Questions about Dr. Pablo Clavel..Barcelona Spain???

[Jarrod]

Hello everyone, I am considering going to Dr. Pablo Clavel in Barcelona Spain, I have sent him a copy of my MRI scans and have just received word that I am a canidate for ADR at 1-3 levels c5/6, c6/7, c7/t1. I have been speaking with Moe at Healthbase and he has set me a price of 26,900.00 for a single level c7/t1 ADR and 39,500.00 for a 3 level. I have been to three neurosurgeons in the states in the past 2-1/2 months and all agree that i have multiple herniations at all three levels. Also i have spoken to Dr. Rajakumar in Bangladore India and he also suggested a 2, posssible 3 level ADR. The reason being that the MRI scan is not a complete identifier of the the herniations and the shape that the discs are in. So until the Dr. Clavel does his own MRI and CAT scan he cannot be 100% sure if more than 1 level is needed. Also Moe told me that since the c7/t1 disc is the one causing me the constant pain/tingling and numbness that it will definately have to be replaced.

This is where my questions come in to play. Moe told me that payment is made via a wire transfer to an account, and that if only a one or two level ADR is needed then the remaining funds will be wired back to my account.

Questions??

1. Is the account I wire the funds to The Barcelona Spine Institute?

2. For those members who have used Dr. Clavel and Healthbase, do you have any experience with the refund process and how the patient/consumer is protected if not all the funds are needed for the procedure. "I don't mean to sound untrusting but 40,000.00 is alot of money to just be throwing out there". So anyone who has gone this route can you please post and tell me the process Healthbase uses and how I am protected. Thank you very much.

3. Also can members who have used Dr. Clavel and The Barcelona Spine Institute please post their experiences and maybe comment on the beside manner of the Dr..

Thank you all so very much for this forum/board, it has helped me learn the ins and outs of the avaiable options that I may have along this journey I have to make. God Bless
3.

[jss]

Jarrod,

Sorry for the delayed reply. I just returned home last night from running the San Antonio Rock'n Roll Marathon Sunday. But, I had a double M6 ADR with Dr Clavel in Nov '09 and can address some of your questions.

1. I went through Healthbase also and wired the funds to their account. If memory serves it was in Rhode Island. Like you, I was more than a little apprehensive on sending, in my case, $27,533 to someone I'd never met.

2. I don't know, but think that Moe and Healthbase are in India. So if a dispute over a refund arises, I don't think that will be a lot of "protection". I don't know how that works. Fortunately a refund was not required in case.

3. Dr Clavel spent all the time with me that I required, answered all of my questions, his manner was very reassuring, and he spent a lot of time with my wife after surgery while I was in recovery. At the follow up five days later, he again spent all of the time with me that I needed and answered all questions that I had. He was even very helpful post-surgery in providing assistance in my (so far unsuccessful) insurance appeal. In fact, each time I've contacted his office via email about something since surgery, about half of the time Dr Clavel himself has replied.

Good luck, Jeff

[Jarrod]

Jeff, Thank you for the reply, sheduling surgery for Dec. 9th. I am so happy to be having it done before the new year. My job consists of heavy hours from Feb. thru April and I was worried I may not feel up to the long hours if I watited till Jan. I would love to see ur picks, my email is Jalexander@gmx.com please feel free to send them anytime again thank you.

[jss]

Jarrod,

I have been blessed with a better outcome than I could have ever hoped for. Since my surgery on Nov 25, 2009 I've run two half marathons, two full marathons, and been in a 100 mile bicycle race.; and I'll be running the White Rock Marathon in December and the Cowtown Ultra-Marathon (31 miles) in February.

Below are some specifics concerning my experience with surgery related issues with Dr Clavel in Barcelona. While these are specific to my experience, they will very probably be very close to your experience with any surgeon you select for M6 implantation (and possibly any other device).

- We were moved to my room before surgery. Sherri (my unbelievable wife of 28 years) waited there while I was in surgery. Dr Clavel called her after the surgery to let her know that I was in recovery and that all had gone well, and then he came up to the room a little later to discuss the surgery with her.

- When I woke up from surgery I was in a LOT of pain. I am convinced that I was given no pain medication in post-op before waking up. No one spoke English and I found myself lying flat on my back (something I couldn't do before surgery) waving my arms in the air until a nurse walked over. Knowing that our word "pain" translates in Spanish to "bread", all I could do is point to my soft collar laden neck with both hands and say, "OUCHO". Of course, no one knew what that meant. I didn't get any pain medicine for more than another hour when I got to the room and had access to the sheet that Dr Clavel's assistant had given me that had relevant English phrases on one side, and their Catalan equivalent on the other. I say all of that to say that if I had it to do over again, in my meeting with Dr Clavel the day before surgery I would ask him about the administration of pain medicine BEFORE I woke up. BTW: as much pain as I was in, I still felt better than I did before they put me out.

- Another thing I recall in recovery. I'm not cold natured at all, but I was FREEZING. I was shivering so much that a nurse walked over and put a blanket on me without me saying a word.

- Dr Clavel left orders that I did not do ANYTHING but lay on flat on my back without a pillow for about 16 hours after surgery. I was given a pillow for about four hours and then allowed to get out of bed (maybe 20 hours after surgery). I felt SO much better after surgery than before and couldn't WAIT to get up. BTW: the Quiron Hospital nursing staff enforced Dr Clavel's "flat on his back" orders with Nazi like efficiency.

