Dr. Derman changed my life! Starting in October of 2024 I had debilitating leg pain for several months. It started off small and progressively got worse every single day. By early January I couldn't sleep, work and most importantly I couldn't be a dad to my 18 month old son. Adding to this, I had twins due in less than 5 months. I was having to wait for the Surgeon, my PCP referred me to, for several months just to see him. I met with a chiropractor locally and he said the wait I was facing was too long and referred me to Dr. Derman. I called Texas Back Institute and was in within a couple of weeks. Upon meeting with Dr. Derman, he told me I had a huge herniation in my lumbar spine. During that first visit he provided me with hope that I did not have during these trying months. He gave me a path to improve my life and a Plan B if that path did not work. Plan A was injections into my spine and another visit with him after a month to see if I had improved any. When I tried scheduling a follow up appointment at the front desk the assistant advised me he didn't have any availability anytime soon. Dr. Derman heard this and immediately came to the front and made time for our follow up visit. I cannot tell you how much this impressed me. Again, he gave me hope when I had none! Two days after my injection I was feeling worse than prior to the injection. I called Texas Back Institute and they got me back in the next day to see Dr. Derman. He let me know that surgery was going to be the best route since the injection did not help. He walked me through the Minimally Invasive Lumbar Endoscopic Surgery, which would remove the herniation that was crushing my nerve and causing this horrible pain. I watched some of his work that he has posted on Youtube and was amazed at the downtime I would be facing after surgery which was very minimal. Fast forward to the day of the surgery and I was in more pain than I have ever experienced. Right before the surgery Dr. Derman came in and explained everything and assured me that I would be feeling much better in no time at all. Once waking up from the surgery I felt like a new man. I walked out of the hospital less than an hour after waking up. The days to follow, although being a little sore, I was able to do task that were not possible prior to my surgery. I was able to return to work just two days after. I just had my 6 week post-op appointment with Dr. Derman and all of my restrictions have been lifted and I am ready to welcome my twin boys into this world in just a couple short weeks. Thank you Dr. Derman and everyone at Texas Back Institute. You have changed my life and I am forever grateful! read more

I could not recommend Dr. Derman and his team more enthusiastically. Background: I had a repeat injury that led to a large disc herniation (right L5-S1). The herniation made sitting or standing for more than about three to four minutes excruciatingly painful. I experienced no meaningful improvement after rest and steroid injections. With surgery now necessary, I learned that the standard discectomy procedure would involve the removal of part of a vertebra (in order to get to the herniated disc material), which would destabilize my spine and likely necessitate a fusion within ten years. Dr. Derman is one of only a handful of surgeons in the country that performs a cutting-edge kind of minimally invasive version of the procedure. As a non-expert, I won't attempt to describe it and suggest that you take a look at some of his YouTube videos in which he explains the procedures in an informative but easily digestible way. I even watched a video of him performing the exact surgery he performed on me with voice-over commentary explaining the whole thing. Suffice it to say: There's a reason people fly in from around the country and the world to be treated by this amazing surgeon. In fact, in the waiting room ahead of my post-operative check-up, the two other patients were from Virginia and Australia. I'm instinctively hesitant and nervous about surgery, but I could not have been in better hands than with Dr. Derman and his team. Every single one of them was friendly, informative, and professional. And for a super-smart surgeon (just look at his credentials and publication record!) that does a sophisticated type of surgery for a living, I would normally have pretty low expectations for that person's bedside manner and interpersonal skills. Not so with Dr. Derman. In every interaction I've had with them, he has consistently had the exact kind of friendly and easy-going bedside manner that conveys that he actually cares about his patients as human beings. Several months after my surgery, I could not be more pleased with my recovery. To go from close to bedridden to essentially pain-free in the course of a 45-minute surgery is simply amazing to me. And Texas Back Institute's physical therapy team did a great job over the following weeks helping me work through my recovery to regain the strength, flexibility, and strategies I need to stay healthy. And while no surgery or medical treatment can guarantee that my back will stay in good shape forever, I am 100% confident that I got the best care possible for my injury and would recommend Dr. Derman to anybody who'll listen. read more

