Depending on whom you ask, Fletcher-based neurosurgeon Michael J. Rosner is either a skull-shaving savior or a shameless opportunist who’s needlessly operating on patients desperate for a cure.
For about a decade, Rosner’s work has gone in a direction pursued by only a handful of neurosurgeons in the United States: snipping away bits of the spine and the back of the skull to treat neurological conditions found in patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia.
Rosner’s work caught the attention of the North Carolina Medical Board, which summarily suspended his medical license in 2002, concluding that he’d performed eight unnecessary surgeries on patients. Brian Blankenship, the board’s attorney, said the agency, which is charged with looking after patients’ welfare, found that Rosner’s surgeries were “deviating from the accepted and prevailing standard of care.”
“If you look at the board’s actions, they’re very case-specific and very fact-specific,” said Blankenship. Summary suspensions are rare—the medical board issued four in 2007 and three in 2006.
Rosner wasn’t allowed to reapply for his license for six months, and when he did, his application was denied. Rosner appealed. Following a June 2004 hearing, the medical board did reinstate his license—but with certain conditions.
As for Rosner’s patients, some have reported improvement that’s little short of miraculous; others say the treatment made only a minor difference, and still others report worsening conditions. But Rosner has also been sued at least 48 times in the past six years by people alleging unnecessary surgery. Fifteen of those suits have been dismissed, he says, and eight more have been withdrawn. According to Henderson County court records, however, 32 lawsuits against Rosner remain unresolved.
Rosner maintains that over his entire career, only one malpractice claim has been paid on his behalf: a $50,000 settlement in 1987 for operating on the wrong level of a patient’s back. Rosner also contends that the medical board’s actions may actually have encouraged some suits. Four months after the suspension of his license, he notes, a single law firm filed eight cases.
A confident man with a salt-and-pepper goatee, Rosner seems unbowed by the controversy that continues to dog him. He’s still seeing patients, most of whom are referred to him either by other doctors who believe in his work, or by passionate supporters who network via the Internet.
In Rosner’s eyes, the real question is how long it will take to change what he believes is faulty science.
“It’s a long process to change anything in the world ... and the same is true in medicine, particularly with the egos and intellect involved,” he observes. “Because if you believe something and you’ve got an IQ of 140, that’s a difficult process to unlodge, because you’ve got all your intellect behind maintaining what you believe in.”
A minority view
Rosner and other proponents of the surgery believe that many of the patients they see suffer from one of two conditions: a skull that’s too small for the brain, or a compressed spinal column. Sometimes they have both.
In medical terminology, “hypoplastic posterior fossa,” also known as a “Chiari I malformation,” essentially means that the back of the skull and upper spinal column are too small to contain the lower part of the brain and the upper spinal cord. This condition has long been known to cause some neurological difficulties—such as tremors, sleep apnea, headaches and poor coordination—in some sufferers.
Rosner wants to be clear: He’s not operating to treat fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue. Rather, he’s using surgery to correct what he calls a “neurological deficit” in his patients. He also emphasizes some fundamental differences in the way he examines patients and determines a course of treatment.
In his small office next to Park Ridge Hospital in Fletcher, Rosner says he sees two to four new patients a week and generally performs surgery at the hospital one day a week. Patients come to him from across the country, often after wrestling with their medical problems for years.
“I spend a great deal of time with my patients,” Rosner explains. “We schedule one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half hours for new-patient evaluations, and I do it myself, so we have very accurate, very detailed examinations.”
Most neurosurgeons spend just half an hour with a new patient, he says. “The [insurance] reimbursement is such that using your brain and really delving into a history and taking the time with a patient and listening to what they’re saying is not financially feasible for most practices.”
Rosner’s way of making diagnoses also represents a departure from standard medical practice. The neurosurgeon began his career working on cases involving cerebral vascular disease, head injury and intracranial pressure. Noticing that people with head injuries often also had spinal-cord abnormalities, he says he began to look at patient X-rays and MRIs in a new light. Rosner concluded that patients could be helped by surgery even if the back part of the brain wasn’t pushed as far out of the skull as is typically deemed necessary to justify the surgery. He also began looking for signs of compression farther down the spinal column than is typically done.
In a June 2004 hearing before the board, Rosner offered the expert testimony of Dr. Peter Jannetta, a prominent Pennsylvania-based neurosurgeon. Janetta testified: “The prevailing diagnostic criteria for this condition [a too-small skull] are inadequate. The majority view among neurosurgeons regarding the diagnosis of a Chiari I malformation is that a certain portion of the brain, known as the cerebellar tonsils, must descend through the hole in the skull through which the spinal cord passes (known as the foramen magnum) by a measurable amount—usually 3 to 5 millimeters—somewhat dependent on the patient’s age. The view held by a minority of neurosurgeons is that no descent of cerebellar tonsils is necessary to support an operable diagnosis, so long as radiographic studies demonstrate abnormalities arising from crowding of the structures of the hindbrain. Dr. Rosner subscribes to the minority view.”
