter to both David D. Yeh and Dr. Ken Blumenfeld in regards to the botched operation that was done on my lower back.

The results are a far cry from any of the testimonials that have been placed.

How Dr. Yeh has received five stars is a big mystery to me. Since it has been over a week and I have neither received a letter or a phone call about the operation, leaves me no choice to tell you on how the lower back operation turned out.

The operation accrued on 1/23/2012. I did all my talking with Dr. Blumenfeld.

I explained to the Doctor that I was having sharp pains down my left leg and my feet felt like they were walking on jagged rocks. My lower back was experiencing a little pain.

MRI’s were takin along with x-rays and the finally conclusion was, I was experiencing pinched nerves in my lower back and an operation would be performed on my lower back where the Doctor would perform a spinal fusion.

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure in which two or more of the vertebras in the spine are united together so that motion no longer occurs between them. Remember, that motion no longer occurs between them.

I asked Dr. Blumenfeld if this was a good procedure for me. His reply,” Absolutely, along with physical therapy I see no problem”.

Well there was and still is a problem. My lower back is the proud owner of at least 4-5 screws. It looks now like a junkyard.

Over the years I have and still do suffer from the following pains not only in my lower back but also the bottom of my feet. Let me give you a list of problems I experience on a daily bases:

1. Bottom of feet feel like I am walking on rocks or at times causes me to lose my balance.

2. My feet at times want to turn but the mind says otherwise resulting in me falling. I have fallen at least a dozen times.

The worst was when I fell backwards and split my head on a brick ending up in the emergency room.

3. When I get out of bed in the morning, I need to use the walker for the first 30 minutes until my back is able to support me and able to walk somewhat freely or I will fall when I get out of bed.

4. As stated before I can only stand for 5 to 10 minutes before I need to sit down or grab onto something or I end up falling.

5. I cannot walk my dog even a half a block without stopping and siting down. Before the operation I could walk at least around the block.

6. Being retired I would love to get at least a part-time job but my back prevents me from applying for a job.

7. My biggest enjoyment before the operation was being an Umpire for High School Baseball teams.

Now I have problems bending and to do a two hour baseball game is out of the question.

8. Speaking of bending. Now if I bend down to pick something up off the floor I need help from someone to pick me up.

If I try to pick things up off the floor at least 2 to 3 times I end up with severe pain in my lower back. This may last for the remainder of the day.

9. I can only do projects that require me to stand and these projects can only last for 5 to 10 minutes, then I need to sit down or lean up against something.

Projects that require me to bend down (like undoing the pipes under the bathroom sink) I need to hire someone. This ends up costing me a lot.

10. Because of the pain in my lower back (which is 10 times more painful than the pain in my feet) I spend at least 80% to 85% of my time sitting down. Resulting in a boring life.

11. What was the worst was not being able to dance at my daughter wedding. Especially the daughter father dance for fear of falling down.

This gives you a rough Idea what I experience on a daily bases. So in conclusion, if you are deciding on getting a Spinal Fusion operation…….run, don’t walk away from the Doctor.

I have learned there are plenty of other ways of making you healthy instead of an operation.

I have tried all kinds of inflammatory medicines and none work. I have been to at last 8 to 9 different Doctors and none can cure the constant pain in my lower back and bottom of my feet.

If you’re thinking of telling me to get another operation? Forget it.

It would be risky and too much scare tissue. Once again, I am in constant pain from morning to night.