I am 35 years old and have always been super active. I have always loved working out and was training group classes prior to this. Leading up to 2020 I started having major lower back pain but shrugged it off thinking it was my weight lifting at the gym. Then it started to get bad I mean really really bad. So bad I could no longer stand up straight which lead me to no longer being able to teach my exercise classes. I could not pick up my small babies, I could not get out of bed without crawling on the floor first. My pain was so debilitating I could not care for myself. I tried everything under the sun from steroid shots, facet shots, physical therapy, needle therapy and chiropractic care. Nothing helped. I saw 2 different spinal doctors that said they could not help me. Fusing would disable me due to the placement of the disc that were damaged. I was starting to convince myself that I would have to live with this crippling pain for the rest of my life. Until someone recommended Dr. Peter Derman. The minute I met Dr. Derman I just knew I was in the right hands. His personality and demeanor are out of this world. Dr. Derman is super knowledgeable and answered all my questions about having back surgery. We went over my options and said I would be a great candidate for disc placement. He would be replacing 2 discs in total. I was a bit skeptical at first because I just thought nothing could help me at this point. However, he gave me hope and assured me this was the right surgery for me. This was literally my last option so we went for it. Weeks after my surgery I immediately starting feeling better. Slowly I started doing things I could not do I even went back to the gym! I was feeling "normal again" gaining my independence back. After my surgery HE called me and checked on me often. Who even does that? Dr. Peter Derman does that's who! Now, I am one year post op and I am SO INCREDIBLY-GRATEFUL for Dr. Derman he has quite literally saved my life. I am a new person and I am 100% glad we did this! I promise you that you will not meet another doctor like Dr. Derman. After a year of seeing him I think of him as not only my doctor but also a friend. I still get really emotional talking about him because Dr. Derman gave me back my life. He is just an incredible human being. He made me see a light at the end of a very dark and sad tunnel for that I will always be eternally grateful for him. I 100000% recommend Dr. Peter Derman! If you are having back pain please please see Dr. Derman! I promise you will not regret it!! read more

Please read this!! I have 3 words for you. Just do it. This man will take care of you. And let me tell you why. I am 24 years old and have had severe sciatic pain for the last 2 and a half years going down my right leg. I had a ruptured L5 S1 from a freak accident, and let me tell you when I say I couldn't do anything, I couldn't even touch my kneecaps. I did everything under the sun to heal it naturally and absolutely nothing worked. Also why I was hurt for that long because we do not believe in surgery! But i finally gave in and set up an appointment. It was quick and easy and made me very excited after speaking with Dr. Derman. Surgery day rolled around i was nervous but i shouldn't have been because the experience was un real. I was there for probably a total of 3 hours from prep to walking out the door after endoscopic back surgery pain free. AND YES I SAID WALKING. I walked in there with a pain level of about an 8 and when I woke up I popped 1 Tylenol and walked right out that door with 0 pain!! And no I was not all drugged up. Also to top it off, I never took another pain pill!!! NOT ONE! That's how good this surgery was. 3 hour drive home, right after I woke from surgery, me and my mom stopped about 40 minutes out of the surgery and got some Mexican food and drove the rest of the way. Here's the fun part. The next morning I woke up not even 24 hours after my surgery with 0 pain medication and felt 100% for the first time in 2 and a half years. So to celebrate.... I packed my bags and flew out to Florida to go on a cruise to the Bahamas at 6:00 AM the very next morning! Not even 72 hours after surgery I was headed to the Bahamas with 0 back pain! I felt normal everyone. NORMAL! Bout a quarter of an inch little tiny cut on my back is all I got from the surgery. People couldn't even believe me when they saw me walk and moving around like a normal human. It was truly life changing. So just trust me, this is advanced, Dr Derman knows exactly what he's doing, go get it taken care of and go on with your life. You will not regret it. He's not in it for anything but to help you so just let him. God bless everyone hope your surgery is as cool as mine was! Shoutout to Mr Peter Derman........ thank you for getting my life back. May gods blessings pour over you and allow you to change many more lives like mine for the better. read more

