Surgery 7days and counting!

[MaggieZ]

HI all, it has been a long time since I checked in with you. I could REALLY use some advice right now from people who have been down this road. So...... here it is.
I am scheduled for surgery with Dr. B on Jan 17th. I am having a failed fusion revised and having at least one, and more likely two ADR's placed under the fusion sight. All of this I am o.k with.(as much as one can be o.k. with spine surgery!) I have, for over a year, been trying to get my Work Comp Insurance to authorize surgery, discogram,etc.. OR to just reply to any request at all would have been nice. I'm sure those of your dealing with work comp know exactly what I mean!! Basically, they have ignored me, or denied any request that has been made. ANYWAY, now that I am ready to go Germay NEXT WEEK, suddenly out of the blue, my insurance company says that they will pay for me to go see Dr. Delamarters "partner" a Dr. Michale Khoo at UCLA for a consultaion. IF Dr. Khoo agrees that I need the ADRs, then they will THINK authorizing the surgery.
First of all, has anyone heard of this Dr. Michale Khoo??? Second, wouldn't I be in better hands with Dr. B?? Obviously, I stand to save a significant amount of money by not going to Germany, however, it is the doctor and his expereince that means the most to me.
What would you do? Do I postpone my trip to Germany and go see this guy? OR......... do I stop the "never ending hell, known as Work Comp" and go to Germany and move on with my life!!
Honesty please, as always.
Yours Sincerely,
Maggie Z
L2/3 and L3/4 Fusion 2003 (Failed)
L2/3 and L3/4 IDET 1999
DDD L4/5 and L5/S1 2005
Original injury in Nov. 1995. I WANT OUT!!!

[letteski]

Maggie,

You have a big decision and need to look at all the options like will WC take away any future medical if you go to German and pay for medical care on your own?

I am a Dr D patient and have heard about Dr Khoo however when I was looking for doctors in March �05 I was told that UCLA was not doing ADR. UCLA is in my PPO. Dr D works out of St John�s Hospital so he can do ADR and not UCLA even though he is a professor there.

So unless things have changed you may be on the right track with the best doc in the world, hard to beat that. Trying to get multilevel ADR in the US would be an even longer wait for you. Just ask Maria about her WC fight for multilevel ADR.

Good luck with your decision and keep us posted.

[ans]

Are you thinking of this guy? I think Paulette's right but I was given his name almost 3 yrs. ago re: ADR's for some reason.

http://dgsom.healthsciences.ucla.edu...onnel_id=10084

He has an office through UCLA Healthcare in Santa Monica. I asked the staff there how many ADR's he has done and everyone freaked out oh no, we can't answer this question. Then I asked who can and they said ask the doctor.

Good luck, ans

[MaggieZ]

How would I track down Maria?? Has she won her battle with WC? I have been fighting with them for 10 years. I always swore they would never wear me down so I would give up, BUT...... they did. I am soooooooooo done with the whole thing. I just want to move on with my life, and pray that this surgery will enable me to function at a high enough level that I can mantain a job, with out too many meds. I feel like that is a realistic goal to reach for. I also feel like Dr. B will give me the best shot at that being a reality
As far as giving up future benefits if I do this surgery, my attorney assures me that it will NOT be the case. He says that they will still be responsible for future medical, since they casused the original injury. He has never lead me wrong yet after 10 years, I trust what he says.
I too called the office this doctor, and was told that only the doctor can tell me how many ADRS he has done, or if he has ever done one along side a fusion. I do not feel like I have any more information then I did yesterday. Time is running out!
Thanks for your thoughts and good wishes, I will take all of the good luck I can get!
MaggieZ

[MaggieZ]

I found Maria, wasn't too hard (ha!Ha!) She has a lot of great info. Unfortunatly for me, I have crossed most of this bridges before. As I said, I am in my tenth year of battleing with the WC "machine", and I am TIRED! I do not want to fight with them for another year or two to have this surgery.
I think I am answering my own questions.

I AM GOING TO GERMANY, AND I AM GOING TO HAVE DR. B DO HIS MAGIC ON ME, AND HOPE FOR THE BEST!!

I will let you know how things go.

FYI... there is a great web site for homes and apartments to rent in Germany:www.traum-ferienwohnungen.de (Upper right hand corner is English Version) Hope this helps someone. Lots of great places to stay for CHEAP!!!

[Harrison]

Maggie, you chose one of the best, some say the best. So take comfort in that and good luck! Keep us posted; Gute Reise.

[Fortitudine]

Coming from a public health care system that has its own myriad challenges, I probably don't have any business commenting on the US medical system, but here's my 2 cents' worth - why is it such a secret how many ADRs the doc has done? Is it because it's a low number and they figure anyone who asks won't use him, so they want you to come in and at least pay for an office visit?

I've been researching for over a year, and every month I feel more confident in Dr. B. Fortunately (!) for me there's no multi-level ADR here, so the choice is a no-brainer. Good luck, Maggie!

If you're going to Germany...will you be getting the ActivL? That alone could be a bonus since it might be the best device available! Good luck. If I could go to Germany...I would go in a heart beat.

[mmglobal]

Maggie.... I'll be leaving Straubing on the morning of the 15th - very early am... for a 7:15 flight. If you get to Bavaria before then, I hope we can get together.

Mark

I have not yet fully posted my case but, WC was involved in my case also. My solution was to get WC to fully admit that I needed surgery and to approve a fusion revision for my failed fusion. My attorney and I then fought them for almost 2 years and finally got them to settle with me for an amount that included what they would spend on my surgery and aftercare. So, in a roundabout way they paid for my surgery but I have no long term care now as the terms of the settlement are that we are finished with WC. But, that in and of itself is a relief, to be rid of those @%&#@(# ers.

I just returned from Bogen with Dr. Bertagnoli and I can only hope that your surgery went as well as mine. Good luck!

Mike.