The Bonati Arthroscopic Surgery Institute of Hudson, Florida will not take any form of currency, check, Visa, yen, peso, gold or any renumeration from a Medicare patient or person that happens to be disabled and on Medicare. This is a revised post to make that point clear as people that have read the previous post think that it is just a currency matter. They will only take Medicare coverage as a secondary payer after a private insurer agrees to pay the initial claim. That’s because Medicare will not pay the Institute the very high fees they charge. Okay I understand that, but it is totally Un-American at the very least to not allow me to pay the fee upfront-never mind I’m the one taking the chance the procedure may not work-and sign a no legal waiver pre-empting Medicare to interfere on my behalf. They say that they are “afraid” that I will not abide by the waiver, even though legal remedies against me would obviously be in that waiver. For those of you who have not read the first post I suffer from severe stenosis and have constant pain that extends through my sciatic nerve. I have had open back surgery that has been unsuccessful, but however saved my life because of a cortisone injection that somehow became infected and spent over a month in the hospital in intensive care. My life is a living hell with excruciating pain that is not affected by narcotics or any other drug I’ve been given to mitigate the condition.
To repeat the last paragaph as it says it all with Bonati’s quote: “We don’t want to take any chances that it might happen.” I explained that I was in need of their services, would pay the required sum, sign a waiver eliminating the government’s involvement and was told, “that’s the way it is.” This has to be a first in history of our nation. A hospital that will not take self pay, but they will take Medicare as a secondary insurance payment. That’s because they don’t want to take what Medicare wants to pay them-and I do have an issue with a Medicare here. If I can get off disability, go back to work and be productive again, then I can leave the system, they don’t have to send me a disability check or cover me until I reach the age to retire. I can have a real life again; but that’s another story. They don’t take cash with a completely legal signed waiver of rights to a claim to Medicare because there might be a problem. I am in the middle of a nightmare in the land of the free; free to deny a person the ability to be cured, and willing to pay the price. Does that sound like America to you? Now, off to find the right lawyer to try and get the Bonati Institute to do the right thing-that’s sounds more like the real America doesn’t it? It’s a sad, sad state of affairs to have to do so. Shame on you paranoid and apparently discriminatory doctors in Hudson, Florida, you bring dishonor to your profession. You are now a part of the Hippocritic Oath, to do harm to those who have the need and ability to pay. You have no excuse.
I want to be free of the government, of their payments, of their control and go back to being a productive person that has no need for anyone to dole anything to me. You would think that this would be easy, however there are only two places in the world that do this surgery and you guessed it, Dr. Bonati controls them both.
nick oliva
39 comments
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March 12, 2008 at 3:27 am
Leon Modrowski
Hi,
I, like you, suffer from severe stenosis.
I, like you, attempted to seek treatment at the Bonati Institute.
Unlike you, my cervical issues were complicated by an automobile accident.
Despite the fact that the Bonati Website clearly asks for the type of insurance coverage, and one of the “pull downs” at this page is auto insurance, I received a terse letter from them stating that they do not accept coverage from auto insurers who afford medical payments under the terms of their policy. The statement becomes even more outrageous as the insurance carrier of the individual who hit me has acknowledged has acknowledged liability and is a class “A” carrier. Further more, I have medical payment coverage to $25000 under my policy and it also is with a class “A” carrier.
Your issue perplexes me as even if you had unlimited medical coverage from a conventional insurer, the Bonati Institute would remain liable for negligence. Admittedly, this would be difficult to prove, but the argument that they remain liable even if you are a private pay does not carry any value in this instance.
I have researched the Bonati Institute, which was consolidated into a holding company a few years back. I could find no significant litigation or complaints with the BBB.
As for myself, I will bring an administrative complaint of ethics to the State of Florida and possibly argue discrimination.
Private litigation would not appear practical as one would need to establish damages. And, as you point out, there are absolutely no guarantees on any medical procedure.
March 12, 2008 at 4:38 pm
onlymoments
I would encourage you to do more research as there are many posts of this doctor in the Netherlands and some interesting stories about the effectiveness of these surgeries. My opinion is that in the near future, if not right now, there are injections can be made to the disc that may re-hydrate them and help support the the spine and decrease the amount of pain from impingments. The insurance issue of their rejection of Medicare probably stems from the legal problems they had with the state of Florida. That issue can also be found on the internet postings. They were allowed to continue the practice after certain stipulations, so I think the paranoia there is high.