I recently had minimally invasive endoscopic surgery performed by Dr. Peter Derman at the L4-L5 level to remove a cyst that was compressing my nerve root and causing excruciating pain from my lower back all the way down into my foot. The pain before surgery was absolutely unbearable and was affecting every aspect of my life. From my very first consultation with Dr. Derman, it was clear that he is an exceptional surgeon and physician. He took the time to carefully review my imaging, explain exactly what was going on, and walk me through my options in a way that was clear, compassionate, and honest. His professionalism, calm confidence, and depth of knowledge immediately set him apart. We had interviewed many top spine surgeons in the DFW area, but no one compared to Dr. Derman and his team. The day of surgery, everything ran like clockwork. His entire team--from the front office and nursing staff to the surgical and post-op teams--was organized, reassuring, and genuinely caring. I felt supported and well-informed at every step. Most importantly, the results speak for themselves: my pain was gone the day of the surgery. Not reduced--gone. My recovery was remarkably smooth and fast, especially given how severe my pain had been beforehand. I was back to work in two days, with very minimal disruption to my normal routine. Within six weeks, I was back to lifting weights, and I never even needed physical therapy. The minimally invasive approach that Dr. Derman used made all the difference in my recovery and my ability to return quickly to my daily life. Dr. Derman is not only highly skilled and technically outstanding, but he also truly cares about his patients. That same level of care and professionalism extends to every member of his staff. They are responsive, respectful, and clearly committed to excellent patient care from pre-op through follow-up. If you are suffering from a similar condition and are nervous about spine surgery, I want you to know that it is absolutely possible to have this procedure with minimal downtime and an extremely quick recovery in the right hands. For me, those hands belonged to Dr. Peter Derman. I cannot recommend him and his entire team highly enough. read more

I recently underwent a Bilateral L5 Spondylolysis Fusion at the L5S1 level, performed by Dr. Derman on June 18, 2024, and I am thrilled to share my experience. After living with debilitating pain for the last 10 years, the results of this surgery have been nothing short of miraculous. From the moment I woke up from surgery, I noticed a remarkable difference--my original pain, which had been a constant part of my life for a decade, was completely gone. It was almost surreal to wake up and realize that the pain I had been struggling with for so long had finally disappeared. While I did experience some soreness post-surgery, which is to be expected with any major procedure, it was nothing compared to the pain I had been enduring prior to the operation. The soreness has been manageable and has steadily improved over time. Dr. Derman's expertise and skill in performing this complex procedure have given me a new lease on life. I am now able to move, walk, and live without the constant burden of pain, and I cannot express how grateful I am for this outcome. In addition to his exceptional surgical skills, Dr. Derman's bedside manner deserves special mention. He is incredibly approachable and easy to talk to, making every interaction feel comfortable and reassuring. His smile is truly contagious, and it always put me at ease during what could have been a very stressful time. Knowing I was in the care of a surgeon who not only excelled technically but also genuinely cared about my well-being made all the difference in my experience. Throughout the entire process, Dr. Derman and his team were professional, compassionate, and attentive to my needs. They ensured I was well-informed about the procedure, recovery expectations, and any potential risks. This level of care and communication gave me great confidence in my decision to move forward with the surgery. In conclusion, I cannot recommend Dr. Derman highly enough. If you are suffering from chronic back pain and are considering surgery, Dr. Derman is the surgeon you want on your side. My experience has been life-changing, and I am so grateful for the care, expertise, and warmth that have led to such a positive outcome. read more

Exceptional Back Surgeon - A Beacon of Skill and Compassion Rating: I recently underwent spine surgery performed by Dr. Derman and I am compelled to share my overwhelmingly positive experience. As someone who understands the apprehension that comes with the prospect of back surgery, I hope my review provides reassurance to those navigating similar paths. From the initial consultation to the three-month post-surgery follow-up, Dr. Derman demonstrated an unparalleled level of skill, expertise, and compassion. The atmosphere in the clinic was calming, and the staff, from receptionists to nurses, exhibited genuine concern for my well-being. My surgery, which took place three months ago, targeted a longstanding back issue that had significantly impacted my quality of life. I am delighted to report that my recovery has been nothing short of exceptional. The pain relief and increased mobility I now experience are a testament to Dr. Derman's surgical prowess. What sets Dr. Derman's team apart is not only their technical proficiency but also their commitment to patient education. Before the surgery, Dr. Derman took the time to thoroughly explain the procedure, potential risks, and expected outcomes. This transparency fostered a sense of trust and confidence, alleviating many of my concerns. Throughout the recovery process, Dr. Derman continued to provide attentive and personalized care. His team was readily available to address any questions or concerns, demonstrating a level of commitment to their patients that goes beyond the operating room. In addition to the exceptional medical care, the post-surgery support, including physical therapy recommendations, further highlighted Dr. Derman's dedication to ensuring my long-term well-being. If you are in search of a back surgeon who combines surgical expertise with genuine compassion, I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Derman. My journey to recovery has been transformative, and I am grateful to have had such a skilled and caring professional guiding me through the process. Dr. Derman is not just a doctor; he is a beacon of hope for those seeking relief from back issues. read more