After the hearing, the board restored Rosner’s medical license, noting that neurosurgeons had begun discussing the issue and articles had started appearing in the neurological literature debating the issue. The agency also acknowleged the testimony of Rosner’s expert witness and colleagues, who called him “a careful, thoughtful, deliberate, knowledgeable physician [who] exhibits professionalism and has made contributions to his specialty and to his medical community.” The board emphasized, however, that it wasn’t drawing any conclusions concerning which view is correct.
Dramatic improvement
Some credit Rosner with dramatically improving their lives. Allen Shelton, 35, who lives in Madison County’s Laurel Valley, says the neurosurgeon removed sections of bone from his spine and a 2-inch-by-3-inch chunk of his skull after he began suffering from fatigue, chest pains and seizures. “I had no control over my body,” says Shelton, adding that he’s seen significant improvement. “I’m not 100 percent—but hey, man, I’m way better than I was.” Of Rosner, Shelton says, “God give him a gift, and he’s using it.”
Rosner’s patients often arrive bearing stacks of X-rays and stories of extended suffering along with their diagnoses. Many, but not all, have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome, conditions marked by pain, depression and muscle failure. And in many cases, the neurosurgeon concludes that the appropriate treatment involves shaving the back of the skull or spinal cord to “decompress” the soft tissue in those passageways.
Gori Anna Lipsey, 35, says she suffered pain for years before seeing Rosner. “I had been told it was all in my head. You could touch me and I felt like I’d been punched; you just can’t imagine the pain. I’ve had a child, and it’s worse than labor pains,” says Lipsey, an 11th-grade English teacher in Spartanburg, S.C.
Diagnosed with fibromyalgia, Lipsey says she tried acupuncture and other therapies, but nothing helped. Two years ago, she was referred to Rosner. It took her a year to decide to go forward with the surgery, but eventually, “ it got so bad that I didn’t really have any options.”
After Rosner operated on Lipsey’s spine and the back of her skull, she says, “I woke up with an extremely bad headache, but I was ready to get up and go walk,” adding that she’s seen marked improvement.
Helen Hudgins, a 43-year-old automotive-service consultant for Hunter Chevrolet in Hendersonville, also reports dramatic improvement following surgeries by Rosner. After suffering a stroke in 2006, Hudgins says she had headaches, lost her peripheral vision and was taking medication to control her blood pressure.
“I believe in prayer, and I prayed, ‘Good Lord, help me. Find me somebody who doesn’t treat me like an experiment,’” she recalls.
Post-surgery, Hudgins says she’s significantly cut back on her prescription drugs, and her vision and balance have improved.
Asheville-based clinical psychologist Paul Fleischer counsels Rosner’s patients before surgery. Many, he says, come to him having run out of medical options. As for the controversy surrounding Rosner, Fleischer says, “The pioneers are the ones that get the arrows in the back.”
Dozens of lawsuits
Other former patients tell a radically different tale. Dozens have filed lawsuits against Rosner.
On Aug. 6, 2004, Janice Lasko of Greenville, Tenn., filed a lawsuit in Henderson County Superior Court. According to the suit, Lasko had been referred to Rosner several years earlier with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Rosner operated on Lasko on Aug. 8, 2001; she was discharged four days later. In a series of follow-up visits, Lasko complained of continuing pain and difficulties—some of which she believes were caused by the surgery.
During a December 2001 visit, the court papers state, “Plaintiff reported that her neck pain was somewhat worse and constant, extending down to and through her lower back; she [sic] arms and legs felt weak; and her tinnitus and hyperacusis remained constant. Dr. Rosner noted that Plaintiff had significant weakness in her right triceps, interossei, quadriceps, iliopsoas and hamstring muscles, with transient weakness in the majority of other muscle groups. He noted abnormalities in her gait and that Plaintiff’s toes were externally rotated. Despite these findings, Dr. Rosner recorded that Plaintiff’s neurological exam was significantly improved.”
Lasko maintains that Rosner’s surgery was unnecessary and that she was permanently injured by it. Four years later, the suit is still pending.
Wade Byrd, a Fayetteville attorney representing about a dozen people who are suing Rosner, says his experts maintain that Rosner misinterprets X-rays and performs unnecessary surgeries. “These are people that, in my words, he preys upon and gets them to consent to this radical surgery.”
Byrd goes on to say that his cases target not just Rosner but also Park Ridge Hospital, where Rosner operates on Tuesdays. Byrd claims the 100-bed hospital “is just after money,” noting that Rosner is the only neurosurgeon on staff.
In a written response, Bruce Bergherm, the hospital’s vice president for business development, said: “Dr. Rosner has a license to practice, and he is following the guidelines of the state medical board. As long as he follows those guidelines, he is permitted to practice at our hospital.”
A lose/lose situation?
When the medical board restored Rosner’s license, it stipulated two conditions. The first is that any patient Rosner plans to operate on for hypoplastic posterior fossa must seek a second opinion on the need for surgery from another North Carolina-licensed neurosurgeon whom the board must approve. The second condition is that Rosner’s surgery must be included in a formal research project under the oversight of an institutional review board.
The requirement for a second opinion has been difficult to satisfy, says Rosner. He calls it a “lose/lose situation” for the other doctor, who must take time out of a busy schedule to evaluate a patient who’ll probably wind up returning to Rosner. Patients, he says, have reported having a hard time securing a second opinion. According to Rosner, there are only about a half-dozen approved neurosurgeons in the state who are willing to provide second opinions for the surgery he performs.
