ADR in Stenum?

[Danielle Shawgo]

Hello Everyone!
I hope that I am posting this in the right section. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone out there has had ADR in Stenum. I am scheduled for surgery on September 23rd and I would like any information that anyone has.
Thanks!
Danielle

[Alastair]

Hi Danielle,
I think you would be very well served by reading what has been going on at Stenum.

You could quite well be safer going somewhere else in Europe like Dr Bertagnoli, or Dr Zeegers
best,
Alastair

[Harrison]

I encourage you to reach to as many patients that haved been to Stenum as possible. Also, do a search of this forum with "Stenum," I think you will quickly see how many lives have been adversely effected by their experience there.

I would like to say more, but I will refrain because I am very biased, as I have talked to many patients about this issue. As well, I must maintain an "even keel" and a reasonably objective stance as the moderator of this forum. And that's no small feat, given the gravity and complexity of this situation.

Read the threads carefully, reach out to patients, email me if you need more insights.

I prefer email over private messages, my email is below...

[DWebster]

Danielle, My name is David Webster I recently was in the same boat as you I was scheduled for for ADR at stenum also but after personally talking to people who had gone there and had very bad out comes I canceled. That was not an easy thing to do as I know you are counting the minutes untill you can have it done. With help I found Dr. Bertagnoli in Germany and have not been this good in 20 years and I am only 12 weeks post op. Alastair has recommended two of the best doctors but with having so may bad levels I would take a look at the ProDisk but you have to decided what is best for you. I wish you all the best in the world and if there is any thing I can do to help let me know.

Dave

Stenum has a bad ADR practice and many patients have been hurt, not matter what the Stenum aplogists say.

Yes, yes, every surgeon has failures and catastorphes. Yet when the 3 worse stories I have ever heard of all have Stenum in common, the probability that this is a coincidence becomes vanishingly small.

I wonder if McBee is still doing well.

[Danielle Shawgo]

I want to thank you all for talking to me. I got information about Stenum on the internet. My doctors here are satisfied to let me wait for another few years until I can get surgery on the levels that I need but I am not. They are supportive of me trying to find a way to get my surgery but most physicians here do not know much about it. How do you get in contact with these other facilities? I am scheduled for surgery in Stenum on Seotember 23rd and I am trying to refinacne my house right now to pay for it. Any suggestions that anyone can give me about other facilities would be great. It would be worth looking into at least. Thanks!

[Carmont]

Danielle,
Ditto what Dale S wrote. I am one of Stenum's patients who had a bad ADR outcome. Please do not even consider having surgery at Stenum. No matter what Malte Petersen or Jim Rider tells you - your spine and your life are at risk!!!!!!! There are other wonderful surgeons available to help you and Mark ******* can facilitate getting opinions from them quickly, schedule, even travel with you if would help you. He makes that part all so easy. I know him and hold him in high regard.
If you have any more questions about Stenum, please PM me anytime. My best to you. Carmen
P.S. I saw MrBee - Willie Beeson - over the weekend in Taos, and I will post about Willie tomorrow.

[Thomas]

Danielle,
If it is at all possible for you to wait and cope with your pain I would suggest waiting. The knowledge and technology with respect to ADR's is growing at a fast pace. Make sure you take the time to read about both the patients here who claim successful ADR surgery and those who claim to have failed ADR's . ADR is not a magic bullet , it is MAJOR surgery with considerable risk and potential for failure.
That is why so many of us are waiting for as long as possible before we pull the trigger on an ADR or fusion.

[jf110]

I was fortunate enough to have my ADR done here in the states with the Texas Back Institute. Dr. Scott Blumenthal performed one level ADR on me, L5S1 and i am doing excellent. I am now 8weeks out and already i have already returned to work.I did exactly what my doctor told me to do with rehab and physical therapy. Swimming is still a BIG part of my ADR rehab. I to at one time considered Stenum until i started reading some reports coming back from american patients. Then, my insurance company finally agreed to cover my procedure here in the U.S.A. at the Texas Back Institue after i fought with them for over six months trying to get my coverage.It was a long battle but i prevailed. I have BCBS PPO.Sincerely, JF110

[DWebster]

Danielle,

It is good to make sure you don't have to have surgery if it is not needed,BUT !! Yo can wait to long. I was supossed to get two ADR but by the time I had the surgery one level was so bad that I had to have a fusion instead, Becareful this does not happen to you.

Best of Luck, Dave

PS Mark also help me find a replacement for Stenum