Dr. Michael Bolesta
Orthopedic Surgery
Dallas, TX
42 years experience male
Locations
Office
Dallas, TX
My office hours
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Show morePhone
Insurances accepted
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
About
Bio
Native of St. Louis, Missouri. Trained in Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio. Practiced in Ohio, Missouri, and Texas. Have practiced in Dallas since 1994, caring for folks with spinal problems.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Orthopedic Surgery
Doctor Q&A
644 Answers
150 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Good question: Some of the things leading to myelopathy do run in families, so letting them know about your experience is good. They may or may not be at risk, but i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Depends: Most folks with schuermann's kyphosis are stable when they are adults. There could be some worsening after age 50-60 since the disks tend to get narro... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Perhaps: Both can be simple things to give support while resting. Both are passive, so by themselves, they may not be enough. Stay physically active. Regular e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Yes: Disk that have some degeneration (wear and tear, aging) have microscopic tear, which weaken them. When a person slips and falls, the movement made to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Maybe, maybe not: If you check and your clothes are wet, then it is incontinence. The abnormal sensation may reflect nerve irritation, and your brain interprets the sen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Depends: It depends on size, amount of inflammation, location (neck, mid back, low back, against spinal cord, against nerve but not cord). Sometimes it keeps n... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Possibly: The kidneys are just below the lower ribs on both sides. Kidney stone pain is usually a several cramping type pain. Pain here could also be from the l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Usually good: It depends on the severity of the pressure, how long it has been there, if there has been spinal cord damage. Usually decompression keeps myelopathy f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Stomach or organ: Sounds like an abdominal problem: stomach, intestines, other digestive organ. Suggest you see your primary doctor or internal medicine specialist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Several things: One of the most common is spondylosis: the natural degenerative (aging) of the neck, which narrows the space for the spinal cord. A large disk herniat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Water exercise: You would need access to a pool, but water exercise is an excellent way to burn calories and get in shape. You could swim, walk-run in chest deep wate... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Depends: It depends on the symptoms and their severity. Many folks respond well to simple measures like exercise, stretching, strengthening, over the counter m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
You can't: The size of the canal is inherited. The secondary degenerative leading to further narrowing is also linked to genetics. You may be able to reduce this... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Severe problems: In general terms, the ones that cause problems with the function of the spinal cord and/or nerves. The spinal cord is the more serious. Pressure on th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old male asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Diagnosis: Your provider may be looking for a subtle fracture that might not be visible on regular x-rays. There are other conditions such as osteonecrosis (deat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Many things: Trauma is usually obvious, fracturing the ribs or bruising the soft tissue in the area. Inflammation can occur without trauma. If there is a rash and ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Several things: Start with gentle but regular aerobic exercise (walking, cycling, water exercise). Build up core strength (tummy and back muscles). Eliminate tobacco ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 54-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Not unusual: Foot injuries can take a long time to heal and some discomfort with much activity can persist fora long time (6 months or more). It it is restricting ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Stretch?: With the information given, the first suggestion is stretching. You can use a broom handle and your good arm to push the stiff shoulder to a comfortab... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Exercise is better: There are many ways to exercise. Walking is a great choice. Normal joints are kept healthy by using them. The cartilage is helped by loading, by use, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Many possibilities: Possibilities include muscle or their tendons, ribs, ligaments, referred pain (pain from other parts of the body, but interpreted by your brain in ano... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Depends: If by electronic you mean a tingling like when you hit your funny bone or something is falling asleep, then it could be a nerve irritation (circulatio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Shoulder perhaps: From your description i suspect a shoulder problem, but more information would help, as would an examination. See your primary provider for a check. I... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Many things: If you have recent vigorous activity you may have pulled a chest muscle, but it it is severe or if you have other symptoms (like trouble catching your... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
See a specialist: See a hand/upper extremity or orthopaedic surgeon. While most lumps and bumps turn out to be benign, some are serious. If there is any question, get t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Various things: Depends on the body location and severity. A brace or splint to reduce movement of the tendon for a short period can help. Anti-inflammatory medicatio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Several things: You could try applying heat or cold (experiment; just don't overdo to avoid burn or frostbite). Over the counter pain relievers may help (follow packa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
It varies: Whiplash or cervical strain varies quite a bit in symptoms and severity. Mild cases may improve in days to weeks; others may take months. Restoring m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Varies: Simple decompression like a microdiskectomy allow quick return within a week for low physical demand jobs (longer for hard labor). Complex reconstruct... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Having upper back pain between shoulder blades no other symptoms 31 year old female burning feeling?
