Dr. Mark Camden Whitaker, MD

I have been a patient of Dr. Whitaker for several years. I went in to see him yesterday for a follow-up appointment. After speaking with Dr. Whitaker, I finished up the appointment with his assistant. She explained to me what Dr Whitaker was planning on doing. I had asked for a referral to a physical therapist and a referral to Dr. Weimer for a second opinion. I received a call today from Missy, and she stated that Dr. Whitaker is not going to send a script to my new physical therapist, he is not going to send an order over to my pain management doctor for a very ugently needed procedure, and he no longer wishes to see me. This is all because I had asked his assistant for a referral to another physician for a second opinion. I was accused of being non-compliant and not agreeing with Dr. Whitaker's diagnosis. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. Patients receive second opinions all of the time and physicians know that and normally do not have an issue with that. I have… never seen or heard of a patient being denied service and no longer welcome at a clinic for wanting to get a second opinion. I have friends that have had surgery for spine issues and they have orthopedic surgeions and neurosurgeons that have both performed procedures in a joint effort (no pun intended). Dr. Whitaker is just a horrible provider. He has no bedside manners and doesn't know how to communicate with his patients. Whenever you question something about your spine, he gets very defensive and quickly dismisses it. My MRI was read by some of the top radiologists in the country. My nephew and the local radiologist that both served their residency at the Mayo Clinic read my MRI and agreed on at least two major concerns with my cervical spine. When I asked Dr. Whitaker about these areas of my spine. he quickly dismissed any issues and said he didn't know why the radiologists wrote those findings. I would not recommend Dr. Whitaker to anybody. He does not seem to care about his patients, know how to address critical areas of the spine that are clearly evident, and has horrible bedside manners. If you challenge anything he says, he gets very defensive and starts to walk away. What a sore loser. I would not trust him with anything and would advise anyone to go elsewhere for their spine needs.

Has a PA that will determine if your case will generate enough money to be worthy of the Dr's time.

Dr Whitaker has treated my wife and I. I cannot say enough great things about this Dr. He fixed both of our problems and we have been pain free since. He did not overmedicate with pain pills like some other back Drs did.

Dr seemed disinterested in treating me. He had a poor bedside manner.

Dr. Whitaker has performed two surgeries on my spine to correct spondololysthesis and spinal stenoses. The first surgery corrected the spine which lasted for six years. The second was performed two months ago and was much more complicated with two incisions (one under the right arm and through the stomach; the other incision extended the original to include an additional two discs). Dr. Whitaker is very knowledgeable and a caring surgeon. He also installed two cages to replace two discs which he had removed. I would definitely recommend referring patients to him.

I suffered for years with lower back pain and sciatic nerve pain down my lower leg. I finally had to do something besides taking pain meds. and getting epidural injections in my lower back. I saw Dr. Whitaker and he saw that I had two herniated discs at L-4 and L-5 that he removed and then fused. He also installed titanium rods on my vertebrae for stabilization of my spine. As far as I am concerned he did an excellent job and I do not have sciatic leg pain and back pain anymore. Surgery was a non issue as I was out for the whole procedure and when I woke up I really didn't have a lot of pain at the points of incision. I highly recommend Dr. Whitaker for any problems with your spine or neck ,etc.