If I could give more than 5 stars I would. He is worth every one of them. I was feeling pain down both my legs for years. I was diagnosed with an unstable L4 which pinched my nerves causing the excruciating pain down both legs. I was trying to avoid surgery because of the severity and the long recovery time. I thought it was going to keep me from working. I tried pain management and physical therapy to help relief the pain I was having. I was referred to Dr. Derman and he suggested the fusion of L4 and L5 to get my spine stabilized and relief of the nerves. I decided to retire and get the fusion still thinking the recovery was going to take a long time. Dr. Derman and his staff did an incredible job from start to finish. His staff provided all the information I needed. They even sent a video explaining everything from how long the surgery was going to be to what recovery was going to be like, and everything in-between. Everything you could ask about the surgery was answered in the detailed video. I was still skeptical about how long it would take to recover. As always, he and his staff are courteous, professional, and knowledgeable. The day of the surgery my nurse got me up at 3am and made sure I had an opportunity to walk. Immediately I felt relief from the pain I was having in both legs. The incisions were minable and very small. The following week I was walking 3 miles a day and doing rehab twice a week, I still do to this day. I had my 6-week post-op today and I am happy to report it went well. If I knew that a serious 5 hour back surgery took minimal recovery time and was minimally invasive, I would have saved a lot of money and would have been more productive at work. Don't get me wrong I am enjoying being retired. If you are dealing with pain from an unstable spine and are unsure because of the recovery time or having big scares I suggest seeing the best spine doctor in the business, Dr. Derman. I am grateful for him and his staff, the experience was really life changing. I hope this helps someone dealing with the pain I was dealing with. Thank God for Dr. Derman. read more

I am a 62 male who is very active in running and playing golf. I injured my lower back early this year lifting boxes and then playing golf. I was introduced to Dr. Derman by my physical therapist since the therapy was not relieving my lower back pain and the extensive sciatica pain down my right leg. This pain would not allow me to walk very far or stand longer than a few minutes. Dr. Derman had me get a MRI and X-rays and due to Covid we had a Telemed appointment where he laid out my options for the bulging L4 disk. His option was to do surgery as the last resort so I continued physical therapy and scheduled to have steroid shots (both sides of the disk since it was also bulging a little to the left side). The shots did not work so we immediately scheduled for me to have surgery. We scheduled surgery on June 18 and it was so easy with no complications (except I wanted to sleep more in the recovery room). The staff were all so nice that you could see their smiles behind their Covid masks! Once I woke up there was no more pain down my right leg! I have a high tolerance for pain and only took the pain medicine for the first three nights so I could get a great nights sleep. I was able to start walking the next day and only felt pain from the small incision. I met again two weeks later with Dr. Derman by Telemed and was given the okay to start physical therapy. I was also able to start extensive walking and have been doing about 3 miles every morning. On my 6 weeks Telemed appointment Dr. Derman gave me full approval to do anything I wanted-I went out that evening to the golf range and swung a club for the first time in 5 months and had no pain! You always hear about back problems and surgeries but I would have to say without a doubt I would highly recommend Dr. Derman. He is very professional, friendly and easy-going in his approach to relieving back pain in that he wants to try everything else before having to do surgery. If you do have surgery he uses the least invasive and puts you back into action in a short amount of time - as long as you follow his instructions to a tee! read more