As for the research project, Rosner says he’d been planning one anyway and is happy to comply.
Since his license was reinstated, Rosner says he’s performed the surgery on 62 patients. Of those, 18 reported complete or near complete resolution of their chief complaint, he says, while 13 reported “significant improvement” and 31 reported improvement. None reported a worsening of their chief complaint, says Rosner.
Before the surgery, 55 of those patients were taking drugs to treat their symptoms, he says, and 26 of them subsequently reported going off the drugs entirely. Fourteen said they now use prescription drugs occasionally, and 15 said they still use drugs regularly but in lesser amounts.
A huge amount of human suffering
On May 27, however, yet another complaint was filed in connection with an August 2006 operation on a patient complaining of hip, back and neck pain. Rosner diagnosed a too-narrow spinal canal and possible hypoplastic posterior fossa. He’s now preparing for a hearing before the medical board next month to answer this complaint.
Meanwhile, Rosner says he’s begun videotaping some patients before and after surgery to demonstrate the benefits of the treatment. Because of substantial discrepancies between Rosner’s conclusions after examining some patients and the second opinions provided in those cases, Rosner says he wants to document the legitimacy of his findings.
One video, he says, shows a patient going “from drugged-up zombie to productive citizen. We’ve given the board a number of those—how they act on it or how it affects their opinion, I don’t know.”
Rosner also emphasizes that under state law, the medical board “shall not take somebody’s license away just because they’re different—and that includes being different at a professional level. That doesn’t mean being unprofessional: That means being different at a professional level.
“So if my opinion [is that] this is the best way to handle it, and that’s what I do, and the other nine guys out there say, ‘No, that’s not right,’ and I’m getting OK results, then they can’t take my license,” he asserts.
Blankenship, the medical board’s attorney, concurs—but he also emphasizes that the board is empowered to take action when a physician deviates from the commonly accepted proper treatment.
Another wrinkle is that Rosner is not board-certified in his specialty, having lost that certification when the medical board suspended his license. Although it’s not legally required, board certification—which involves a peer-review process—is widely regarded as a sign of quality assurance. But Rosner says he can’t be recertified until the state board removes the restrictions on his medical license.
Asked why he perseveres despite all this, Rosner pauses a moment. Then he says it’s because “there’s a huge amount of human suffering here” on the part of people whom he believes he’s helping.
In its standard wording of notices of allegations, however, the board had this to say concerning the May complaint:
“By performing in surgery on Patient A as described above, Dr. Rosner engaged in unprofessional conduct, including, but not limited to, departure from, or the failure to conform to, the standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice, or the ethics of the medical profession” as defined by state law—which is grounds for the board to take action, such as another license suspension.
To which Rosner has this response: “In medieval times, we burned people at the stake for different ideas. Now we simply strip them of their professional reputation.” =
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I was the zombie ,not drugged but just couldnt function .before the surgery i could hardley walk hardley talk .before i went to dr rosner i had been dignosed as having anything from complexed miagrains to TMIs .i stayed in bed 90 % of the time cause i was so weak i couldnt do anything by myself .i had the surgery april 1 and wed april 2 i was actually walking without my cane i could feel my legs and hands ,i wasnt leaning now 4 months later im a new person .im glad i met dr rosner hes my hero i know he isnt god i still have chiari1 but now im almost back to being a normal 37 year old woman |
sherry hoffman Jul 16, 2008 |
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I’am a pt and had surgery in 2007 for HPF,and am doing very well thank you.I was on watch with a major university hosp in NC for 5 years, told my toncels were extended 5-7mm,and COULD NOT be causing my problems,it was all in my head.
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Jerry Hughes aka keggler Jul 16, 2008 |
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I can’t believe that individuals are taking such action, when it is known that there is no cure for Chiari Malformation. The surgery is performed as a possible way to slow the progression of symptoms. Some may have significant relief, while others may have minimal relief. This information is known prior to surgery. If Dr. Rosner has been given such drastic legal action, what about the other institutions that subscribe to the exact medical practice/standards, across the world, as Dr. Rosner. The Chiari Institutes main practice is based on this type of surgery. Why is Dr. Rosner being singled out? Inquiring minds want to know. |
Janice Rucker Jul 17, 2008 |
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The above article states “the standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice” in the allegations against Dr. Rosner. I suffer from EDS, craniocervical instability and a huge bowl of alphabet soup acronyms. I have a medical record that I carry with me that is several inches thick.
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Lexie Smith Jul 17, 2008 |
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I too have Chiari I Malformation. I went to The Chiari Institute and had the same “skull shaving” surgery as Dr. Rosner so bravely performs, and it has changed my life.
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Cindy Goodyear Jul 17, 2008 |
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I agree with the “witch hunt” theory. Unfortuneately for Dr. Rosner I believe the reason they are going after him is because he is a little fish in a big sea, so to speak. I don’t think any law firm/attorney in their right mind would ever be crazy enough to take on TCI. This is what they specialize in, they know more about it than anyone in the world, treat “people” from all over the world, and have more than enough medical evidence to back up what they do. Like I said, Dr. Rosner is an easier target, but I don’t think that makes him less capable. I also know from reading his patients posts online that he has recommended some of his patients go to TCI if he has felt their issues were more complicated than what he normally treats. Why would he do this if is just out to make a “quick buck?”