I’m glad I didn’t get accepted as I don’t think they would have helped much. Remember this, 85% of all major back surgeries give pain relief for only 3 to 5 years before other complications develop. In many cases, the pain is worse after surgery especially over 50 years old.
March 16, 2008 at 3:26 am
Don Dayton
My pain had progressed to the point that I was unable to walk more than 20 feet without sitting and resting. In 2002 a laminectomy was performed and I was well into the normal slow recovery when my impatient nature caused my getting ahead of my progress and the result was the scheduling of a second surgery, this time to include fusion.
I began to look at the Bonai Institute in early 2004 just days before my second “conventional” spine surgery. Initially the information reviewed was so impressive that it almost caused me to cancel that surgery. Then as more information was discovered it seemed that this could easily be a snake oil operation. I had the conventional surgery and four years later, at the age of 72, have continued to be 95% pain free. In fact this past week, I bought loaded, unloaded and hand spread 30 forty-pound bags of topsoil. Not as quickly as at age 18 but got it done and slept well that night.
Be cautious, research again and again. Use your common sense. Question why is there a lack of papers for peer review in independent, major medical publications. Question why is there refusal to do business with agencies that would demand accountability.
I wish you good fortune in your quest for improved health and encourage you to continue that quest.
April 1, 2008 at 1:01 am
Mark
The Bonati Institute of Hudson, Florida performed three surgeries on me 8/07. I still have the back pain and now a $300,000.00 bill. I would not recommend them, they are strictly in it for the $$$.
April 24, 2008 at 5:38 am
Anonymous
I had surgery there and I am worse than before the surgery. Believe me bonati is a crook and a liar they advertise mircales, this place needs to be shut down. I can not believe I was so stupid in having my surgery there.
November 14, 2008 at 2:35 pm
George
Please be advised that The Bonati Institute re-visited the matter of Medicare and that we can now treat Medicare beneficiaries under private contracts. Thank you.
December 19, 2008 at 2:03 am
Richard
I had cervical minimally invasive surgery at the LSI Institute on
07/22/2008. My story is similar to yours. LSI and Bonati are located in FL, ARE COMPETITORS and perform endoscopic surgery. The pain in my neck is chronic and acute and have lost about 70% of the feeling in my left arm.
LSI reviewed my MRI from Nov. and fails to recognize any reason for the neck pain and loss of feeling in my left arm. I’m sure many individuals on this blog site have similar pain in the cervical or lumber spine and have difficulty sleeping at night. Everyone had my sincere empathy.
I hope the following information isn’t offensive to anyone on this blog site. I’ve had acute and chronic pain since Mar 08. Two Doctors recommended fusion of C4/C5 and C5/C6. I’m doing everything to avoid fusion. The Stenum Hospital in Stenum Germany can perform a multi disc replacement. Over 600 Americans have had this procedure. The surgeons in Germany are four or five years ahead of the US in disc replacement. In Jan 08, the first cervical and lumbar disc replacements were perfomed in Denver, CO. I’m fortunate and thankful to Our Lord to be in the financial position to have a multi disc replacement in Germany, scheduled Feb 09. The cost converted from euro’s to US$ is approx. $30,000 plus air. Please email me if you are interested. Once again, I realize most individuals don’t have $30,000. I’m appyling for a 2nd mortage to pay for the operation. Two Americans had the multil lumber dics replacements ( three years ago and are pain free) I’ll contact additional references provided by Stenum Hospital before making a contractual agreement. A chiropractor recommended contacting Erchonia Medical in Ft. McKinney, Tx. This company manufacturers the PL5000 Laser and claims it can reduce or eliminate spinal pain. I’m recently started treatment one week ago. My insurance covers the cost for the procedure. Contact Erchonia for a chiropractor in your area.
April 25, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Robert Webster
I wanted to add that I to have been treated at the Bonita Institute, and found their treatment to offer relief. Dr Bonaiti , did my the surgery, and had better results than past practitioners who did the open surgeries. Those encountered at the Bonati Institute thus far have been very professional and helpful. For further info. don’t hesitate in contacting me.
