L. Brett Babat, MD

Dr.Babat saved my life. I could barely walk when I met him. He and his staff have changed my life. I get to go back to gardening. Thank you for saving me.

I am a 78 year old who had spine surgery done by another Surgeon in December of 2021. By mid 2023 I was in constant pain and having trouble walking. I was referred to Dr. Babat by another spin surgeon (not the one who did the first surgery).
On Feb. 22nd 2024 Dr. Babat removed the old hardware and put in new. He is an amazing Surgeon. I am pain free and will start back playing golf in a few weeks.

I cannot say anything but good things about Dr.Babat and his team. They have been so wonderful!

Dr.Babat and his team are amazing. He figured out my problem. Didn't rush to surgery, tried everything before I had to go into surgery. I can never repay him for giving me my use of my hand back

I drove from Arkansas to see Dr. Babat. Him and his team changed my life. I am back to living my life. His team was able to help my back and my overall health at the same time. I can't thank him enough.

Hearing my friends see this man, I thought he would be able to help me, and he was!!! He has changed my life. His staff is so kind and patient. I am so thankful to have been able to see Dr.Babat. He fused my back and fixed by scoliosis. I have learned how to correctly use my spine and get back to living my life and spending time with my grandbabies. thank you, Dr.Babat

Dr. Babat was able to identify my issue and take care of it. Thank you!

After 2 years of steroid shots, Radiofrequency ablations and other treatments for lower back pain, I was getting to the point that I could only walk for 15 minutes before seeking a place to sit down. Finally, an MRI showed severe spinal scoliosis (over 50% curvature to the right and 20% leaning forward) plus spinal stenosis (narrowing of spinal column, mainly due to osteoarthritis). I found Dr. Babat through my own online research, got in very quickly for the first consult. He took x-rays as the first step that day, and after a consultation with Dr. Arendall first, he referred me to Dr. Babat in his practice who saw me at the same visit. He was able to diagnosis as "quick onset adult scoliosis", which fit right in with an occupation change that had me sitting in a driver's seat of a tour bus 10-12 hours a day, 5 days a week. OK...enough of the background.

Dr. Babat said the surgery would be a spinal fusion surgery, would take about 6 hours and they would replace the curved section of my spinal column with titanium rods, and then insert bone shavings that would eventually fuse over the rods. 5 days in the hospital for recovery, and 12-18 months for total recovery. The rods go from S1 (sacrum) to T10, so it was pretty intense and excruciating pain for the first 6 weeks or so. Dr. Babat and his Nurse Practitioner, Hillary Hatcher, said I was feeling nerve pain - they did the surgery through my back, had to cut through the nerve layer, and that was the severe pain I was feeling. After about 8 months, I realized the intense pain was gone - nerve layer had healed...YAY!!

Prior to the surgery, Dr. Babat asked me what type of active life I hoped to have after the surgery. At 67, I told him that I didn't ski any longer, play golf or tennis, and just wanted to be able to walk around an antique mall or classic car show. He assured me that would be possible, and I'd be able to walk around a mall...but not much other physical activity. I was OK with that - if I could be pain-free to walk again! So, we moved forward with the surgery, and yes...the pain was pretty intense for the first month or so. I went from walking once around my couch, to 10 minutes a day, to out to the mailbox, to 1,000 steps a day to 6,000 steps a day. When I asked him about PT to strengthen my core, he said that with the rods extending down to S1, that was out of the question. But I should walk, walk, and walk some more to strengthen my back, and remember the lifetime limitations he said I would have.

So...a year later, I am aware of the rods with stiffness in the morning, but for the most part, out of pain. I sleep through the night with no pain meds - I take Tylenol and Gabapentin, and nothing else. Dr. Babat, Hillary, Jenna, and his entire staff are kind, caring, and extremely professional. I was scared to death prior to surgery, and they constantly reassured me that I would recover fine. Also, I can't say enough good things about the Practice, Nashville Neurosurgery Associates. I had wonderful experiences with Dr. Arendall's consult and Dr. Babat's surgical team. They are doing a neck fusion surgery on my husband in 6 days, and a neck surgical consult on a dear friend in 3 days. Another friend had neck surgery 3 days after mine last November and was pain free right after surgery and continues to be doing great. So please - don't suffer or continue to get steroid shots, RFA's and other procedures that may give you temporary freedom from pain - get a consultation with Dr. Babat for a permanent resolution to your issues. He will give you straight-forward information based on 25 years experience. I have never trusted a physician more than Dr. Babat!

Dr. L. Babat is absolutely awesome and is a miracle worker. He explains his proposal to
Improve my constant pain in a fantastic matter. Thus, this is a blessing. Please pray for this earthly angel, Dr. Babat, and me on August 15, 2022.

I had a long history of back issues – 50 years of pain, severe scoliosis & two previous spinal fusions. I was bent over at the waist and barely able to walk. The surgery was many hours, and my atrial fibrillation didn’t cooperate, however the recovery wasn’t long, and the pain was immediately relieved. I had a wonderful support from your staff, my daughter & local home health professionals. To say you are a miracle worker is an understatement. I have been pain free for the first time in my life. Truly you have a great gift and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your expertise and post-surgical care.