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 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

"I am a retired MD specialist BC both in PMR and Pain Medicine. I now live in northern Idaho where the medical community is less robust than I'm used to, consequently when a major low back pain/dysfunction presented to me, requiring more than non-surgical management (after PT, meds, etc.) I searched desperately for a BC surgeon in the USA who could provide relief without the risks and morbidity that spine surgery used to entail. A protruded disk had thrown my insidious central canal stenosis into a threatening tailspin at the age of 71. I could hardly walk. Ten years before a lifting injury had presented a similar calamity and another surgeon in another place had successfully performed a "minimally invasive" surgery for a herniated lumbar disc, giving me the knowledge and perspective to judge how this field has evolved. I attest with some deep knowledge of this subject that Dr. Peter Derman MD, Board Certified and Fellowship trained in his sub-specialty of minimally invasive/endoscopic orthopedic surgery, represents the happy result of this 3 month search with a stellar outcome and minimal risk and anatomical disruption which in the past had invariably resulted comparatively in much more post op pain and post op morbidity. Not so with my surgery with him, with the newest in minimally invasive equipment and techniques (he teaches fellows and does research too) and now my functional societal ambulation has been restored, with minimal discomfort and improvement in all relevant ADL's. I can state that his supporting team shows similar quality, from nursing, internal medicine prep, anesthesia, and clerical staff. TBI's physical plant is new, uplifting, and state of the art, not like the stinky old hospitals which can pollute a medical encounter. Just as important, this doctor and staff are personable and that is also vital for a great experience. I have a keen radar for medical BS, and my alarm has never gone off with this ground-breaking physician. If I sound deeply enthusiastic it is because I am deeply enthusiastic. He has done a lot for me. Check out his U-tube videos too--it' all real. RM, MD, Northern Idaho" 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

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 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

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

I brought my mother-in-law up from Austin to see Dr. Derman... this is her testimony: i am a relatively active 80 year old female, who until about 8 months ago- drove, sewed, walked, traveled, etc... Sure, i had aches and pains but nothing that stopped those and other activities. The pain in my hips and burning down my legs got so bad that i stopped just about everything. The trembling in my legs each morning made me extremely unsteady and i feared i would fall. I started using a walker and cane to get around. I saw a surgeon that wanted to do a multiple level fusion that would have me in recover for 6 months or more. I have family in Dallas that encourage me to get the opinion of Dr. Derman's and I'm glad i did. He talked to me about minimally invasive surgery and felt confident that while not ALL my problems would be gone, he could address the major issues with such surgery. I came to Dallas and a week later i was having my OUTpatient day surgery. I was able to walk the same day. My family has video of me making my laps around the house the following day! U used my cane twice right after surgery more as a precaution than need. I haven't used it since. While i still have some foot and ankle issues from diabetic neuropathy, those are being addressed with physical therapy and medication. I am free of the hop and leg pain. No more trembling legs that made me unsteady. I am grateful and thankful for Dr. Derman and his staff, I'm sewing again and making suture travel plans! read more

After about a year of severe nerve pains in my left leg as a result of sciatica, I went the conservative route of 3 months of physical therapy followed by 2 steroid shots over a 6 week period. The pain returned with a vengeance after about 3 weeks of temporary relief. I had sworn to never have back surgery due to the horror stories I had heard from friends who suffered from infections and more pain from the traditional back surgery and often repeated surgeries. I began to do research for an alternative. I eventually found Dr. Peter Derman and read about his endoscopic (minimally invasive) spine surgery. Long story short, I went for an interview with him to see if I might be a candidate for the surgery. I was and am now free of nerve pain after 6 weeks of recovery. I had to have a disc replaced between my L4-5 lumbar area and a cyst removed caused by the friction from improper spine movement, and all that with two 1" incisions in my lower back. That alone made recovery very fast. I highly recommend this type spine procedure and Dr. Derman is the expert to do it for you. It's the best decision I've ever made and the results are proof enough of that. The big bonus is that Dr. Derman is passionate about his work and takes all the time needed to explain everything. He is very personable and willing to explain any questions you might have. If you are having back or neck pain, go see him! read more

Dr. Derman did my spine surgery, and I went from difficulty walking and limping on a good day due to pain and deficits caused by disc herniation and stenosis to walking normally pretty much right after surgery! The nerve pain I had was pretty unbearable and it had really affected aspects of my quality of life. While surgery was medically necessary, I was hesitant and reluctant initially to have surgery (on spine no less) out of generalized fear. Dr. Derman and his PA, Jake, was so patient and explained the entire process from start to finish and was so very compassionate. After surgery, Dr. Derman and Jake made sure that I was as comfortable as I could be and followed up with me and oversaw my care from start to finish. I hope that I would never have to go through this again, but if I ever need another back surgery, I'd go back to Dr. Derman in a heartbeat! Not only did he fix my spine, but he also restored my quality of life. As someone who also work in healthcare, I've seen a lot of doctors and Dr. Derman is one of the humblest, genuine, and caring doctors I've ever come across in my career. He not only cares for you as a patient, but also a person. If you ever need a spine surgeon, Dr. Derman is your doctor!! read more