Thanks,
Bob Webster
828-898-8143
June 12, 2009 at 5:03 pm
tony k. sammons
Had prior open back surgury in march 04′laminectomy/discetomy l3-l4 full recovery no pain. St Vincints Hospital Dr Stanford j Faulkner. went back to work 60 + hrs a week for 3 years as a BOILERMAKER/PRESSURE WELDER fell and reinjured l3-4 and l4-5 with a nerve root compresion/ the local Drs.Recommended the same thing at both levels however a fusion was not mentioned. Thank god. I have 40k saved what would you do at 41 years old to get a 6 figure welding job back. The injury has caused me severe pain in L-leg and quadraceps and calf shrinkige and pain meds etc. Germany makes some of the best firearms in the world, So they must do wanders for the back. Please Reply to me what you would do. Have schulded surguries with LSI and the BONATI instutite but I don’t trust their procedures after reading numerous mishaps, however my GUT SAYS KEEP SERCHING WHAT ABOUT THE STIEN INST. IN GERMANY PLEASE REPLY VIA E-MAIL, THANK YOU, DEAREST FRIEND, YOU ARE A WISE PERSON, SINCERELY TONY K. SAMMONS USMC-VETERAN ACTIVE DUTY88-93
June 13, 2009 at 1:08 pm
onlymoments
Tony,
I literally feel your pain. Here is something that might help that has been a miracle in my life for the last three week. THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE IT IS ONLY FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES LET’S MAKE THAT LEGAL ISSUE CLEAR.
I have just been prescribed Avinza, a morphine-sulfate dose that is time-released and a low dose of 30mg. It has taken my pain level from a 10 to a 3 or 4. I am able to fully function and now i can walk without difficultly of using a cane and my mood is so much more elevated because the pain has been cut down severely. There is an experimental ’spring-like’ device that hasn’t been approved yet, but if this drug helps me to get through to the day that surgical and the addition of stem cell therapy finally appear on the medical horizon….I think I have the ability to want to live until that day………….If there’s anything i can do just write and don’t give up!!!
July 6, 2009 at 10:03 pm
teresa
iam a injured woks comps person with back and neck pain i have had two cervical epidural injections still no inprovement my doctor says there is nothing more they can do but just physcial therapy with this injection iam now feeling muscle twitching my left arm and right side of my face and also numbing and mostly pain my doctor sent me to a neurosurgeon doctor he peform a couple of test but say there is no nerve damage but i dont belive it what can i do iam tried of living in pain this has taking over my life…..
October 12, 2009 at 12:54 am
VICTORIA
Hi, I was reading your post and read where you stated that you were going to have surgery in Europe…how did it go??? I hope very wel, but my husband has had a failed back surgery and I am looking for some help and came across the Bonati Institute but have bben doing research on them… can you offer any information on the clinics in Europe?? We know it is expensive as you had posted $30,000, but will be able to pay for it. Please respond and god bless you!
December 19, 2008 at 2:07 am
Richard
Google Stenum Hospital for access to their web site
March 10, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Sara
Sara
I have the same bad spot in my cervical spine plus problems with my lumbar area following 2 auto accidents in 2004. I am still in litigation with those parties and they do not want to pay for any operations but they do accept their liability of the auto accidents. Meanwhile I am suffering everyday. I have wanted to do the same procedures in Germany that Richard talks about and would like to hear a follow-up of that operation.
Please, Richard, give the rest of us some hope and let me know how you are doing.