- My surgery was at maybe 6:15PM and lasted 3.5 hours. Very late that night an LVN brought me something to eat. Since I was not allowed to sit up, Sherri spoon fed me. After a half dozen bites I was pretty nauseated and ate no more. Oddly this was a dramatic improvement compared with my two fusions a decade prior`; which after each I woke up vomiting from the anesthesia.

- The night after surgery I probably didn't sleep three hours. The swelling in my neck made me so uncomfortable that sleeping with sleeping medication was difficult. If Sherri hadn't been there, it would have been even more difficult. There was a large couch that the hospital made out into a bed, so she 'slept' in the room with me. She gave me water when I was coughing, gave me the bottle when I needed to pee, and attended to everything to which she could attend. I have a strong aversion to drugs and so didn't ask for sleeping medication. If you don't have that aversion, you can request that medicine and probably sleep much better than did I. Also, since Dr Clavel required that I lay flat on my back; if he requires the same of any women reading this, then you may wake up after surgery with a urinary catheter. That may be a good thing to find out ahead of time.

- The day after surgery two female LVNs came in to give me a sponge bath. They removed all my clothing by cutting it off with scissors and then rubbing me down. While that is a scenario that is not an issue for any man, I do understand that it would make most women very uncomfortable. Be aware that such a bath will be "offered". As you will be getting out of the hospital in less than 24 hours, most women might prefer to decline their offer. So that you can think about what you want to do when that event occurs, I thought that you might want to be aware that it is coming.

- Dr Clavel installed a drain tube in each of my incisions. One of his associates, probably Dr Gilete, removed them in the room a few hours before I checked out, with no sedation and no pain medication. I became very anxious. You should know that there was no pain and no problem. There was some "unnatural tugging sensation", but it was not a problem and you should try not to become anxious. No big deal.

- Within an hour of waking up from surgery I was able to attend to all of my own needs. When I checked out of the hospital 30 hours later, I walked the 1.1 miles to the hotel pulling my own 40lb suite case. Sherri, concerned for my well being, was furious that I didn't want to take the subway or a taxi and didn't speak to me until the next day. But I had been incapacitated with pain for months and wanted to move under my own power for a change. While I did enjoy the peace and quiet, I would have much preferred that she speak. It did make for an awkward rest of the day as we walked around Barcelona sightseeing for four or five hours. Not everyone is in such good condition upon checking out of the hospital, but I was. I hope that you are too.

- We spent the next seven days walking around Barcelona or Paris for seven plus hours each day. Every man I've spoken with has had such post-op experiences, but only about 75% of women. I hope that your experience is like mine.

- At my final check up with Dr Clavel five days post surgery, he had me make a video in which his assistant Doutsen, asked me a handful of questions which I answered into a hand held cam-corder. While I was happy to make that video, I wish I had dressed better. Be aware that you may be asked to make such a video.

Again, these details are specific to MY experience with Dr Clavel. I would fully expect that regardless of which surgeon I had used that these details would have been similar.

To which ever surgeon and device you select, I wish you such an outstanding outcome as I have had, and of course, the very best of luck.

Jeff

[Jarrod]

Jeff, a couple of questions for u. They have me arriving on Dec 8th. Then pre op tests at 8 a.m. and surgery at 9:30 a.m. of the 9th. That seems a little fast to me. I don't see how the Dr. can do a pre op consult and MRI in an hour and a half before the actual surgery. I'm going to contact Moe tomorrow and see if arriving on the 7th would be ok and then having the pre op MRI and consult on the 8th would be ok and then surgery on the 9th. Please let me kno if this was the same for your pre op tests and consult. thanks again for all your help.
Jarrod

[jss]

Jarrod,

By pre-op tests you mean chest x-ray, taking blood to look for ... (whatever they look for), physical examination to see if you're physically a candidate for surgery, etc... I've had three cervical surgeries. Each time those tests were done by PCP in a 10 minute office visit, and then sent to the surgeon for his review. I'd always wondered if they really looked at those; now I'm kind of thinking that they don't.

To do those tests an hour and a half before surgery does seem odd. BUT, it also seems very very risky. What if there IS a problem that results in not being able to perform the surgery for ... ten or twenty days. You've already spent thousands of dollars on travel and lodging. Now what?

I did all of those tests with my PCP who cleared me for surgery before I left for Europe. I carried the reports and x-rays to Europe for Dr Clavel's review the day before surgery.

But the MRI???? What is the purpose of the MRI? He's already seen your images. This is the first time I've heard of an MRI being performed the morning of surgery. Anyone else?

Jeff

[Jarrod]

Jeff,

I have spoken to Moe and he has answered all of my questions reguarding refund and MRI the morning of Dec 9th. So it is as planned a 3 level ADR, levels are c5/6,c6/7,c7/t1.I am very nervous but feel confident in Dr. Clavel and the m6 disc I have chosen. Sept. of this year is the first back pain I've ever had, go figure....I sure did a good job the first time out, but the pain I felt when c7/t1 herniated and hit the nerve root was not something I ever want to revisit. I hope the arm pain and atrophy of my left hand and forarm improve after surgery. Again thank you for your response and all of your help.

Jarrod

[jss]

Jarrod,

All of my pre-surgical pain was gone when I woke up after surgery. The only thing that hasn't resolved is that my left hand is still mostly numb. One year out, I doubt that will ever resolve. But at least it doesn't hurt!

Here's hoping that you have at least as good a recovery.

Jeff