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Amy Jones Jul 17, 2008 |
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It’s a shame that Dr. Rosner has to be portrayed in such a negative light by the NC medical board. Dr. Rosner just gave me my life back 9 weeks ago after he decompressed my 20 mm herniation. I had been to one of the top Neurosurgeons in the country in Texas, who ignored my huge herniation and symptoms for over 5 years. I went through years of needless suffering and went on to have more opinions from around the country. Dr. Rosner was the first and only doctor who did a very extensive exam and discovered things that no other doctor bothered to find. He spent over 3 hours with me and my family on my first appt. and when I left his office, I knew he was the one. I did a huge amount of research before coming to this decision and now, 9 weeks later, I am a new person. There is a very high surgical failure rate among chiari patients and it’s because so many doctors are not willing to look at different view points. There are so many people with chiari malformation who suffer in silence every day. Dr. Rosner is the most compassionate, understanding, and brilliant doctors that I have ever met. He should be held up in the most positive light to any medical board. I can only hope and pray that someday, the medical board will see what a huge mistake they made by going on this “witch hunt” with Dr. Rosner. My entire family will be indebted to him forever. |
Nikki Greig Jul 17, 2008 |
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I have not seen Dr. Rosner for my Chiari but have seen other life-saving experts. I had my surgery in 2004. It is not a miracle cure and the good docs will tell you that. But I’ve been told in my not so small city of Austin, TX that these doctors are quacks. If people only knew how I’ve been treated here locally, they would cringe. To be sick and then degraded at every turn is exhausting and many give up. If I were a lawsuit kinda gal...I’d have a very very good chance with how I’ve been treated. Other well-meaning neuro docs have looked up Chiari in their medical dictionaries and told me they were the source of my headaches, when in fact it is the source of about 100 symptoms (at least pre-surgery). They also often come with co-conditions or cause serious conditions that can paralyze or kill you. This isn’t just a little pain we are talking about here. The SAD and true fact is that most of us with Chiari have a very long journey to dianosis and have been told we have Chronic Fatigue, Fibro, Lupus, MS and every other diangosis in the book. The restare dismissed as depressed or as drug seekers. I find it very sad that Dr. Rosner has come under such fire. It makes it more difficult for those of us that desperately need help, our bodies are betraying us and no one will help, and when there is controversy we have a harder time getting SS Disability, insurance, and general respect in the medical community, families, and commuities. I urge our Chiari community to get the press out there that Chiari is not a made-up hocus pocus rip off by con artist doctors. My docs don’t take insurance and I don’t think they even get paid all that well. They work 14 hour days, EASY. They care more than any doc I’ve ever seen...and that has been many (!) to try to find out what the heck was wrong! My Chiari is congenital, and has so far affected 4 generations of my family. My daughter had Chiari, and at 18, she felt different and broken. This was in part brought on by the comments that were made to her by her family (not my side), friends and some docs. She was consequently murdered by an ex-boyfriend. Now, I’m not claiming straight cause and effect here, but I am saying the treatment we get GREATLY affects our self-worth. My daughter said no one else would take her the way she was...so she dated a boy that was not emotionally sound. No matter what I did to try to get help for her in all ways possible, I ran into a wall. But that is another story! I guess I just want to express how important it is that we find docs that respect and believe what we have to say about our own bodies. And I challenge the medical community to be open to learning from patients as well as us learning from them. The paternalist traditions should end in medicine and we should be able to collaborate with our doctors, not be beat down by them. Kudos to Dr. Rosner for leading the way and making my life possible...I only wish that change had come in time for my daughter, Jennifer. |
Elizabeth Jul 17, 2008 |
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This article is very frustrating for those of us who deal with this INCURABLE disease! We have been striving to get some understanding and these articles are exactly why we are not getting the understanding and support we need. Chiari Malformation is a real disease. The surgery isn’t a cure, but it is a MAJOR chance to have a better quality of life. Every surgeon admits it isn’t a cure, that there is a chance you may not get better and a small chance you could end up worse off. Most of us are in such pain everyday that we choose surgery. I am one of the many who have had a successful surgery. I do not see Dr. Rosner, but many of my friends have and think he is a great surgeon. He has done a lot for people with Chiari. He certainly is doing more for Chiarians than most doctors who don’t have a clue what it is and lie to our faces about it rather than admit they don’t know what it is. Many of us have been feed lies from the medical community. If you want to go after doctors, why don’t you go after the ones who lie or refuse to do their research when their patients are diagnosed with Chiari? Because of those kinds of doctors, many chiarians will live a pain filled life as they were misdiagnosed too long to be helped when they needed it. We need more doctors like Dr. Rosner. At least someone out there is willing to put his reputation at risk to help those of us who really need it. In my eyes, that makes him a hero. CHIARI IS A REAL DISEASE, THE SURGERY IS NECESSARY FOR MANY OF US!!!!!! Only people who have this disease will understand this… not anyone who writes these articles, hospital board members or others who want to make assumptions about something they can’t even comprehend. But for thoses of us who live with chiari, we know the truth! |
Rachel Sell Jul 17, 2008 |