April 15, 2009 at 4:43 am
patti
I DID RESEARCH ON ALFRED BONATI, AND DISCOVERED THAT HE HAS HAD NUMEROUS LAWSUITS AGAINST HIM IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA!! BEFORE IT WENT TO TRIAL HE SETTLED, WHICH IN TERM WAS NOT CONSIDERED A MALPRACTICE LAWSUIT. IN OTHER WORDS, ITS A 3- STRIKES U R OUT, BY SETTLING IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A STRIKE. BY CHECKING WITH THE MEDICAL DOCTOR BOARD IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOT, AGAIN NOT, DR. LIMONTE LICENSED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I TOLD THEM HE IS WORKING THERE AND TO GO TO THE WEBSITE AND IT WILL SHOW HIM AS DR. ALSO, I CALLED THE BONATI INSTITUTE AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE DOCTORS THERE, AND WAS GIVEN THE NAME ALONG WITH THE OTHERS OF DR. LIMONTE! I ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY MALPRACTICE LAWSUITS AGAINST DR. BONATI, AND WAS TOLD “NO”! I THEN PROCEEDED TO INFORM THE RECEPTIONIST SHE WAS LYING AND NEEDED TO CHECK WITH THE MEDICAL BOARD IN FLORIDA!! THE BONATI INSTITUTE IS ONE PLACE U DONT WANT TO GO TO!! I CHECKED OUT THE DOCTORS AT LSI AND FOUND NO NEGATIVETY OR LAWSUITS AGAINST THEM. PLEASE DO RESEARCH AND CHECK ON THE DOCTORS AT BONATI INSTITUTE AND ALSO WITH ANY OTHER DOCTORS YOU MIGHT THINK ABOUT GOING TOO!!
April 25, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Robert Webster
Richard, or anyone who can help,
I have had several spinal operations, and now suffer from very harsh or serious pain in my left arm and hand. They did a carpel tunnel release, and ulner release at the elbo, however the breif semi releif has now gone.
I developed staph or MRSA while in the hospital at John Hopkins in Baltimore,Md, following a operation in my upper neck and back, Stenosis,etc .
I am searching for any nerve specialist who are very advanced and can find out where my nerves are being impinged, and which nerves are being impinged and how best to treat this problem. This is very serious as the atrophy is getting very serious in my left arm and hand.
Thank you,
Bob Webster
828-260-2152
828-898-8143
April 25, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Robert Webster
Patti,
I read your comments regarding The Bonati Institute and LSI in Tampa , and can advise you that I have been operated on by both, and there is absolutely NO COMPARISON in the two practices !
Bonati is the real deal, The guys at LSI are just copy cats at best, and in my case did a poor job at that. All they want to do is get your $ 27,000. entry fee into their clinic, which by the way they will collect before they let you through the front door. They will promise to get this back for you by filing your insurance, however you will be reminding them from now on about that. Once they are paid they seem to forget about what is due you, and I found that their treatment did not help at all.
Bonati did help me, and these other guys did not ! I hope this helps everyone.
Bob Webster
June 19, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Charles
Robert,
Appreciate your comments, and gain assurance from your words. Scheduled for
cervical surgery at Bonati in Aug. Lets face it; any surgery inherently contains
risk. A person in pain evaluates the risk with the benefit (hope) of being free of
pain.
Starting early 2004 following extreme stress in my personal life, I developed on
and off noise in my ears. A compressed air sound, and there was pressure and a
feeling of fullness in my ears, and TMJ. vERY Uncomfortable, not what I consider
pain, but the loud ‘hissing’ noise made me walk a fine line for my sanity. All the
DOCTORS SAW WAS THE ANXIETY THAT IT CAUSED!! I wouldn’t have the anxiety if you
could tell me what was wrong!!
Over the course of 5 years, it has gone from that noise to incredible dibilitating
neck pain, and the noise continues.
In January of 2008 I had open surgery in Cleveland, Ohio with a excellent surgeon
of the Collis Group. C2-c5.. It did alleviate some of the mind numbing pain, but I
will NEVER go through open surgery anywhere in the spine again.
I also knew that this surgery was just fixing a ’symptom’.. Something else was the
’cause’, not excluding STRESS which made it worse!!
I am 59 and never had other than ‘normal’ ailments up to then. Was very active in
that I walked allot on the RR for 36 years…
But, something else was making me feel actually ’sick’ including the neck pain all
the time, and no medical doctor, including Dr. Kim of the Collis Group could tell
me what was wrong, as nothing showed in ;mri’s, xrays. catscans, except what was
called disc degeneration. My neck up to 2008 had minor problems in the c2 area and
pain was easily alleviated by chiropractics. Bodies are not meant to last forever,
but the speed with which this increased was NOT normal aging!
Something from 2004 was causing self destruction of my cervical area, and the
stress and anxiety only made it worse.
I had never done a search that EVER included the c1 vertabrae or Atlas. I never
realized it’s significance, even when a chiropractor told me xrays indicated it
was twisted slightly.
