Locations
Mark E. Dickson, MD, PA
Sherman, TX
My office hours
Wednesday: Closed
Show morePhone
Insurances accepted
Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
Cigna
Medicare
About
Bio
I am a board-certified general surgeon and have been in private practice since 1993. I have a wide-ranging practice that includes many areas of surgery, including surgery of the abdominal organs, breast, thyroid, hernias, skin and soft tissue cancers, complex wounds, as well as trauma surgery and critical care.
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.
General Surgery
Breast Surgery
Trauma Surgery
Licenses
United States: Oklahoma, Texas
Doctor Q&A
352 Answers
226 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Surgeons: At my hospital, a surgeon always gets consulted when an ileus is suspected, because it can be difficult to exclude a bowel obstruction.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Depends: Sometimes a muscle spasm can cause this. Stretching the area regularly before starting the day may help. If it gets worse, go see your doctor.
2.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
See a doctor : This is not normal, but can be due to several different causes. See your doctor who can help you get to the bottom of it .
2.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Likely not cancer: When someone asks if something is serious, they frequently mean "Is it cancer?' In a 16 yr old, it's likely not cancer, but rather either an anal fis... Read More
2.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Depends: "Bloating" is a very common, but completely non-specific symptom that some people complain of. The causes are numerous and take a systematic approach... Read More
2.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Increase movement: My wife had the same thing and was told to carry her heavy purse in the affected hand down by her side as much as possible. Since it has been 3 month... Read More
2.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Thickness: Inflammatory breast cancer is an inflammation due to the blocked lymphatic vessels in the deep layer of the skin by cancer cells. The inflammation fr... Read More
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Possibly: A urinary tract infection (UTI) can cause pain and blood in the urine (hematuria). And if it is a simple infection, then a short course of antibiotic... Read More
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Possible UTI: I would worry about a urinary tract infection. That needs antibiotics. See your doctor to prevent complications.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 57-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Lasting long: A muscle strain doesn't usually cause severe pain for this long. I would worry about something else, like maybe a hernia. Make an appointment with y... Read More
2.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Other alternatives: Agree with Dr. Harris, infection is most likely. Sometimes, though, the infection can be quite severe and require an operation. Also, sometimes it i... Read More
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Usually: Postop pain is very common. If it gets severe, though, you need to see your surgeon.
2.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Possibly: I have been in practice for well over 20 years and I have never seen such a hernia. That doesn't mean it couldn't happen. Regardless, it is usually no... Read More
2.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
It depends: In a young adult with a red swollen tender mass, the first thought is an infection. Some infections are easily treated with antibiotics, but if it do... Read More
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Big range: Both of these are skin conditions and the severity can range from "not too bad" to "need a big operation". The treating physician is the best person ... Read More
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Many possibilities: This will take a sequential process of examination and tests to arrive at the cause. It could be anything from a benign, self-limited cause to a seve... Read More
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Time or meds: Most episodes of pain from a gallbladder source are over within minutes to hours, but sometimes they last for days or until your gallbladder is out. ... Read More
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Not uncommon: I frequently see people with normal lab and X-ray tests who still have GB disease. Many of these people with typical GB symptoms get better after GB ... Read More
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
See a doctor: An infection that is not improving requires additional treatment to minimize serious complications. See a doctor tonight or tomorrow to start that tr... Read More
2.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
See your doctor: Your symptoms are very nonspecific, so no one can give a definitive answer from them. Your best bet would be to see your doctor, who can take a compl... Read More
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Can't tell: If it bothers you, you need to go see your doctor. Potential causes include everything from a foreign body to a cancer. Since the treatments are dif... Read More
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
It depends: What did you go to the ER for? If it was for upper abdominal pain, perhaps with nausea, then there's a good chance it was caused by your gallbladder.... Read More
2.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Tincture of time: A pulled muscle is the presence of "micro-tears" among some of the fibers within that muscle. They cause a certain amount of swelling, which causes t... Read More
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Short answer--no: An umbilical hernia wouldn't cause testicular pain. Have you talked to a urologist yet? That would be the first step to evaluate this.
2.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 62-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Stop hydrocodone: Then I would stop the hydrocodone. You don't say when your hernia repair was done, but most people don't need the strong stuff after a few days.