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Chiari is gaining more and more attention and understanding as MRIs are more commonly used to investigate pain and other neurological problems. I for one am so grateful that the doctors that I have seen in the last few years have an understanding of Chiari and all the different symptoms that can be manifested by this problem. To be dismissed by a physician because they don’t understand what is going on is really a blow when you really need help. I hope that the writer of this story will do a little investigation into the facts of Chiari. Because my doctors of the past could not find a reason for my symptoms that mimiced Carpal Tunnel syndrome they dismissed me and said there was nothing they could do. Because the pressure on the brain stem was there for so long the damage is permanent. The more recent symptoms, however are gone since my decompression surgery. There is far too much information to discuss in this forum but I thank God for doctors that have the confidence and foresight to do what they truly believe to be the best for their patients. |
jane mott Jul 17, 2008 |
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I personally do not know Dr.Rosner, but I do know there are just a handful of doctors who know how to do this surgery. I have been misdiagnosed for most of my adult life. It was not until a note on my MRI stated I had an insignificant chiari I malformation, that I started to research and found my doctor. With in 2 weeks I had my surgery. My CSF Flow was completely blocked. From what I know all doctors have heard about Chiari and the other issues that can go along with it. but none of them have been brought up to date with the facts. I commend Dr.Rosner for trying to help his pateints from the horrible pain and sufferings that we chairians have to endure. I think it is time that doctors, media, medical staff, people in general need to do their research before judging another.Chiari surgery is ot a quick fix, it is something that we deal with every day of our lives. its time that we step up an get the awareness out there so that Doctors are not repremanded for trying to help someone. Thank you Dr.Rosner for your dedication to helping those with chiari and other illnesses that many have to live with every day. I pray that one day I will have a chance to meet you and thank you personally. And just for anyones information...dont look it up in a medical book. Most medical books have not been updated in the proper manner and aare outdated. Thats pretty sad. |
Joleen Baughman Jul 17, 2008 |
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Thank God for Dr. Rosner. Before my decompression surgery I was choking on food, headaches, no gag reflex, loss of bladder control, balance and many other neurological symptoms. Oh did I mention I am only 41. Since my surgery in March of this year,I have very few of my symptoms left. I am still recovering but I already feel better than before surgery. I wish other Dr.’s cared for their patients like Dr. Michael Rosner does. I did have the second opinion’s that the State of NC required and guess what the other Neurosurgeon agreed I needed the surgery and so did my Neurologist. Dr. Rosner is a very knowledgeable,skilled and caring surgeon. Not all people with Chiari show the same symptoms but we suffer greatly and Doctors like Dr. Rosner with their compassion to help us should be commended. He took a video of me before surgery and after. The difference can not be denied. Thank You Dr. Rosner |
Kristi Melton Jul 17, 2008 |
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I was one of those ‘zombies’ from medications, pain, balance issues… the list was a little longer than the list of doctors telling me I was a hypochondriac, simply too fat or… ‘it was all in my head’. I was decompressed at The Chiari Institute and was given my life back. Is it perfect? No, but it is a miracle that I can now walk and have significantly reduced the medication I use to function. This truly is a witch hunt. Did this happen to doctors recognizing MS before it was widely accepted? In this day and age so many things are happening that make me wonder where we, as a society and a people, are headed. I feel for the patients who will have to go through countless painful and un-necessary tests due to doctors who do not believe that Chiari is real & causes so many different, painful & disabling symptoms. Thank you to the doctors who do believe and continue to help their patients despite this persecution and despicable treatment from their peers. |
Angie Jul 17, 2008 |
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I was diagnosed with Chiari 1 in March of 2007. After seeing 4 different neurosurgeons that only wanted to medicate me, (and I tried them, they did not even touch my pain) I found Dr. Rosner. He made very clear the risks that would go with surgery and the fact that I may not get better or could get a little better...He could not guarantee anything. But it was either try that, or continue on pain pills and tingling/numbness down my arms and legs and my legs giving out on me completely and causing falls. I was 21 years old, and not about to live the rest of my life that way. He did the operation and the pain went away. We are still working on getting my CSF pressure under control, but that is minor in comparison to what I was dealing with before. No doctor knows everything, but with Dr. Rosner at least he tries to help us, when so many other surgeons don’t have any idea what to do so we get some new prescription. Not everyone is going to get better after the surgery...the same goes with any surgery...but that is NOT Dr. Rosner’s fault...And people need to start recognizing that. |
Jessi Cornwell Jul 17, 2008 |
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I am 56 years old and I have been sick for almost 15 years. Several years ago I was in a automobile accident and that is when I actually saw a MRI result with Chiari. The neuro Dr I saw was so busy that he took about 10 min to talk to me and tell me that there is nothing to fix or operate on and sent me back to my Regular Physician. The headaches, pain, stiffness, numbness,Overactive bladder,almost passing out, Dizziness and unsteady walking continued. A few months ago a friend told me about Dr Rosner and I made a appt. He is a kind and compasionate Dr who spent over 2 hours with me and explained Chiari and that my tonsils are approx 10 to 15 mm. I was finally relieved that I actually new what was wrong with me and it had a name. “Chiari” All my Drs were treating the symptoms but not fixing the problem. Now I am in the hands of Dr Rosner and although I have not had my surgery yet, I will be scheduling it soon. I think that the newspaper article is nothing but slander and if they dont know the facts then why print anything. That article was nothing but a moneymaker for the newspaper. And as far as the NC Board~I am a citizen of the US and it is MY CHOICE as to what Dr I want to see, not theirs!! They are in violation of my rights as a Citizen of the US. Dr Rosner is My Choice!!! If all the other Drs I have seen were as understanding as Dr Rosner I would have been better a long time ago!!!