Incredibly, it’s hard to imagine that no doctor ever explained it’s inportance. It
can NOT be overstated, I now understand…IT IS THE LINK BETWEEN THE PROCESSOR,
AND THE REST OF THE BODY!! Everything goes through that LINK!!
After the surgery in Jan of ‘08, in April I did a search containing ‘c1′ or Atlas
and found a pdf letter written by a very articulate guy named Greg Buchanan who
lived in Australia. As I read the letter I KNEW I had found the name of the demon
that tormented me; ‘Subluxation of the Atlas vertabrae’. His letter led me to his
site: UpCspine.com.
The damage was done, but incredibly I found a chiropractor 35 miles away, here in
Ohio, and this is after trips to a facial pain specialist in South Amboy NJ; Lyme
doctor in Phylidelphia.. All dead ends. 35 Miles!!!
Made an appointment, and the receptionist (believe it!!) knew what was wrong with
me. My Atlas was out of alignment!! She knew it!! As soon as he did the procedure,
I got strange relief from many things I was feeling, but could not describe to
doctors. I won’t expalin it, but you can see it for youself.. On Youtube; look up
atlas orthogonal, and even Montel Williams, as he dedicated a show to it.
To anyone reading this; If you or someone you know has migranes, or anything wrong
really, as symptoms are endless, please check this out. Understand this: The brain
has to comunicate with the body, and it always strives to place you head directly
above your feet. If your head is off-center, the rest of the spine has to
compensate.. It screws you up!! Check out these things for yourself, friends or
loved ones: Upcspine.com Greg’s letter is under the pull down at top left; ‘About
up c spine. And look up Atlas Orthogonal on Youtube..
Thank you Robert for the encouraging words. Appologize for the length of this, yet
trully hope it helps someone…Chuck
November 7, 2009 at 4:13 am
Denise
I find your comments interesting. Back in December 2003 I went to the Bonati Institute for cervical surgery as I had unrelenting pain down my left arm. Dr St Luis was my surgeon and I walked out pain free.
Now in May of 2009 I again started feeling pain down my left arm. I should say that I only had one procedure done in 2003, when they had identified 3 procedures that I really needed, though the others were causing no pain at the time. So I cannot complain about the relief lasting just 6 years.
Now I understand that this new LSI in Tampa was started by Dr St Luis, the same Dr St Luis that was my surgeon at Bonati Institute back in 2003. Anyway, I really don’t know anything about LSI, except that with Dr St Luis, I got relief.
Just as an aside, my sister was a registered nurse that worked at the Bonati Institute years ago. Dr Bonati was known as an ecentric, bull-headed, male chauvenist (sp?). When I asked her opinion of going there for the surgery she said that her understanding was that the complaints were from his run-ins with people due to his nasty personality, and that professionally she knew of no negatives, and she encouraged me to go there. I’m glad she did. I’m scheduled to go in on November 19th to be evaluated for my next surgery. Hope this might help someone dealing with pain.
May 30, 2009 at 5:36 am
Ronnie
Hey im hurt also with my back and there is not magic Bullet to fix it.
Exercise is the best thing to do…. Hands down.
These miracle sites on the web are like Faith Healers on TV. They just want your money. Why do you think they put the disclaimer in and why do you think most insurance companies will not pay for their operations. THINK ABOUT IT………..
With that said.. Boston Medical center Has Exellent Doctors,, UCSF in San Francisco has Also and Last but not least. Standford University.
And what makes them better is that they have to answer for what they do.
Im personally being treated at UCSF and now im out of pain and lifting and loving it…
Dr. Zummerman at St. Mary’s Hosptal in San Francisco ,, Developed the X-STop ,,,,,, if its right for you. and Can be installed in 40 minutes and removed if not helping.
Hope this helps. I have been there with you and was also searching for a quick fix.