First, I must say Dr Derman is extremely professional and down to earth. Always greets you with a smile. His staff follows suit. But that is not what makes him stand out, it is what he said he could do with confidence and he did. My L5/ S1 got screwed up 6 years ago in the gym. As of last year that occasional pain turned into extreme daily pain and lasted almost 14 months without a day of relief. When my PCP referred me to him he wasn't quick to offer surgery. He wanted to make sure I tried everything first-injections, physical therapy, chiropractic therapy, decompression therapy, etc... none of that work for me so 5 months later he performed robotic ultra minimally invasive surgery. The absolute best thing in my life besides God and my kids lol. My pain was reduced from a 10 to a 1 within one day after the surgery. Completely unlike other people I know that had herniated back surgery. They were down 4 to 6 weeks barely able to walk. I was walking before I left the hospital. 2 days later I walked a half a mile through my neighborhood, farther the next day and so on, no pain. I know people are scared to be cut on, so was I. I've never had a broken bone in my life or surgery and I promised myself I never would let anyone cut my back. I must say if you have the same issue he needs to be the "Guy" that does the cutting. Small precise incision and minimal downtime. You can continue with your life quickly and without the extreme pain. I've referred several people I know and strangers that have the same issue in which conventional methods are not working. If you're thinking about it give him a call a conversation never hurts. It would definitely be worth it. Coming from a skeptic of surgery trust me it means a lot. One thing I have learned is empathy for those with that type of pain. It pushed me past sympathy. I wish everyone great relief. Thanx again Doc. Clyde read more

Dr. Derman performed ALIF surgery on me 6 weeks ago on my L5 S1. I was in a terrible car wreck 2 years ago leaving me with multiple herniated discs in my cervical and lower lumbar spine. I originally saw another spinal surgeon who told me I needed a 3 level ACDF surgery on my cervical spine, but only did epidural spinal injections on my lower lumbar spine for pain. I wanted a second opinion before undergoing such a surgery where I would permanently lose some range of motion in my neck. I did some research online and found TBI and Dr. Derman. Meeting Dr. Derman was such a breath of fresh air. He listened to me, cared and was extremely personable. Dr. Derman told me the ACDF surgery on my cervical spine was not necessary and came up with a plan to address my neck as well as the pain in my lower back. The pain in my neck, shoulder and arm is now gone without surgery and I am so thankful Dr. Derman told me not to undergo that procedure. After 5 epidural spinal injections in my lower lumbar spine, physical therapy and time to heal on it's own, we agreed ALIF surgery was the only option to treat the chronic pain for my L5 S1. I was a bit scared, bc fusion was something I was always trying to avoid, but Dr. Derman had already earned my complete trust and I knew if he said it was necessary, it was. I am now 6 weeks post surgery and so extremely grateful to Dr. Derman, Jake, (his PA) and his entire staff. I am finally able to sit, walk and lay down without the chromic pain I was living with resulting from the car wreck. I was only 39 when the wreck happened and not wanting to live the rest of my life in chronic pain not able to do things with my daughter. I am blessed to have Dr. Derman as a Spinal Surgeon and would highly recommend him to ANYONE before scheduling surgery with anyone else. read more

I recently underwent an endoscopic discectomy with Dr. Peter Derman for a herniated disc at L5 S1, and I couldn't be more grateful for his expertise and care. His minimally invasive technique has left me pain-free with a remarkably quick recovery. I only needed painkillers for three days and was back at work after two weeks, though I highly recommend taking the full six weeks if you're given them. What sets Dr. Derman and the Texas Back Institute apart from many other surgeons is their commitment to innovation and staying at the forefront of medical advancements. While many surgeons learn one technique, perfect it, and repeat it throughout their careers without keeping up with the latest innovations, Dr. Derman and his team continually evolve their methods. They embrace the most modern, up-to-date techniques to ensure the fastest recovery times and the least invasive procedures possible. This dedication to staying current truly reflects their commitment to providing the best care for their patients. Before finding Dr. Derman, I consulted with four different surgeons, each giving me different recommendations. Dr. Derman stood out for his thoroughness and conservative approach, which I greatly respect. He took the time to explain every detail and made me feel completely confident in his plan. I wish I had found him months earlier and not waited seven months for the surgery. Thanks to Dr. Derman, I now have no fear of surgery should I ever need it again (though I hope not!). I can't speak highly enough of him and his minimally invasive endoscopic technique. If you're considering this procedure, I strongly recommend seeing Dr. Derman. I'm so glad I met him, and I genuinely hope this review helps others find the same relief I did. read more

