I am having a consult about a clinical trial

[DaddyO]

I found a clinical trial for the XL TDR. I'm having a consult in 3weeks. I am hopeful, as I want a TDR over a fusion and my insurance won't cover it and the only thing I have to pay for for the XL TDR I believe is the consult.

Anyone else do clinical trials? How did it go? Did you incur any other costs?

[valandguin]

I know that Texas Back Institute is doing clinical trials for the Freedom disc. They did my ADR April 4th and I feel AWESOME!!! I haven't felt this good in years! Absolutely no pain at all. I can't believe it. Dr. Blumenthal did my surgery. He is the first surgeon in America to perform ADR surgery and he trains many other surgeons. He also does demonstrations for Prodisc. I can't say enough about him. He gave me my life back.

If I had been just one level, he said the Freedom trial would have been free. I was two level, so had to shell out serious dough...but it was worth it.

[DaddyO]

Originally Posted by valandguin

I know that Texas Back Institute is doing clinical trials for the Freedom disc. They did my ADR April 4th and I feel AWESOME!!! I haven't felt this good in years! Absolutely no pain at all. I can't believe it. Dr. Blumenthal did my surgery. He is the first surgeon in America to perform ADR surgery and he trains many other surgeons. He also does demonstrations for Prodisc. I can't say enough about him. He gave me my life back.

If I had been just one level, he said the Freedom trial would have been free. I was two level, so had to shell out serious dough...but it was worth it.

Wow! What an awesome testimony! I will check into that. Thanks for sharing! I would love to be painfree!

[AmyBB]

I tried to get in on that clinical trial, but I am a 2 level, so I couldn't be included. I talked with 3 different doctors doing the trial. There have only been about 5-10 done so far, so it's really new. The product is new, but the procedure is not.
I have a good friend that works for that company, so I became very informed about the product.
Also my surgeon that I ended up going with, met with Dr. Pimenta, who is the guy you pioneered that procedure, and the only level that is hard to do is L4/5. L5/S1 can't be done at all. I looked at going to Brazil or Greece to have it done and just pay for it. But that was my level that needed done.

[deadlifter405]

I am a participant in the Depuy Discover cervical disc trial for the exact same reasons of no insurance coverage and not enough money on hand to pay for it all myself.

I incurred absolutely no costs to myself other than my travel expenses as I had to go to Chicago for the surgery and my post operative checkups all of which are fully covered by the trial. "How did it go?" at my 6 month checkup the doctor declared me to be in perfect condition and I concur as I have no noticeable pain, side effects, or limitations.