June 10, 2009 at 5:12 am
joseph
BONAT PERFORMED CERVICAL SURGERY ON ME AND REALLY FUCKED ME UP I LOST 800CCS A LITER OF BLOOD ALMOST DIED I HAVE SO MUCH PAIN FROM HIS BOTCHED SURGERY THAT I CAN NOT FUNCTION NORMALLY, HE IS A EGOTISTICAL MADMEN THAT IS NOT BOARD CERTIFIED BY ABOS, I WOULD NOT SEND THE DEVIL HIMSELF TO THE BONATI INSTITUTE, PLEASE PEOPLE LISTEN TO YOUR GUT DONT LET THIS PIECE OF SHIT TOUCH YOU
June 14, 2009 at 7:59 am
Anna
From ST.petersburg Times, June 14 2009 about Bonati:
iThat he fraudulently entered the United States from Chile, failed the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery exam twice, then created his own board and certified himself;
• That to be accepted in Cook County Hospital’s training program, he falsely represented in writing that he attended Catholic University in Rome, later admitting that the university was bogus; and that he later claimed to have attended the University of Naples in Italy, which in litigation he admitted was bogus and that he doesn’t even know if it exists;
• That he falsified recommendation letters to get into medical school at Wake Forest University. The lawsuit says two doctors whom Bonati claimed to have drafted and signed the letters denied doing so in court depositions.
• That he was placed on academic probation at Wake Forest, and while there submitted false information to obtain medical licenses in North Carolina and Florida.
July 6, 2009 at 3:59 am
Greg Buchanan
Hey Ronnie, you obviously haven’t read my website because if you had you’d know that I don’t discuss miracles I just present the facts. The fact is upper cervical chiropractic has helped thousands. I put the Disclaimer in for people just like you …. and insurance companies do pay for upper cervical care. You’re amazingly misinformed. If you read my website you’d also know that I support doctors and chiropractors working together for the benefit of the patient. Many medical doctors are on to the benefits of upper cervical chiropractic care and often refer patients out to them. A study a little while ago in the Journal of Hypertension showed how adjusting the atlas back to where it should be “lowers blood pressure equivalent to taking 2 daily BP tablets”. A bigger study is in the wings. Good luck with your treatment. Please keep your mind open when it comes to upper cervical chiropractic. You may just be pleasantly surprised. Greg (Australia)
July 24, 2009 at 12:51 pm
William Draper
My Mother has said that persons from her exercise class really praised L S I , I do not personally know, but have been considering them for my Mom, primarily for a bulging disc . They say that they take Medicare but also require a $ 17,000 payment .
Bonati tells me that they don’t work with Medicare and charge $17,000.
It seems to me that Bonati is more forthcoming .
I visited Micro Spine just west of Panama City, FL they have told me that they work with Medicare and charge the Patient about $4000.
We just visited with Friedman at Shands Hospital , He was very disturbed about us mentioning Laser treatment…… very unprofessional of course I guess that’s the way most professionals are these days.
I believe my Mom 79 is just going to go with a standard Laminectomy treatment with HAROLD J COLBASSANI. . . . in Clearwater, Fl .
She’s been in some pain for more than 3 years, trying a few alternative things . . . Personally I think if there was proper guidance for proper physical development training for older people. . . a lot of this would not be required .
feel free to call 727-942-8599
My personal experience . . . . 1980- Doing back flips at age 19-20 piched something or other a month goes by I’m still in pain, I see a Chiropractor 2 times . . . .pain is MUCH MUCH worse. My freind Troy a reflexologist works on me . . . . . . after second treatment before the third I realized my pain was non existent .
7 years later, working in alkward position on scaffolding, hanging Wallpaper and then pulling a battery out of truck . terrible pain in my back . I visit a Peter Wong in Orlando, Florida an Acupunturist . . . . he worked wonders on me, also he did message along with the acupunture….. Pain free ever since now 2009 .
My feet were really hurting me for quite some time, and although I’ve practiced strecthing exercises since the age of 14 from my Karate classes . I decided to go to a Yoga class in Sarasota, Fl ( Beckram Yoga ) . I felt so much better the next day and the Yoga class didn’t really drain my energy at all that I can remember . I moved away though and some sort of knots developing on my feet. . . I joined a Health Club and started working out. . . . wearing these very thin like water shoes , out of the showers stepping onto grid mats ….. anyhow a few months later I realized the knot on one foot dissappeared and on the other foot had mostly gone away .
July 24, 2009 at 1:05 pm
William Draper
It is interesting to note that Dr Friedman from Shands Hospital explicity told me that Laser surgery doesn’t work, he also said vitamins are of no value , and accupunture is a uesless practice .