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Jul 18, 2008 |
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I read the article and find it to be insulting to those of us who have to endure years of neurological symptoms only to be discredited on the views of the neurological community based on criteria for Arnold Chiari Malformation type I that is out dated and causing numerous people with this disorder to live out a life that resembles only a shell of who they once were due to neurological decompensation that may be halted due to Doctors like Dr. Michael J. Rosner of North Carolina. Dr. M. Rosner not only takes the time to listen to the patient, but also spends time performing a thorough neurological examination and explaining in great detail what the surgery may or may not do to stop the decline in neurological functioning that Chiarian’s experience. The surgery or surgeries that may be involved in treating a person with Chiari Malformation are not a cure as some people may believe. The surgery or surgeries are to stop the neurological damage/decompensation that one experiences due to the crowding of the cerebellum and brain stem.
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Deirdre Herbert, R.N. Jul 18, 2008 |
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I can’t believe that someone could write an article like this without first checking their facts. My son was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation I in February of this year, they were searching for a reason for his seizures and found this incidentally. However with the appropriate research I found that this was the cause for all of his suffering from the time that he was born. It wasn’t just balance issues, there are over 100 symptoms that chiari can cause. And he had several of them. They also found that since he had such significant crowding around his brain stem/spinal cord he had develped a syrinx. It ran the entire length of his spine and would have paralyzed him within a few months if we hadn’t caught it. He was already losing his ability to retain his bladder/bowels, lost his balance completely, etc… Imagine my horror, a 3 year old being paralyzed, because so many neurosurgeons don’t believe in what Dr. Rosner and TCI and all the others around the country do. All I can say is I hope that God blesses you with a little understanding, at least do your research next time you want to write the facts! |
Tiffany Jul 18, 2008 |
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I have Chiari, but it doesn’t have me. I had surgery a while back, and am doing better now than then. Why pick on the few doctors who are actually interested in helping us. There are soooooo many symptoms and most weren’t even mentioned. This article will hinder the other Chiarians who need help. It’s amazing how the medical field can try to consider this fibromyalgia, depression, or chronic fatigue.
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debby Jul 18, 2008 |
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My name is Helen Hudgins, I am 43 years old.My head was exploding for two years. I went back and forth to Duke University at least 14 times in one year. Dr Allen Freeman installed a codman shunt in my head. It releaved the pressure for about a month. Dr. Shenoy was my neurologist, he was moving to Florida, he tried to find a doctor for me.. None would accept me as a patient. Mountain neuro in Asheville did the angyoplasm but would go no farther with me. Rosner said he would meet with me, he looked at my many films and said “Okay you have chari malformation, see how the tonsils are dropped?” I did not understand, so he explained to me.I thought great!Somebody finally knows what is wrong with me. Duke kept coming up with wild unknow diseases for me that couldn’t be helped. I also have cereberal vasculitus(narrow veins in the brain).Rosner said we could fix the chari, so I said okay! Blue Cross Blue Shield would not pay for the surgery. Derrell, my husband, insurance is Cigna. My friends got together one Wednesday night and prayed for me, the next day Cigna said they would be the primary insurance and they would pay. I had the surgery tuesday. Six hours later I was good to go! Three weeks of steroids is ruff, but after that I go my life back. I went back to work in three weeks. I was on 22 prescription drugs a day. I now take a fluid pill, potassum, and a bcomplex, thats all.I have had bladder cancer. I can see, I can bend over, I have good balance and I can think- I am out of the fog! I know live a normal life. My back is messed up from all the test and two years of my brain sitting on my spine, but other than that I am great. I truely believe God sent me to Rosner. He is a brilliant doctor and he has the guts to get the job done. You see all the other doctors thought I would die and they did not want it to happen on their watch. Rosner cared more about my quality of life than he did his reputation. Now that is a great man!He went above and beyound to see that I was cured! The NC Insurance commisioner ruled in my favor and BC/BS had to pay for the surgery.This is the part where somebody should say AMEN!!!
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helen hudgins Jul 18, 2008 |
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I am currently a patient of Dr. Rosners and I have to say, he has changed my life. I have seen a lot of doctors in my 44 years and have NEVER met another like Dr. Michael Rosner. He truly cares about his patients and that is evident from the moment you enter into his office. His knowledge of Chiari is incomparable to say the least.