For nearly three years, I suffered from severe back pain and tried everything to find relief--physical therapy, injections, weight loss, you name it. Eventually, I realized I needed to explore surgical options. That's when I connected with Dr. Derman for a second opinion after being initially recommended a fusion procedure, which didn't appeal to me. At 58 years old, I was determined to maintain an active lifestyle and was concerned that a fusion might lead to further complications as I aged. From the moment I met Dr. Derman, I felt reassured. He understood that I wasn't your typical 58-year-old and took the time to truly listen to my concerns. His optimism and caring demeanor immediately put me at ease. Dr. Derman recommended a minimally invasive laminectomy and discectomy, confidently assuring me that these procedures could resolve my pain. Six weeks post-surgery, I can't even begin to describe the difference it has made in my life. I'm finally pain-free, enjoying walks again, and even looking forward to my physical therapy sessions. Dr. Derman gave me my life back, and I couldn't be more grateful! I highly recommend him to anyone in need of a skilled, compassionate, and forward-thinking doctor. read more

I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 9 years ago. A big part of my exercise routine is walking. Two years ago, I started experiencing pain shooting down my right leg to my foot. The pain became so severe that I could only walk short distances before I had to sit down. I tried every non-surgical treatment available, but nothing helped. When it appeared surgery might be my only option, I searched for a minimally invasive surgeon. I found Dr. Peter Derman, and I am glad I did. My X-rays and MRI revealed spondylolisthesis at L4-L5 with severe stenosis. Dr. Derman thoroughly explained my options and answered my questions. He was personable and caring. I elected to have ALIF surgery with PSFI (360 fusion). I experienced immediate relief. Before I left the hospital, I was walking without pain shooting down my leg. After 12 weeks, I can walk without pain as far as I want to go. Dr. Derman gave me my life back and I cannot thank him enough. He was genuinely excited and happy that he was able to help me. Not only is Dr. Derman a brilliant and gifted surgeon, he is also a really a nice guy. Minimally invasive surgery is the way to go, and I highly recommend Dr. Derman. read more

Dr. Derman preformed an endoscopic, minimally invasive surgery on me four days ago to repair a herniated disc on my L5 vertebrae. The associated pain, muscle tightness, muscle spasms and nerve tingling that I was experiencing were all gone when I woke up in recovery. After dealing with escalating symptoms for years not to mention thousands of dollars spent on pain management, chiropractic and therapy to try to alleviate the issues, he fixed it in about two hours. I truly appreciate he and his whole teams approach to my specific situation and the fact that I never once felt pressured into a surgery. It was all my decision and I am so glad that I did it. I would encourage anyone that has similar issues to what I experienced to set up a consult with Dr. Derman. Looking forward to my recovery and so happy to be free from the pain and annoyance associated with my symptoms. No kidding, I took one pain pill post-surgery the first night to make sure I could rest and that was it. Nothing else needed since then. Truly life changing results for me. Thanks again to Dr, Derman and his team at Texas Back Institute. read more

Miracle Back Surgery with Dr Derman for stenosis: Surgery was a very big decision for me and I had a number of fears and concerns about the surgery. FEAR #1: I will still be in a lot of pain for weeks or months after the surgery while I'm recovering. THE REALITY: One hundred percent of the leg and buttocks pain was gone IMMEDIATELY from the surgery. It is now 6 weeks later and I have had no leg or buttocks pain. Talk about a MIRACLE. FEAR #2: I will be put on heavy pain medicine and maybe even addicting pain killers. THE REALITY: I have not had to take ANY painkiller, not even an acetaminophen. Sounds like a miracle to me. FEAR #3: I will be in bed for weeks or maybe months after the surgery. THE REALITY: The DAY AFTER SURGERY I walked for TWO MILES with no problem. I have been walking two or three miles every day since. I will now resume hiking since I had my six-week checkup with Dr. Derman. FEAR #4: The surgery will be invasive. THE REALITY: The incision was about the size of the tip of my little finger. Not the finger; just the tip. read more

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Dr Derman! My specific case involved a very large (15mm) herniated disc at L5 S1, sitting right on my sciatic nerve. The nerve pain I was experiencing was debilitating. As an active 40 year old mom with 2 kids, I knew I had to do something. From the moment we started talking at my first appointment, I felt seen, understood, and hopeful! Knowing I already tried PT and a steroid, Dr Derman was confident that he would get me out of pain and back to the life I was living. He took the time to explain the surgery in detail and addressed every question or concern I had with ease and empathy. Coming out of surgery, I had very minimal pain - never even took a pain med! I'm now 11 weeks post surgery and still feel great! Even playing tennis again! His ultra-minimally invasive endoscopic technique is a game changer. It almost sounded too good to be true, but I'm proof that it is true! If you are on the fence, go see Dr Derman - you won't be disappointed!! read more

I am skeptical by nature and did plenty of research.I also never take the time to give reviews online (lazy I guess- ha) Dr. Derman made me feel comfortable the entire time and we built trust quickly. He suggested physical therapy and epidural shots which I tried multiple times. Nothing was working and after months, surgery was the last option. I could not feel my thumb and my index finger began to lose feeling as well. The only comfort I could get was lifting my arm above my head. I was really nervous, but Dr. Derman and his staff helped calm me and made me feel so much better about the procedure and my decisions. I had complete disc replacement with titanium discs in the c5 to c6 and c6 to c7. I can not recommend Dr. Derman enough and my life has changed for the better. All of my symptoms are gone and the relief is amazing. I never thought I could feel "normal" again. I am in law enforcement and can do my job again. and owe it all to Dr. Derman and his wonderful staff! read more