Dr. William A Schwank, MD

My last of three surgeries done by Dr Schwank, as noted in my post-op report was a, "prolonged and tedious surgery". Dr Schwank I am sure had been performing surgeries all day by the time he got to mine, late evening. I am sure the man was very tired to say the least! Then, he had to deal with my difficult surgery. A few weeks post-op I had extreme intlorable pain. He hospitalized me for six days, ran tests, all results neg. Called in a quack neurologist "O'Keef to do a "nerve conduction test" on me. All O'Keef did was, wiggled a needle around in my hand for a long time, causing great pain! Finally he stopped and said "the machine isn't working right". Dr. Shwank had the nurse tell me I was being discharged. My husband told her, "they are suppose to do a nerve conduction test". She said (multiple times, very hostile) to my husband, "there is nothing wrong with her!" She continued to say, "Dr. O'Keef did the test, it was negative, there is nothing wrong with her!" Dr Schwank came in to… discharge me. I said to him, "what about the pain?" He said to me, "you will just have to live with it!" I said to him, "I can't!" He turned, looked at me very angrily and very cruely he said to me, "YES, YOU CAN!" Then turned and walked out the door. Two days later I saw a different neurologist, had the nerve conduction test (correctly) done, and the results were, "positive" for "nerve damage". I made an appointment to take a copy of these results to show Dr Shwank. I wanted him to know that I was not "pretending" to be in pain! That the pain was very real! They canceled my appointment, would not see me. I used to think the world of Dr Shwank! I understand and know that "things happen"! Sometimes a nerve accidentally gets knicked during a difficult surgery. I know this! It happens! What I am angry about, and very hurt (emotionally) by Dr Shwnak because he wasn't man enough to own up to it! Instead, treated me as though I was lying and pretending six days in the hospital to be in pain! Why would anyone do that for six days? I sure have many more enjoyable things I would rather do, than to lay up in a hospital for six days pretending to be in pain! I mean, seriously? The very bad treatment I received by Dr Shwank makes him a very small man in my eyes! I knew another doctor that could not explain how a deadly illness went undetectind in my husband, by five doctors? This doctor, first agreed to even see me, knowing that I was there to confront him and ask questions about my husbands death. He sat and listened to me. Then when I asked "how?" He dropped his head and shook his head, and simply said, "I don't know." THAT, was all I needed! To me, THAT doctor is a VERY big man in my eyes! Dr Schwank, YOU are a VERY small man!!!" I feel sory for you, that you are not man enough to face me, accept and admit what happened, and possibly apologize (if you feel so inclined to do so). THAT, is ALL I wanted, or expected from you! I don't blame you that something went a little wrong. But be a "MAN!" Face me and admit it!! Is that really so hard???

Pre-surgery and follow-up appointments: I like that Dr. Schwank takes his time with me and does not try to rush on to the next patient. He never leaves me with questions. I may have questions later, and know that I can ask him at next visit or even call.

My dad's health began deteriorating about 5 yrs, ago, beginning with weakness in his legs. He saw numerous doctors (including Nashville) having test after test ran, still no answers and continuing to worsen. He was referred to Cleveland Clinic and they diagnosed him with Parkinson's. He was treated for over a yr. with no improvement, only to find out that it was a misdiagnosis. He was then sent to a specialist in Nashville and they diagnosed him with a form of Multiple Sclerosis. Once again he was treated for over a yr. and again he was misdiagnosed. By this time he was 100% total care, couldn't walk, with very limited mental function. I finally took matters into my own hands and took him to see Dr. Schwank because he had successfully performed 2 major surgeries on me in the past. Dr.Schwank ran some tests on my dad and immediately "CORRECTLY" diagnosed him with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus and implanted a VP shunt. Thanks to Dr. Schwank my dad is about 80% better, which is a miracle… considering the longer that NPS goes undiagnosed the less likely the VP shunt is going to make a difference. Thank You Dr. Schwank for giving my dad back to me, if it weren't for you he would have no quality of life today!

Bedside manner: Very blunt, concise, and brutally to the point in his office, but I feel that was to get us to understand the severity of my condition. Very kind in the hospital to me and my family. I am still recovering, but praise God, I will recover and be able to walk and control my bladder/bowels on my own. He was very honest with me and told me that there was no way to undo the damage that was already done and that I might deal with pain my whole life, but that it would be more tolerable and might get better if the nerves are not too damaged to heal. Well, I have FAR less pain than I had prior to surgery and finally feel that I may get to lead a normal life again. I am thankful for this man, his honesty, and his integrity (and his surgical skill, of course). The nurse told me that he even stays with his patients in the recovery room.

Three years ago, my mother was in severe neurological pain in her leg and back due to degenerative disk disease. After this man operated on her back and inserted numerous screws, etc. in her spine, she was in worse pain than before he touched her. Now, three years later, she just went through another surgery to correct his work. I encourage you to consider experts that can be found just one hour south in Nashville. (The specialist who corrected this man's work confirmed that the screws previously put in her back were not even used anymore. Additionally, they were incorrectly positioned and one was placed too close to a major nerve which explained her chronic pain since Schwank's work three years ago.)In addition to my mother, I just learned that this man operated on my uncle's neck years ago. My uncle was in so much pain that Schwank went back in the day after the surgery to attempt to correct his work. My uncle was still in so much pain that he then had to go to a specialist in… Pennsylvania to have Schwank's work corrected.The third surgery by this man that I'm aware of is a lady who goes to church with my mother. This man operated on her back, and she is suffering chronic neurological pain similar to what my mother endured before her recent corrective surgery.PLEASE, PLEASE re-consider seeing William Schwank if you require surgery!