Questions & Comments for Newbie

[Harrison]

Posted for new member, Mike. I know there are folks from all over who can offer their opinions.

Mike, sorry for not answering your private message. I receive too many posts from patients seeking German treatments; I'd rather have all of my/our comments in the open for everyone to see, share and comment.

Thanks.
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I have a very immediate interest in this topic as my neurosurgeon _________ is now suggesting a 3 level disectomy/fusion/8 screw plate for DDD at C4-5 C5-6 C6-7 after several years of care and not suggesting surgery until very necesssary.

The Stenum Hospital has a tactically AGGRESSIVE sales department for what is currently a $45,000 dollar surgery probally not covered by insurance nor do they really indicate they want to help in the challege of the denials. I am a skeptic about wiring 1/2 the money by wire upfront, and not having a good way to check them or their doctors out. That alone makes me almost give in to fusion here. After reading and just recently joining your very nice website it comes down to those of us needing multilevel adr are a somewhat scared group of people who need help with little support from the medical or insurance communities.

Perfect targets for aggressive sales tactics or even dangerous treatment. I need someone to talk to and there does not to be anyone. Who would you talk to? Maybe that is what we all need, someone knowledgeable we can trust to talk to. Thank you for all you do for all those who use .your site

[Jack]

Mike,

Do what I'm in the middle of; research, researdh and more research. Find out where the surgeons received the surgical training and fellowship trainijng. The medical school is the least important.

How many of the type you want done has the surgeon completed within the last year.

Will the primary surgeon be present throughout the whole case?

See if you can ck out their handouts for post-op care, what you can do and when.
Get a follow-up number for a quick response to a question for a post op problem.

I'm checking out Stenum and a place in India.

Ultimately, me and you will have to make a decision and stick to it. It is not something that someone else can do for you.

[CharlesinCharge]

Mike,

I had my ADR surgery done at Stenum in 2006, and had no problems with them at all. It is very common to pay 1/2 the money up front, any overseas hospital with do that. Their chief surgeon (Dr. Ritter-Lang) has performed over 8,000 ADR surgeries and is very experienced, but there are other good choices in Germany (Dr. Bertagnoli, Dr. Zeegers) that you can also research. NONE of them are going to help you with the insurance appeal, that is your responsibility so do not judge Stenum on that. I paid for my 2 level ADR from them out of pocket because I did not want fusion and my insurance company (Blue Cross) would not cover ADR, not even here in the U.S.

Only you can decide what is right for you, and how much you want to pay for your health. Many of us are faced with the tough decision of whether we get a fusion that is paid for by insurance, or get the preferred ADR but have to pay for it ourselves. It is a difficult position to be in, and each person has to figure out for themselves what is best.

Good luck,