Possible surgery at University of Arizona Med. Ctr.

[vphoenixk]

Hi to all! I haven't posted since my first in June of 05; it has been a difficult year. Since my move to Arizona in June of last year, I have not had much to contribute. I have not been receiving any real care here for my DDD and associated pain. I changed primary care doctors once because the first did not take any of my health issues seriously, kept referring me to specialists that were not covered by Medicaid, and had incredibly rude and apparently incompetent office staff. My new primary is not much better, but he signs off on pretty much whatever I request. I have been left to manage my health care on my own.

I saw a terrible neurosurgeon in Tucson in February of this year that my current primary sent me to. For any of you who are in the Tucson area, please e-mail me if you would like his name. Please stay away from this man! I was told by his physician assistant (who did my exam) that I only had a "black disc" and they would do nothing surgically for it. He stated that any surgery they did would make my pain worse and they do not support ADR. I stated that my neurosurgeon in Ohio had recommended it. When the Tucson doctor came into the room he said, "So...Where is your artificial disc?" in a very sarcastic tone. After saying "Excuse me?" he again repeated his question in the same tone of voice. When I told him I had been on a waiting list in Ohio for two level, he stated that "ADR is not a proven treatment and any doctor who performs it is only doing it to make their BMW payment." I was mortified that he would be so unprofessional and told him our visit was over, got up and left. Interestingly, I discovered recently that although he never examined me himself and had none of my films, reports, or records of any kind (they were not forwarded as I was told they were; lesson learned!) he determined that none of my pain was due to my DDD, that it was all muscular and basically there is nothing wrong with me! I pretty much came unglued over that!

I decided to search for a surgeon on my own and have had many turn me down. All the while, I was trying to get in to see Dr. Robert Dzioba at University of Arizona/University Physicians since I heard he was doing cutting edge work. I was informed earlier this year that he was not taking any new patients, but to keep trying back.

Finally, this month, he began taking new patients again. He is only in the office once a week, and will not see a new patient without reviewing their films, MRI's and other records first. I was informed that he primarily does surgeries, no other treatments. I was to take my records to Tucson, drop them off and fill out a very short questionaire. I was told that if he thought he could help me I would be contacted by phone to set up an appointment.

I received the call two weeks ago for an August 1st appointment! I am trying not to be too excited about this because I have been let down so many times, but it is great news just to get in to see him. I have since heard he is very selective in who he takes as a patient since all his cases are for teaching purposes. He recently did a two level ADR on an airman at Davis-Monthan AFB that so far appears to have been successful. My other concern is that I am currently on Medicaid since I have not worked in almost two years and have been turned down for SSD and SSI. During this last year I have gotten considerably worse as far as my pain and reduced mobility, so I want to get something done before I have permanent nerve damage if I don't already. I am hoping not to have too much of a struggle getting them to cover surgery if he wants to do ADR. I promise to keep updating as things progress to help any of you with the same issues.

[Harrison]

V, it sounds like you are on the right path. It's amazing how much work it sometimes takes to get to the right doctor -- too much as far as I can see!

Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

[biffnoble]

V.
Good work!

Keep your chin up!

Good luck, August 1!

[vphoenixk]

Hi All! I had my consultation with Dr. Dzioba at University of Arizona Orthopedics. Unfortunately, I am no longer a candidate for ADR. The disc at L5-S1 is now gone and the vertebrae are bone on bone. I also have osteoarthritis at the facet and he suspects spinal stenosis based on my symptoms. The disc at L4-L5 has height loss, but he is sending me for an MRI to see if it could also go within the next year or so (if so, it comes out too). Dr. Dzioba is recommending cage fusion of at least L5-S1 and probably L4-L5. He would also do decompressive laminectomy to clean out the spinal canal and foramina. He stated that he will use bone from the back of my pelvis for the cage procedure. He said that he feels there is too much risk of failure/rejection/infection involved in using cadaver bone. He has had much greater success in using a patients own bone. He will also implant a bone growth stimulator because I am a smoker. He said that even if I quit between now and the surgery, he would still use it because of residual effects of smoking. Although the manufacturer says it can be left in the body, he says he does not leave any device in a patient unless it is absolutely necessary. He stated he would implant it so he can find it under the surface of my skin. The battery lasts for 6 to 9 months. Because he wants to get the most out of it he can, he will leave it in for 9 months and then remove it.

I must say that everything I heard about him seems to be true. He was professional but friendly and did not talk down to me. He explained why he does or does not do procedures and answered all of my questions regarding ADR and fusion honestly, and what to expect with this surgery. At this point, he feels that he can significantly reduce or eliminate my pain and get me back to normal function. When he started to discuss it, I told him I was aware that there are no guarantees and there are risks involved in this. However, I can no longer live with my pain without trying to do something about it.

He wants to see me again after the MRI results come back to discuss this further and set up a surgery date. I am very pleased with my first meeting with him and feel I can trust him with this surgery based on talking with him and the research I have done.

Wish me luck, I will update as things progress.

[Harrison]

V, thanks for the update! Wow, despite your challenges you sound like you are doing OK. Keep up the good work and keep us posted -- and congrats on finding a med professional you trust...no small task.

[ADR in the USA]

Not to make light of your situation V, but "I feel your pain". After becoming disabled, let go from work after FMLA ran out, and losing my BCBS coverage, I was turned down for Medicare/Medicaid. It's good to know there are attorneys out there that actually do good work and I was able to find one of them. However, neither Medicare, or Medicaid for that matter, is going to authorize payment for any procedure that hasn't been FDA approved.

With regard to various doctors, you have to dig and dig and then dig some more before you find the right one for you. Personally, I have elected not to go through with another fusion. Hopefully, I am done with fusions! I will continue to fight the pain until something happens at the FDA regarding approval of, at a minimum, the second generation discs that are now awaiting approval.

In the past I have also seen an anesthiesiologies who wanted to just keep giving spinal blocks, a chiropractor that was smart enough to refuse to do manipulations, ect. It is my understanding that if you see a neurosurgeon asking to be "fixed" he will not want you as a patient. They are very legal defensive. But if you ask them to "reduce pain", they will take you under their wing. There are a very select few that will do ADR and personally, I wouldn't want any of them to do mine.