I cannot express how amazing my experience was with Dr Derman and how unbelievable I feel post spine surgery. I have suffered with a herniated disc (L4/L5) for over 3 yrs, doing all the things (multiple rounds PT, spine injections, chiropractic treatments, etc) because the only surgical option I was presented was a disc fusion, which at 40 years old I just couldn't imagine doing. I stumbled upon Dr Derman when it finally sunk in that I needed to do something about my back if I still wanted to be doing things I love (riding horses) 20 years from now and I am so happy I did. He listened as I detailed the last 3 years of treatments and how I still was in pain and limited in what I could do; he explained all the various options we could consider and recommended me as a candidate for an artificial disc replacement rather than fusion and provided information and studies to show how it worked and how patients experienced less recovery time and could retain mobility and active lifestyles with this type of surgery. I felt thoroughly prepared for my procedure with what to expect videos Dr Derman made that walked through pre and post op and answered most any question I had. The day I had my surgery was one of the worst weather days we had all winter here in TX and Dr Derman and his team still trekked in so my surgery didn't have to be rescheduled. The surgery was without issue and I was even up and walking later that evening, my back pain was gone!! I am now 6 weeks post op and could not feel better, Dr Derman and his team have checked in on my progress multiple times between checkups and I cannot be happier about my experience and outcome after a major spine surgery. I recommend Dr Derman and his team 100%!!!!! read more

I cannot recommend Dr. Peter Derman highly enough. I am a 67-year-old competitive gymnast, and a high-bar training injury left me with a massive 25mm herniated disc fragment between my L4-L5 vertebrae. The injury caused agonizing, 9-out-of-10 sciatica pain radiating down my right hip and shin. For weeks, I couldn't walk without crutches and woke up every single night in absolute torment. My primary care physician assured me that Dr. Derman was "the best in the business," and he was absolutely right. From our very first consultation, Dr. Derman was incredibly nice, patient, and thorough. As a fellow gymnast in his younger years, he truly understood my background and my goal to safely get back to the sport. I trusted his judgment completely. To get me back on my feet as quickly and safely as possible, Dr. Derman performed an ultra-minimally invasive endoscopic microdiscectomy. Because this advanced technique uses a tiny camera and specialized instruments, it minimizes disruption to the surrounding back muscles, drastically cutting down traditional recovery time. The outpatient surgery on April 28th was seamless. Amazingly, just hours after the surgery I walked out of the clinic, and the excruciating nerve pain in my hip and shin was completely gone. At my 6 week follow-up appointment, Dr. Derman gave me the green light to slowly and safely begin working out again. Dr. Derman is a world-class surgeon with exceptional bedside manner who utilizes the absolute latest, most advanced surgical techniques. If you want a doctor who truly understands athletes and high-level recovery, do yourself a favor and schedule a consultation with him. Thank you, Dr. Derman! read more

L5-S1 Bilateral Pars Fracture w/ Spondylolisthesis Dr. Derman and his PA, Jake Krek are great, and very relatable people, that care. They understand and endeavor to bring back the quality of your life. After a couple of years of leg pain and deteriorating immobility at age 41, I sought a second surgical opinion, seeking a more minimally invasive approach for my slipped disk. A neurosurgeon suggested that I needed a laminectomy and a fusion. When explained, this sounded like an extensive surgery for me. I scoured the internet and thankfully found Dr. Derman for a non-traditional approach. Immediately, he and Jake both identified with me. They both understood my mindset as if they had experienced it with me. Dr. Derman poised confidence that he could help me. He listened to all of my concerns and answered all my questions. After continued failure of PT and steroid injections, I decided to put my trust in him as my surgeon and delay no more. My condition was affecting my everyday life including cutting hours at work and no longer being able to play ball with my kids. In December of 2022, I underwent an ALIF with posterior instrumentation with his more minimally invasive approach. He prepared me very well with all expectations before and after surgery, and this really helped put my mind at ease. When I awoke from surgery, all of my leg pain was gone and I could finally bend my leg again. I was able to go home the following day and my recovery seemed to be quite rapid. I am now on week six of recovery and I continue to heal, gain strength and overall feel great. I would highly recommend Dr. Derman to anyone having back and leg pain (sciatica). read more

