Dr. Patrick W. Hitchon MD

I was 24 years old when I was diagnosed with a rare spinal cord tumor called a myxopapillary ependymoma at L2-L3 that required surgical removal as well as a laminoplasty (where the surgeon removes a portion of the lamina and puts it back in place using metal implants). I was experiencing severe nerve pain everyday which affected every part of my daily life, even down to things like getting dressed in the morning or bending over to tie my shoe. Sitting was impossible for longer than 20 minutes. I was referred to Dr. Patrick Hitchon by my primary doctor after my first MRI and I am glad that he and his team performed my surgery. My operation was on October 17th, 2023 and I am currently almost 5 months post op. My quality of life has improved dramatically. I am back to all of my normal activities. I'm not perfect when it comes to having some pain here and there was well as muscle fatigue, but I continue to notice progress. I am so grateful and blessed that my surgery went, dare I say it, perfectly. Thank you so much to Dr. Hitchon for his humor, honesty, and professionalism. And thank you the rest of his team who was involved in my care. I wish I could shake hands with everyone of you personally. Thank you.

I saw Dr hitchon for a second opinion on lower spine surgery. He spent maybe 20 minutes with me and told me nothing is wrong and I don't need surgery he said I needed to " just go to the gym with my girlfriends" I was already having a hard time walking and bowel and bladder function issues. I obviously could not go to the gym I am 4'11" and weigh 93 lbs so it wasn't because I was overweight. He was very short with me and rude in my opinion. I obviously went with my 1st neurosurgeon opinion who spent 8 hours with me and both my son's. I had surgery with him and he found a large Tarlov cyst that was crushing the cauda equina to the right and it communicated with my spinal fluid so it filled up when I was upright and active. Found a meningocele, found tethered cord that when he said was released frayed like a rope, he had to fuse my spine because of all the wearing down of bone from the cyst and other defects I had with my spine. For the first time in my life I had no lower back pain, my feet were warm, I had returned function of my bowels and my bladder and I could feel the ground beneath my feet so walking was definitely improved !! I do have some permanent damage because I was born with all this and it took so long to find someone to help me. Glad I didn't listen to Dr Hitchon because the permanent damage it caused could have been so much worse if I had done nothing.

I had a back fusion back in 2007, I have rods and screws in my lower back. I will always have chronic pain, due to degenerative disc diaseas In my back and neck. Iv only had to have 1 surgery. I'm very thankful that Dr.hitchen did my back surgery, I can't thank you enough.i now live in Tennessee .. As of July 2023 I've moved back to Iowa.

The man knows what he is doing!! You might not always like what you hear but you definitely want him on your side!! If it wasn't for him life could have been over as i know it from the neck on down and I thank him for that!! Highly skilled. Tells it like it is. Highly recommend him.

I am so happy with Dr Hitchon. I had back issues in L3-L5. I could hardly walk for 8 months. I’m 2 weeks out of Spinal fusion surgery. I feel Great! The pain and numbness is gone. I would recommend Dr. Hitchon to anymore!