SOME ARE STILL IN THE DARK AGES
I personally believe. . . . that by thier explanations, laser surgery is credible and in many cases can do wonders . I think my Mom is just going to go with traditional lamminectomy due to it’s being paid for mostly with Medicare . . . . The financing of the other treatment might not be possible . . . . L S I recommended one company to us that charges 22% .
September 1, 2009 at 7:10 am
Yvonne
I too have had surgery at Bonati Institute. I had my surgery on July 29th 2009. I had and laminectomy. My surgeon there had to remove some bone to release the sciatic nerve, or so I was told. It has been almost 5 weeks, and was told that in 4-7 weeks swelling would go down and I should be better ( I’m thinking pain free). The jury is still out on this one, but I can tell you that I am still in pain. I cry to my husband and tell him that if 1 out of the 35,000 procedures was not successful, that would be me. I am now experiencing pain in a different way. I hear bones as if they were rubbing against each other. The surgeon there told me that maybe i might have to have a second surgery. I will NOT let them do anything else to me, but what doctor will want to treat me after this, and may I mention what it cost the cost was $30257.00. I am a school teacher and my husband is a firefighter believe me with both our incomes it is difficult to make it financially, but in order for me to get better, we were willing to fly to Tampa in search for this Bonati that could help people. They told me that they could help me. I went and like I said the jury is still out, but not looking good from my point of view. I just wanted to ge help for my back. They assured me they could help me. Still waiting to wake up one morning and honestly tell my husband that I am pain free. I want you to understand that I di research before I went to Bonati, Supposedly there has been this on doctor that is bent on bankrupting Bonati. And all I wanted to do was get help so I could go back to teaching-has not happened yet. HELP! I am still in pain and feels like a different kind of pain
September 2, 2009 at 5:14 am
rich
I am so sorry you like I went and had surgery with that madman bonati. I had cervical surgery and feel the same pain as you crunching bone one bone pain. obvious you are a smart person I thought I was, when your in pain you will do anything. Its ashame we did not listen to common sense Alfred Bonati is the worst he has destroyed me, and now no surgeon will touch me do to his butchery. The institute lyed about not having lawsuits, and Bonati was not board certified by abos. I tryed suing and the tampa attorney told me Bonati has destroyed many lifes with botched surgeries,and not only botched surgeries but surgeries not needed, and insurance fraud. im wating for karma to catch up with this crook, so he doesnt ruin more lives, please stay away from him my deepest sympthay
September 2, 2009 at 5:25 am
rich
I forget to mention i had a lamontomy formantomy which surgeons in my area told me 30 to 40 ccs avg blood loss, with bonati 850ccs spine surgeons almost fainted when i told him hes done 2 level lumbar fusions with less blood loss than i had from bonati. ive lost everything due to this human thrash, if i had waited could of had a 2 level cervical disc replacement,know ive seen over a dozen surgeons and they all bad mouth the procedures bonati has performed and state i will always be in pain from this surgery. I am mad at myself i knew this guy had a history and went down their anyway because of the fancy word laser, well that word has left me taken high doses of pain meds, a seperation from girlfriend and a loss of most of my friends, so please get the word out this place could destroy you.
September 14, 2009 at 1:56 pm
William Draper
My Mom went the traditional laminectomy ( she’s 79 ) , for the first week after it seemed as if she would be much worse, and the Doctor seemed to be second guessing on some things, I did not notice much involvement from the Doctor in regards to recovery . No recommendations of any massage therapy, or acupunture, just as it seemed whatever rehab facility I might choose, they all having a different therapy setup .
I chose Health South in Clearwater, they seemed to be the most capable to offer the best therapy in our price range . It seems as if they did decently . My Mom shows a desire for more therapy there .
Her operation was about a month ago with Colbassani . It appears that she will be a little better off, she says that the pain is not as bad as it was before the operation – it took about 3 weeks for her to notice an improvement in regards to the pain, still too early to tell, she is still recuperating not able to walk around as much as she was before the operation .