I can't speak highly enough of Dr. Derman. After years of pain from a herniated disc, I was searching for options. He was the fifth surgeon I met at the recommendation by my physical therapist. The first time I met with Derman it felt like I was a friend, not just a appointment on his calendar. Derman took time to understand my back problems, my pain levels and what I wanted my physical activity to look like post recovery - my main concern was being able to workout, hold my kids (5 & 6) and play sports with them. He laid out a clear path of new medicine, additional physical therapy, an epidural injection and finally a new method of surgery if necessary that would only require a very small incision. The nerve pain got to a point that I couldn't tolerate and simple daily activities were impossible. Derman coordinated a televisit with a pain management doctor in the interim while surgery was being scheduled. Derman and my physical therapist communicated clearly about the recovery plan for surgery and how to adjust my daily movements for maximum spine health. I felt like I had a team working together for me. I went home a few hours after surgery and my nerve pain was 99% gone. My back was sore, but I've been more sore after a tough workout. I took Tylenol for the first couple days and then didn't need anything more. Fast forward to six weeks post surgery and I feel great. I've followed the physical restrictions and physical therapy instructions closely and I'm feeling stronger everyday. Derman is a fantastic surgeon and the surgery has been nothing less than miraculous for me and my family. read more

At 32 years old, I suffered an excruciating disc herniation that left me hospitalized in the worst pain of my life. Despite multiple epidurals and countless physical therapy sessions, I only experienced temporary, minimal relief. Local surgeons in South Florida suggested a laminectomy or even a fusion, which left me feeling hopeless that I was destined for a life of never-ending back pain and procedures. A physical therapist I had been working with mentioned Texas Back Institute, so I set up a video consultation with Dr. Derman. Within minutes, I knew that traveling for this ultra-minimally invasive discectomy was my best chance to get my life back. I was naturally apprehensive about spine surgery, especially since I had never had any surgery before, but Dr. Derman and his team put me at ease. They communicated clearly, answered all of my questions and helped ease any concerns that arose along the way. When I woke up in the recovery room...the relief was immediate. Within an hour, I was walking around the hospital room, and within two, I was walking to the car. I flew home a few days later (and could have the next day). There was tenderness at the incision sites, but I didn't need a single pain pill, muscle relaxer, etc. during my recovery. I am now six weeks post-op and living a very normal, fulfilling life. I walked four miles the other day, the most I had walked in over a year. I truly cannot recommend Dr. Derman enough, he gave me my life back and I have so much gratitude for him and his team. read more

I underwent endoscopic spine surgery with Dr. Peter Derman six weeks ago for a two-level procedure at L4-L5 and L5-S1, and I'm beyond grateful for the results. I've been dealing with chronic back pain since 2010, and after years of struggling, I finally decided to take action. I'll admit, I was really scared about having spine surgery--there are so many things you hear about long recoveries and complications--but after learning about the benefits of endoscopic spine surgery, I felt confident it was the right option. I even traveled from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Dallas to have Dr. Derman perform the procedure, and it was absolutely worth it. From the first consultation, Dr. Derman made me feel completely comfortable. He explained everything in detail, answered all my questions, and made sure I understood exactly what to expect. The surgery went smoothly, and I was walking the same day! I couldn't believe how little pain I had afterward--I only needed Tylenol to manage it, and the discomfort was minimal. My recovery has been much easier and faster than I could've imagined. Now, six weeks later, I feel like a brand new person. I'm able to do things I hadn't been able to do for years, like playing with my kids. I couldn't be more grateful for the chance to be an active parent again and enjoy my time with them. Dr. Derman is an exceptional surgeon, and I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone considering spine surgery. If you're nervous like I was, trust me, this approach works--and it can truly change your life. read more

This September I traveled to Dallas to undergo a endoscopic discectomy (L4/L5) with Dr. Peter Derman. I live in Montana and had experienced poor medical care at home; in-depth research and help from a medical field family member led to me Texas Back Institute and Dr. Derman--and both were very much worth the travel! The quality of care, professionalism, and the actual treatment have been top-notch. The actual appointment and surgery process was professional and smooth, and I was back where I was staying, resting, within five hours of checking in for the appointment. That night I slept well for the first time in months, and by the second day I was wholly off pain meds. It's been remarkable. The incision has healed with no issue at all. I work in a physical field that requires me to put my body through hard work and challenging conditions, including a lot of international travel. Dr. Derman has taken the time to understand the needs of my job, explaining how best to recover and be able to get back to work as quickly as possible. The recovery post-surgery has been incredible; I was able to (carefully) walk more the day after surgery than I had for three months prior, and have been gradually ramping up my activity level since then. I'm now six weeks post-op and starting to look at resuming work travel in the coming month. Big thanks to Dr. Derman and his entire team--I feel very thankful to have had this surgery and be back on my way to carrying camera gear and fly-fishing rods around the world. read more