Dr. Walter Oscar Carlson, MD

He was the only scoliosis surgeon willing to take on my case. The Boston brace a sexist ancient moron put me in saying all women should have hourglass figures ( I was 10) caused my ribs to grow abnormally and compromise my lungs. Dr C was one of the 1st three drs to simultaneously do the first surgeries using CD Rods in the US. Even though the rods stopped at the bottom of my rib cage, I was split from base of neck to my crooked buttcrack. It was a horrible recovery and I still have issues because the nerve and muscles grow through the bars and tear every time I move. Then I needed rods extended to L4 due to stenosis, osteoarthritis, and degenerative disc disease. He used normal titanium rods. My recovery was rapid this time. I can’t feel most of the skin on my back and entire pelvic and butt area, doesn’t stop the pain under the numb skin though. Now Leatherman Clinic in Louisville wants to plate all four side from C3-c7 due to cervical stenosis and osteoarthritis sending bone spurs… that are rubbing on my trachea and esophagus as well as puncturing into my spinal canal. I’ve been putting it off for over a year because of the dangers. If Dr Carlson would fly me up there, I’d probably let him do it. I’ve had facet injections, broken my neck four times, radio frequency ablation (which gave me MRSA), and I cannot take any pain medication except Dilaudid, which must be given with phenerghan and benedryl as the others make me tear my skin off, making me also hyper to the point of hurting myself more, and don’t help the pain at all. So I MAY get dilaudid shots two to four times a year. Otherwise I just suffer. I live beyond a 9 daily. Now I have multiple TBIs due to falling constantly. Took 7 years to get approved for a wheelchair and they won’t give me the Smart Drive power assist, which means I have to push manually, causing more damage to my neck. Medicaid and Medicare don’t care if you can’t get out of your 500 sq foot apartment and the complex won’t put in a walk in shower. I now have every major system of my body involved. If Dr Carlson could get me from Indiana to Sioux Falls, I’d go. Would an air ambulance take me there?

I was referred to Dr. Carlson via another doctor at OI. It felt like he was in a hurry and needed to get me out as fast as possible. Had an MRI done and found a herniated disk. He told me about the results in less than a minute and scheduled me for a epidural injection that didn't work. Then he pushed to have surgery done asap after the injection didn't work. Had the surgery and ended up with a 4 inch scar. Now over a year later I have chronic pain to the point I cannot work or do the necessary things in every day life. I was told that I have an excessive amount of scar tissue build up from a surgery that was supposed to be minimal invasive. The staff was amazing and extremely polite.

Dr. Carlson was very nice and a very skilled surgeon. His staff was very efficient and well trained. I would recommend him to everyone!

dr carlson is a moron. i took my daughter to him for leg pain and he said she is faking it. his PA and nursing staff agreed. i went to another doctor, MRI/CT done showing a tumor. now we will be heading to Mayo. carlson is a ahole and has been a ahole for years. DO NOT GO TO HIM!!!!!!!

Was very happy with overall visit and outcome of procedure

My wife was having horrible back pain. Our local doctor did one surgery and kept sending her back to PT. Dr. Carlson took the time to find out what was the cause of the problem. After a back fusion and another surgery to fix the first doctors mess up she is much better now. Thanks Dr. Carlson! With out you she would not be walking today.

He came in, said there's nothing on the x-ray, prescribed a drug and blood work and left. He did not look at me. Everything went through his nurse. He hinted around that he did not believe me when I said I was in pain. I had an MRI, he did not mention it. I felt worse when I left then when I got there.