Diagnosis form Germany 3 level ADR plus cage

[Mike L.]

Hi Folks, I am scheduled for 1 level prestige on Friday with C6 and C7 posterior framinotomy in LA. Today I got this far reaching evalutaion from Stenum. Even my Dr. in LA wanted to do 4 level ADR just as a coment looking at my discs with me.

-Please help. I'm 53 and need to parent and live life. I was wondering:

- SHould I cancel/reschedule. And go for third, fourth opinions?
- Does Stenum overexagerate its' treament?

Please help. Here is my basic Stenum evaluation:

Diagnosis:
C3/4:degenerative disc disease with disc bulge
C4/5:degenerative disc disease with disc bulge
C5/6:degenerative disc disease with disc bulge
C6/7:degenerative disc disease with disc bulge

Therapy plan:
All 4 levels show pathological degenerative changes. Disc replacement is applicable in max 3 levels. We advise for a hybrid solution of disc replacement and fusion techniques. However, the final decision if 3 levels can be replaced will be taken during surgery.

C4/5: total discectomy by anterior approach and artificial disc replacement
C4/5: total discectomy by anterior approach and artificial disc replacement
C5/6: total discectomy by anterior approach and artificial disc replacement vs anterior cage
C6/7: total discectomy by anterior approach and anterior cage

[Harrison]

Hi Mike, I may chime back in later on your post (doing site admin now) and moved your post to this forum...

[cavalier]

My advice is simple as BAD as you need help be as sure as one can be BEFORE you go under the knife. Once you do something you cant undo it as easily & yes as bizarre as it seems to be - often the more opinions u get the more confused you can be as often they dont agree. With that said, I would suggest one more opinion if you are willing to entertain Stenum I would put your case in front of the team of DR's Fenk-Mayer & Bertagnoli - they have done some of the more diffcult spinal cases & are considered by their peers to be one of the leading spine surgeons in the world. By doing one more opinion it may help to sort this out in finally confirming a direction.
While it means a bit more of a delay & time -this is the time to be crossing your T's & dotting your I's - in other words be thorough - because then you will feel a peace because you will know you have exhausted all angles even more.

Let us know how you come along & how things turned out - - best Jill

[rhatzy]

Mike,

I was in the same boat with having to do something. My option was a two level lumbar fusion or two level ADR at Stenum. Multi level fusion is a terrible option as I know of three people with multi level fusion having to have it redone and are still worse off. At least with ADR, I had I believed a 60-70% chance or success and that is what I did. I went to Stenum and they are first rate. At least they didn't say to go for a four level. I know one guy who had a three level Cervical ADR at Stenum and he is doing great.

Those surgeons at Stenum are as good as the best out there. The place is great and they treat you great. Plus, they use a new tecnology cervical ADR called the M6 and have been using it for at least 2 years with great results. Stenum has done as many difficult spinal cases as anyone else and have been succesful doing them.

However, check with anyone you want and get all the different options. Then when you are totally confused, make the decision. I was 50 with a family and looking at the end of my flying career and in pain and living on disibility for the rest of my life. It was the toughest and scariest decision I have ever made. Stenum gave me back my life and I am back to flying as captain with american airlines.

Mark