Hang in there Dr. Rosner....we’re all with you on this. Sharon Jenkins |
Sharon Jenkins Jul 18, 2008 |
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I was finally diagnosed with Chiari 1 Malformation with a 14mm herniation in February 2008. I have and still am suffering. I have severe headaches and severe neck pain 24/7. My speech became slurred. I have and still suffer from dizziness, some nausea, poor concentration, and a whole list of other symptoms cause by Chiari 1 Malformation. DO NOT ever tell me that Chiari 1 Malformation is not real. It is real, and I live with it everyday!!! I have had to quit my job in April 2008. I am NOT the same person. I will be having decompression surgery within the next year. I am so glad to know that doctors, like Dr. Rosner, are willing to offer surgery that can help us Chiarians have a chance at relief of some of our symptoms. We all know that the surgery is not a cure for Chiari 1 Malformation. Each person has to make his/her own decision on whether to have surgery or not to have surgery. No one is forced or coerced into having surgery. This action by the NC medical licensing board is ridiculous. Find another doctor to pick on!! |
Tammy Schalesky Jul 18, 2008 |
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The NCMB is concerned about “the standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice” in the allegations against Dr. Rosner and questions his treatment of the ‘controversial course of action’ for Hypoplastic Posterior Fossa (Chiari Malformation). It would be considerably refreshing to have the NCMB become more informed on the dangers of untreated Chiari Malformation. Perhaps then, they would not question the standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice’. Throughout this lengthy saga brought against Dr. Rosner, his efforts have been scrutinized to no end. I am appalled that the NCMB might actually consider that the ‘standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice’, with respect to Chiari Malformation, should be more in line with the majority of neurosurgeons nationwide who only spend a few minutes with their Chiari patient’s; telling their patients that their symptoms aren’t real, that the physical symptoms are more mental health related or simply come up with a potpourri of pharmaceuticals for the patient to ‘try’. I am a recent patient of Dr. Rosner’s and am 3.5 weeks post posterior fossa decompression and have so much more of my health back than I have had for years. We should all be so lucky if more medical professionals used Dr. Rosner’s ‘standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice’. Dr. Rosner’s diagnostic and assessment process start with a very thorough initial consultation. Mine was 3 hours. Based on the initial consult, I then had several tests and scans performed. Those that couldn’t be scheduled in NC were done in my home state, with the results being sent to Dr. Rosner. Once all testing in NC was performed, we reconvened at Dr. Rosner’s office for another very thorough and detailed 2 hour test result review and discussion of his findings. This was followed by a discussion of how I wanted to go forward. We discussed the surgical option as well as the ‘wait and see’ option. The post operative outcomes were clearly discussed. Any self respecting neurosurgeon will inform their patients that there are NO guarantees that the patient will have complete recovery. Some patients will get considerable relief, some patients will get some relief and others may, unfortunately, not get relief. The recovery/healing time takes a considerable amount of time. This is not an overnight sensation where the patient wakes up and is forever ‘healed’. The recovery time to know the full extent of success takes time as the brain, nerves, etc. become accustomed to a new way of being. Patient’s must exercise self care in not over extending themselves, not doing things that could cause further harm, symptom flare ups etc.
Dr. Rosner is quite clear in making sure that patients are aware of this. A majority of Chiari patients, having done their research, are also quite aware of this as well. Posterior Fossa Decompression is not a ‘cure’. It is hoped that the surgery will stop the progression of symptoms and damage.
THIS is should be the gold standard for ‘acceptable and prevailing medical practice’. Unfortunately, because there appears to be a considerable amount of outdated knowledge, lack of interest in becoming a better informed medical professional and an unwillingness to fully understand the true impacts and benefits of decompression surgery so that doctor’s can better assist their patients, it is not only the patients who suffer but also those doctor’s, like Dr. Rosner, who are continually scrutinized for their progressive and beneficial approaches to medical management. The NCMB is encouraging the medical profession to continue living in the dark ages and is sending a message that the ‘standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice’ should in fact remain substandard, outdated and all of this is based on ignorance. |
Kristin Jul 19, 2008 |
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The NCMB is concerned about “the standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice” in the allegations against Dr. Rosner and questions his treatment of the ‘controversial course of action’ for Hypoplastic Posterior Fossa (Chiari Malformation). It would be considerably refreshing to have the NCMB become more informed on the dangers of untreated Chiari Malformation. Perhaps then, they would not question the standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice’. Throughout this lengthy saga brought against Dr. Rosner, his efforts have been scrutinized to no end. I am appalled that the NCMB might actually consider that the ‘standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice’, with respect to Chiari Malformation, should be more in line with the majority of neurosurgeons nationwide who only spend a few minutes with their Chiari patient’s; telling their patients that their symptoms aren’t real, that the physical symptoms are more mental health related or simply come up with a potpourri of pharmaceuticals for the patient to ‘try’. I am a recent patient of Dr. Rosner’s and am 3.5 weeks post posterior fossa decompression and have so much more of my health back than I have had for years. We should all be so lucky if more medical professionals used Dr. Rosner’s ‘standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice’. Dr. Rosner’s diagnostic and assessment process start with a very thorough initial consultation. Mine was 3 hours. Based on the initial consult, I then