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Several things: Pain in this area is common. It can come from neck problems, posture, work environment (often desk jobs), stress, deconditioning to name a few causes.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
See your OB now: Pain and fluid leakage (i presume from the vagina) are worrisome. You should contact and see your obstetrician or the person guiding you through your ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Many things: Sometimes benign acute back pain can cause problems like this. It just happens, but often will improve with simple measures like over the counter pain... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Exercise: Most herniated disks get better with respect to the leg pain, but back pain does not always go away. Many folks have less pain if they keep the back a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Orthopaedic surgeon: Orthopaedic surgeons, usually those trained in sports medicine and arthroscopy, care for osteochondritis. When it occurs in the foot and ankle, some f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
See your doctor: Even when the correct treatments are used, RA can progress. See your doctor and discuss your situation frankly. You could also consider a second opini... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
See doctor or...: There is not enough information in your question to answer. The best person to answer it is your primary doctor, who knows your whole medical story, y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Yes!: The surgery is major, though generally well tolerated. The surgery is near the spinal cord and many nerves. It requires moving the esophagus, the musc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Disk injury: Technically is not not a tear of the vertebra (a bone), but the disk between two bones. The outer disk (annulus fibrosis) is made of layers of collage... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Depends: If your disk herniation is acute (within the last few months), most spine experts suggest limiting heavy lifting until the pain subsides. When lifting... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Depends: Mild postural deformity can be improved by exercises stressing strength and position. Larger deformities generally do not respond to this. Sometimes d... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
No: It depends a bit on you and your overall condition. It you ease into it, train, practice, most will do fine. Nothing works for everyone, but if you wa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Mainly stress: The extra weight puts additional stress on the back, including the areas with the spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis, further irritating the area.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Curve vs slip: Spondylolisthesis means one spine bone has shifted forward on the one below it. It is seen on a side view x-ray (or other imaging study). Scoliosis is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Perhaps: It depends on the age of the person having the fusion (the younger you are, the more growth that may be lost), the number of bones involved (the more ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Yes: It is another term for herniated disk. Another is "slipped" disk.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Spinal cord problem: In broad terms, it means the spinal cord in the neck area is not working properly. Symptoms (problems) a person may experience include loss of hand st... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Pain: The fingers can turn red, white, blue, and this is painful. The sequence is often triggered by exposure to cold.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Leg pain: It is leg pain that occurs with walking, and relieved by rest. It is intermittent in that rest alleviates the discomfort. If is due to poor circulatio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
Joint degeneration: There is a pair on joints, one right, one left, to the side of the spinal canal (the channel for the nerves to and from the legs). They are behind the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Bolestaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 42 years experience
It varies: For many folks it is painless. It is simply part of the aging process. Depending on your genes, some degeneration begins during the teen years; everyo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
14
Recommendations
1.4K
Thank you notes
Dec 14, 2012
Excellent answers and very timely. Great doctor to follow. Ron (oral surgeon, orlando)
Jan 17, 2014
Impressive education, training, and experience. What to look for in a spine surgeon.
Mar 4, 2013
Impressive credentials, caring, what else is there?
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you so much for getting back to me, she has been taking pain medication, over the counter to try and help the pain, it's not working
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! I was told that I could eventually become paralyzed by this. Thank you for the help, I do have severe pain and numbness down my right side.
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! good to know that low back pain is related to tingling sensation of the right side of face and shoulder, thanks doc
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, MO
Graduated 1981MD
Residency
DUKE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Awards
AOA North American Travelling Fellow 1988
American Orthopaedic Association
Top Orthopedic Surgeon , First Place, Texas - Winter
2013
Publications
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