Dr. Thomas Berkbigler, DO

Would never recommend this doctor or his staff to anyone. A month and a half ago I broke my right humerus (upper arm bone). After x-rays, I was referred to Dr. Berkbigler. After a couple of days of not hearing from his office I called only to be told he won't even make an appointment until he has a copy of the hard disc of my x-rays. I called the hospital (Washington County in Potosi) and asked for a hard copy of the disc be sent to his office. After still hearing nothing for a week, I called the office only to be told they didn't have it. I waited a couple more days and a couple more calls only to be told the same thing. I am 66 years old and broke my right arm which is my dominant one and can hardly even feed myself, much less, the problems of going to the bathroom, etc. I live about a 2 hour drive from his office so it's impossible for me to hand deliver them a hard disc of my x-rays. So, I had to ask my daughter to leave work early and go by the hospital to get another… hard disc copy and she sent it certified mail, signature required, to their office. I checked on the Post Office web site with my tracking number and it says they received and signed for It on the 19th of this month (November). I again called his office only to be told they didn't get it, even though I have signed proof! As far as I'm concerned, it is a sign from God not to go to this doctor. So, I'm listening. I guess Dr. Berkbigler doesn't need my money and doesn't care the horrible pain I'm in.

I was referred to Dr Beard by my primary for damage to shoulder after a bad fall resulting in painful catching/clicking/popping with movement. Their office scheduled me with Dr Berkbigler instead of Dr Beard (my Primary was angry about this change as he would NEVER have referred me to Dr Berkbigler because of his reputation with patients). My 1st appointment Dr Berkbigler stopped me from explaining my symptoms. Finally scheduled surgery to repair shoulder and debride it. Dr Bergbigler did not inform insurance this was my dominant arm, which would have changed their pre-authorizations. Morning of surgery, I saw Dr Berkbigler for maybe 2 minutes. He explained insurance had not approved a bicep reattachment, but assured me that clipping the biceps tendon would leave me pain-free, and that a re-attachment would not. He also said that I would not suffer any long term loss of strength by snipping the tendon. After surgery was complete, I never saw Dr Berkbigler. He did not come in to see me… to explain what had been done in surgery, nor did he go out to speak with my husband. I repeatedly asked if I was going to see Dr Berkbigler before I was discharged and even the nurses were surprised he had not been in, they went looking for him but he was already in another surgery. I was sent home with paperwork that said I could do nothing with my arm but OP notes said I had "no restrictions". After multiple attempts, I finally received a phone call from Dr Berkbigler where he stated I had 'no restrictions, use my arm as much as possible'. My 9-day follow-up was with his nurse who could tell me nothing about what was done during surgery. At my insistence she finally pulled Dr Berkbigler into the room to answer my questions. Dr Berkbigler told me to "stop asking questions". I left still not knowing entirely WHAT was done to me because he would share very little information and would not answer my questions, just gave a blank stare. I was prescribed 8 weeks of PT. And NO FURTHER FOLLOW-UP with Dr Berkbigler. I have completed 8 weeks of PT, my therapist was shocked, stated I was the FIRST patient he'd had with surgical notes showing as extensive procedures as I had done who had NOT been under extreme restrictions and in a sling for several weeks. 8 weeks post-op and I am in EXTREME pain 24/7. The bicep cramp the internet warned me about (Berkbigler said nothing about it) is actually a severe cramp and muscles seizing from my shoulder blade to my elbow with any full extension of my arm. Pain severe enough it drops me to my knees for 2-3 minutes while I wait for it to subside. And heaven help me if I have to make a sudden movement with my arm, like reacting to touching a hot pan, or catching my phone...I will be in tears from the shooting pain from shoulder to elbow. And when I'm NOT doing anything, not moving it, it is a constant stabbing ache from my shoulder blade through the shoulder joint and into my upper arm (tricep and bicep). I have very limited ROM, cannot wash my back or opposite arm/shoulder, cannot wash my hair, dry my back, pull up pants, take off coat etc without contorting my body into strange positions. This is my dominant side so all activities have had to be adjusted, something that could have been avoided had he just informed insurance of that fact. I have not slept more than 3 hrs at a stretch since surgery. I'm relying on pain pills to get thru the day and for those few hours of sleep. But Dr Berkbigler didn't care beyond the surgery and the $$ he collected for it. Dr Berkbigler's "bedside manner" is non-existent. His skills as a surgeon are questionable, at best. Based on how I feel now compared to how I felt before he operated on me, I'd gladly take the pre-op over his post-op. Because of prior gaslighting by medical professionals, I have started making audio recordings of ALL interactions with my care team(s). So I have recordings of his abysmal patient care, all of them.

Do not go to this surgeon! You will be left with life long nerve damage just as he did me. A simple surgery that was supposed to be outpatient resulted in me ending up in the ICU in an extended stay. It has been over 7 years of rehab and I’ve yet to get all the use of my shoulder, arm, and hand. Stay away from him at all costs. Do your research! He has left many, many patients with nerve damage. I did not find this out until after my surgery.

The office procedure that I went in for was not complicated and he performed it successfully as I expected. I asked him for his opinion on some pain I was dealing with, he took the time to access some year old x-rays and explain my discomfort. This was 10 to 12 minutes of lost time for him. I thanked him then and I want to do that again. Thanks Dr. Birkbigler. You could have easily evaded my request.

Dr berkbigler replaced my left hip 12-5-17 i walk perfect ! My legs are same length and he is very polite i would reccomend him ! So if you want a quality hip , go visit the Dr. Thank you Dr. Dan Horn

Great Doctor, him and the staff we're very professional and courteous.