had several tests and scans performed. Those that couldn’t be scheduled in NC were done in my home state, with the results being sent to Dr. Rosner. Once all testing in NC was performed, we reconvened at Dr. Rosner’s office for another very thorough and detailed 2 hour test result review and discussion of his findings. This was followed by a discussion of how I wanted to go forward. We discussed the surgical option as well as the ‘wait and see’ option. The post operative outcomes were clearly discussed. Any self respecting neurosurgeon will inform their patients that there are NO guarantees that the patient will have complete recovery. Some patients will get considerable relief, some patients will get some relief and others may, unfortunately, not get relief. The recovery/healing time takes a considerable amount of time. This is not an overnight sensation where the patient wakes up and is forever ‘healed’. The recovery time to know the full extent of success takes time as the brain, nerves, etc. become accustomed to a new way of being. Patient’s must exercise self care in not over extending themselves, not doing things that could cause further harm, symptom flare ups etc. Dr. Rosner is quite clear in making sure that patients are aware of this. A majority of Chiari patients, having done their research, are also quite aware of this as well. Posterior Fossa Decompression is not a ‘cure’. It is hoped that the surgery will stop the progression of symptoms and damage. I have never met a more thorough, detailed and honest neurosurgeon who actually takes time with his patients than I have with Dr. Rosner. THIS is should be the gold standard for ‘acceptable and prevailing medical practice’. Unfortunately, because there appears to be a considerable amount of outdated knowledge, lack of interest in becoming a better informed medical professional and an unwillingness to fully understand the true impacts and benefits of decompression surgery so that doctor’s can better assist their patients, it is not only the patients who suffer but also those doctor’s, like Dr. Rosner, who are continually scrutinized for their progressive and beneficial approaches to medical management. The NCMB is encouraging the medical profession to continue living in the dark ages and is sending a message that the ‘standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice’ should in fact remain substandard, outdated and all of this is based on ignorance. |
Jul 19, 2008 |
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First, let me state that my wife is a patient of Dr. Rosner’s. She has sought treatment for various “professionals” with no improvements. That is until she was treated by Dr. Rosner! His treatment vastly improved her condition. Unfortunately, we had to endure the indignity of seeking a second opinion which delayed Laurie’s treatment for 6 months. Laurie endured roughly 40 shunt surgeries and the indignity of being told that her pain “was in her head”. They were both correct and incorrect – she had pain in her head, but it was not psychosomatic. We had planned to sue the some of the kind “professionals” who performed shunt surgeries or did nothing, in order to send a message. However, we determined that it would be a spiteful tactic and would not accomplish anything of real substance. Let’s form a critical mass of current of former patients to respectfully share our experience(s) with the NCMB and insist/ demand that Dr. Rosner’s full privileges be fully restored, and that his reputation no longer besmirched. My e-mail address is - please send me an e-mail with your e-mail so that we can build a small data base and then we can act collectively, in mass to advocate our position on behalf of current and former patients. We need to take decisive action to ensure that patients have access to Dr. Rosner in the future. Please Join me! Respectfully,
Jim Wallace
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Jim Wallace Aug 04, 2008 |
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all the praise in the world.will not change the fact that i showed up hurting.it will not take back the snide remarks.made about my profession,my friends,my lifestyle. i will admit that i have had some improvement.ill also tell you .i hurt as i set here at 3am .not sleeping,head throbbing.ears ringing.im AM NOT BI-POLAR.as far as depressed.who the hell would not be. even dr rosner admits that people sumtimes. are not relieved by the decompression surgery.his attitude toward me personally has been awful. whats left for me.no other doctors will touch me now at all.I SUFFER EVERYDAY!throbbing headaches,i will not ever bow to dr rosner again. unless hes figured out how to put his pants on different than any other man.im treated as a drug addict everytime i say i hurt.i ask myself am i the only failure that hes made? did i missread that the surgery does not always work? 50 or 60 lawsuits does that tell you people anything at all? maybe vomitting.throbbing behind the eyes? and urinating down my leg is my [BI-POLAR] condition.all i know is i have no life,hurt as bad as the first day i walked into his office.taking a case of bc powders just for the sake of having anything for relief.as for dr rosner. i wont slander his work as i do believe in it.but i am still A MAN some of the comments hes made to me.....maybe i should have fried his jaws for. reacting to insults does not make one bi-polar. so i quit driving 600 miles round trip for the you doing good, get out my office in 15 mins trips.law suits wont fix my health.but letting people know that hes an ass might help other ppl.find other drs that can help them.im without any help.no meds at ALL. because i will NOT be talked to with snide remarks.that he thinks im too stupid to hear.he is not GOD but hes set his mind to thinking he can act like it.i only know ive been mistreated by this MAN and will continue to SUFFER because i WONT be treated like im some retard .too dumb to know im hurting so bad everyday. i am a man. a man with pride.too much to be treated as i have been .with the personal attacks. i have set in his office and bit my tounge over and over. lawsuit? with the amount of ppl sueing him now. i wouldnt know what to do with his last five dollars.so i suffer and wait and suffer and wait.he does not want the public to know about his failures, with his charactor flaws. he may also have some mental issues of his own...as for me my life is a living hell not because of his surgery..but because i refuse to be treated as less than a grown man. my advise is to seek out other drs who can do your surgery. as they may take care of you if it doesnt work for you |
kenneth brown Aug 20, 2008 |