1.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Many things: Many things can cause your pain. If it is changing for the worse, which it sounds like it is, you need to see your doctor. One of the things that ca... Read More
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Depends: Cellulitis is inflammation of the skin and underlying soft tissue in a certain area. It can have many causes, and the duration of it will depend on h... Read More
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Yes and yes: Yes, you should see someone. If your nerves are impaired now, they may get worse without treatment, causing a serious problem.
2.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Ganglion cyst?: Sometimes a ganglion cyst starts out like that. These are benign and only need removal if they are really bothering you. If it grows or causes pain,... Read More
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
No: By blood clot, I assume you mean the dangerous kind that breaks off and goes to the lungs. That does not present like this. However, the blood from ... Read More
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Anal fissure?: Sometimes constipation can cause a tear in the lining of the anal canal, called an anal fissure. If treating the constipation with stool softeners do... Read More
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Size of vein: Phlebitis generally refers to inflammation, frequently associated with a clot, in a superficial small vein. It often comes after having an IV in the... Read More
2.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Stool softener: The best treatment for an anal fissure is to avoid constipation with a simple stool softener. Natural foods such as prunes or raisins are likely your... Read More
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Problems?: How do you feel? Do you feel like you're having any problems? Losing weight is common after a big operation, but 20 pounds is more than we usually see... Read More
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Could be a mole: Moles can cause this. If it is new, you need to see a doctor to make sure it's not a melanoma
2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
May be a big problem: There are different possible causes for this. A blood clot in the deep vein needs treatment right away. So does a problem with the blood supply to t... Read More
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Already has: There is a condition called nonunion of a fracture, but if you're not having any symptoms from it, nothing needs to be done.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Multiple causes: Fibrocystic changes are very common in women, and sometimes they can involve only one breast, or a part of one breast. Most doctors recommend a trial... Read More
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Maybe: Leg swelling can be a sign of something serious that needs urgent treatment. Call your doctor tomorrow to start the workup to determine the cause and... Read More
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Not related: Post cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) symptoms, if you get them at all, usually start soon after the operation. 2 months later, they are more li... Read More
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Relax: If you eat a well balanced, low fat, high fiber diet, drink lots of water, get moderate exercise and avoid medicines that slow down your bowels, like ... Read More
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Could be: Hemorrhoids are common in pregnancy. Avoiding constipation with increasing water intake, increasing exercise and eating prunes if necessary usually h... Read More
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
I wouldn't: 1. The anesthesia injection would be incredibly painful.
2. Where would you get the materials?
3. It will go away within a few days, probably.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Yes: There are different patterns of abnormality on a mammogram--some of which are worrisome, some are not. Some abnormalities can show up on an ultrasoun... Read More
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Probably not: I see a lot of people with anal fissures, but not one of them has had lichen sclerosis to my knowledge. The fissures are usually caused by constipati... Read More
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
No: The nodular liver lesions don't rupture. You don't describe the pattern of your pain, or your surgical history, but gallbladder disease is a common c... Read More
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Not uncommon: If your topical creams aren't working, it may be time to see a surgeon about further options.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Normal variant?: It's possible that it could be a narrowing of the vein between there and the heart, or a clot in the vein, but either of those would be extremely unli... Read More
2.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Dicksonanswered
General Surgery 24 years experience
Yes: Sometimes even taking the gallbladder out helps with the symptoms of IBS.
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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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.
236
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thanks. I'd already stopped it, but worry re why effectiveness would go from 100% to 0. What if someday if I am, say, in the ER and given something like this & it does...Read More
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you! It happened at work so now I have to wait for a "workers comp" physician to contact me to be seen. Bought a neck brace b/c it hurts constantly. It has helped ...Read More
HealthTap member
This made me feel good. Thanks! No matter what the outcome, thanks for helping me breathe a little bit easier for the time being.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Texas Tech University School of Medicine, TX
Graduated 1988MD
Residency
Texas Tech
Completed 1993
Awards
Thought Leader, Third Place, Dallas Region - Spring
2015
Top General Surgeon, Second Place, Texas - Spring
2015
Top General Surgeon , Second Place, Texas - Spring
2016
Affiliations
Fellow American College Of Surgeons
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