4 replies to this topic

[hoopie]

Hi. Anybody here been to Craig or worked with Dr. Falci? I have bene waiting to get in there since early April and hope to get in sometime in June, if not then July. I may have a tethered spinal cord. QBounce on this forum is the person who told me about TC and about Craig.

I would like to hear your experiences, either in general rehab or with Dr. Falci for surgery.

I am incomplete C6 and had been doing really well. Then in mid-March got all kinds of weird symptoms and have been steadily losing sensation on the R side of my body which is not normal after SCI.

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

Hoopie

[Josh D._1985]

I went to Craig Hospital after I got out of the ICU in Boise. My parents and I were very impressed with their facilities. I have a mixed injury, tbi and sci. I was admitted into the brain injury side of the hospital because the spinal cord injury side was full at that time. My main doctor was Dr. Weintraub, he specializes in traumatic brain injury. I was eventually moved to the spinal cord injury side of the hospital, my brain injury was pretty mild.

I did have some experience with Dr. Falci. While there, I was given a full body MRI. They spotted a dermoid tumor near my sacrum. He visited with me a few times, discussing what they had found. We learned he has an excellent reputation for his skills as a surgeon. Although we were not at all impressed with his bedside manner, he has zero people skills. For the most part he utilizes an assistant, which the nurses refer to as his wife, to do most of his personal meetings.

Craig Hospital was an excellent experience for me. Mainly because of the education I received about my injuries. They do have a good inpatient therapy program. Although after going to Project Walk, and experiencing other workout programs, the therapy being given at hospital rehabs is very poor and extremely outdated.

[qbounce]

In all fairness to Dr. F, he spends 3 days a week doing tethered cord surgeries, lasting approximately 12 hours each. On Wednesdays, he consults with future clients in great detail about their upcoming surgery from what to expect pre-op, during the operation, and post-op.

If he appeared rushed, it's because he has a very full schedule. My experience with Dr. Falci, although brief (a one hour consultation), was very pleasant, unrushed, and informative. He took the time to answer all my questions and explained everything in great detail with regards to my upcoming surgery.

The one thing I will caution is, if you have a consultation appointment with him, expect that he'll be late. It's an ongoing joke around his staff room that your lucky if you are the first patient of the day. I was, and he was exactly an hour late.

[CaptDave]

I spent seven months in Craig and would not be alive today if had not been for thier skill, compassion, and spinal cord expertise.

Capt Dave

[jjbeck]

I was injured in Oct. 2000. Went to Craig in late Nov. and sent home in late April. I am a c4/c5 incomplete with a mild tbi. Dr. Peterson was one of my Dr. If it wasn't for Dr. Pete and Craig I wouldn't be off the ventilator today. I was always sick and couldn't make early a.m. physical therapy appiontments often so I missed out on alot. All in all a great experience!