The M R I report after the operation looks horrendous from my perspective, still showing what I thought the Doctor was going in for in the first place, and some things that appears worse,
September 18, 2009 at 2:30 am
Yvonne
Please I need some more comments about Bonati Institute before I go back for 2nd surgery in October
September 18, 2009 at 3:20 am
onlymoments
I would say that the best surgery is no surgery. Pain management is probably a better way to go until the technology improves. A laser surgery is just a technique using a cutting instrument that is light-oriented not a metal instrument and that doesn’t make any surgical procedure any more successful or pain-free in my opinion. As you can read above in all these comments pain after surgery is prevalent for most of the above. Once you are cut open there is no way to undo the procedure. I myself would rather wait until there are better alternatives in the near future.
September 18, 2009 at 4:25 am
Yvonne
onlymoments, Thank you for the advice. My primary care physician has suggested that I go to a pain management doctor. He explained that there are now procedures where they can put electrodes in the back to send signal to the brain to not acknowledge pain from the spine. Don’t know what to do?
October 16, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Marsha Kinzer
I have had the electrodes, shots of every kind and now I am on 400mcg fentora suckers and 100mcg fentora patch plus cymbalta, lidoderm patches and a couple other pills. I am in so much pain I can hardly stand it. I had a stimulator put in my back several yrs ago which helps very little and fusion before that. I can’t stand the pain anymore. I have contacted Bonati Inst. and they have looked at my catscan and it looks like I may have to have a screw removed that is pressing on a nerve. Say what you will about this place or any other place, nothing is 100% fool proof. I would roll in pig poop if it would help so I’m willing to do whatever may help. Only God above can make all the pain go away for any of us.
September 18, 2009 at 4:31 am
Yvonne
rich, I can very much sympathize with you about break-up with firl friend. This pain that I have been in has also caused a major strain with my marriage. I cry alot with this pain, and he feels so helpful and does not know how to help me. I just want rid of this pain so I can go on with my life and enjoy my granddaughter.
September 18, 2009 at 4:34 am
Yvonne
rich, sorry about the typographical errors, I am in so much pain that I can’t even concentrate on my job. I am a school teacher, so please overlook errors. I type so fast, that brain can not keep up with the hand.
September 22, 2009 at 3:46 am
Elaine
Yvonne, I don’t think I would go back if I were you. I was the most stupid person in the whole worldl. I went back the 3rd time. I am in such awful pain, and I don’t think he can fix much at Bonati. It has been a year since my last surgery there. I went to the Texas Back Institute today, and found out that I am pretty much botched up for the rest of my life!! The Dr. said he saw quite a few patients of Bonati’s (needless to say, they were unsuccessful). He wasn’t rude, but he was very blunt that there was very little he could do, because Bonati has cut away so much of the bone that now all of the pressure is being put on one. I cannot even sleep a night through. I cannot clean my house. I cannot stand to drive. The Dr. today has ordered a milagram (sp?) and more tests Thursday. He said he was not very optimistic, and seemed very disgusted. So, except for the grace of God, my future doesn’t seem to bright.
September 22, 2009 at 3:54 am
Elaine
Oh yeah, I forgot to say that the last time I went, I lost so much blood that I had to get a transfusion to finish the next procedure. I asked them was that very common, and they told me that almost never happened. Also, my lung had 3 pinholes, and they were all concerned. (That never happens either, they said.) But the scary thing was that you are an outpatient and no one is monitoring anything when you leave the clinic for the weekend, etc. One night I awoke and was very scared, because I had quit breathing. It was a Fri. night though, and I was in Hudson, Fla. So, in retrospect, it was nothing like it sounded at the beginning.
October 1, 2009 at 3:12 pm
William Draper
Well it seems that my Mom continues to improve .
Does anyone know of any General practioners in the North Clearwater area that subscribe to more wholelistic therapy.
October 6, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Tom
To all reading this. YOU NEED TO STAY AWAY FROM THE BONATI INSTITUTE! I walked in there a little over a year ago with low back pain, taking no pain medication, and functioning enough to work part-time. Today, after 5 surgeries from Dr. Bonati, I am totally disabled, in intractable pain, and hardly able to care for myself. So much bone(lamina wall, facet joints) were cut away that my spine is unstable. Ans I have tremendous nerve and muscle damage and scar tissue. The man is a quack! The surgeries were not only unnecessary, they crippled me. Those of you injured at Bonati need to file a complaint with the Florida Dept. of Health. They recommended his license be suspended for life years ago and yet he is still practicing and damaging people every day. Please help stop him!