Doug Kraemer enjoys his hobbies again... pain free.

“I’ve been injured 22 times,” said Doug Kraemer, a 55-year-old builder from Spring Green. “Five years ago I fell off a ladder. I had surgery but returned to work too soon, which resulted in a ruptured disk. I was in constant pain for four years—until now.”

In December 2008 Doug’s pain became unbearable; he couldn’t even sit. “Before then I saw several doctors and even took medication, but nothing helped,” said Doug.

His family doctor recommended Mark Flanum, MD, world-class spine surgeon from Orthopedic Associates in Prairie du Sac. He performed a microscopic diskectomy and decompression, a minimally invasive procedure (MIP) that had Doug home only five hours after surgery.

“This is the best I’ve felt in years—even better than before I had problems,” said Doug. “The second I woke up from surgery, I had absolutely no pain, and I walked around the next day.

“I’ve had a lot of experiences with doctors; I could see how knowledgeable Dr. Flanum was. He gave me choices and didn’t push surgery. Plus, he’s got a great bedside manner, something you don’t have with all doctors. Usually I’m not easily impressed, but Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital impressed me, especially their nurses. I can’t recommend them enough.”

SPMHC continuously challenges itself to surpass the expectations of a small rural hospital—a sure sign that a hospital puts the community’s needs first.

Another MIP, kyphoplasty, is fairly new and only offered in this area by Flanum and SPMHC. It’s used for fractures related to osteoporosis. This procedure can dramatically improve a person’s functioning and can significantly decrease pain.

Flanum said, “With the latest in technology, we can offer advanced procedures that require smaller incisions. This can translate into shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and improved outcomes.”