ADRSupport Community  

Go Back   ADRSupport Community > General Discussion > International Assistance

International Assistance Any topics relating to traveling or communicating with international treatment locations are here.


Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 01-19-2014, 03:47 PM
ian ian is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 155
Default Time to choose...paella or schnitzel

Both Dr. Clavel and Dr. Bierstedt recommended ADR at L4/L5. I spoke with Dr. Clavel and liked him immediately. I haven't spoken with Dr Bierstedt yet, but his references online speak for themselves.

It seems I can't go wrong with either choice. I've been a risk taker my entire life, which is why my back is messed up in the first place. But I've never been so scared of anything as I am about back surgery. And selecting a doctor is turning out to be a brain-twisting decision.

Part of why this is such a difficult decision is that there are numerous things going on in my low back, DDD being one of them. And I'm unsure if the disc is the primary problem, or if the facet joints and stenosis are equally as responsible for my pain. But both doctors believe that replacing the disc will help. Not necessarily eliminate my pain completely, but it should make a big difference.

So at this point it's just a matter of pulling the trigger and scheduling the surgery. Damnit, this is a harder decision that I realized!
__________________
- 20+ years of constant back pain
- Sacralization (natural fusion) at L5/S1
- DDD at L4/L5 dating back to mid twenties
- Torn ligaments in SI joint
- PRP injections at SI joint
- Tarlov cysts on sacrum
- Lumbar stenosis
- L4/L5 ADR Feb 25, 2014 with Dr. Bierstedt.
http://iansroadback.blogspot.com
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-19-2014, 04:11 PM
Stonewall_Boris Stonewall_Boris is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 547
Default

The descion making process is the most difficult thing in all of this. The next will be planning the logistics of the trip. You can't make a mistake by going with either Bierstedt or Clavel IMHO. But, yes, it is a hard, gut wrenching, stomach turning descion to make. But when you make the descion you feel relief.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-19-2014, 06:59 PM
mcjagger mcjagger is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 89
Default

Paella....I'll be happy to recommend where the best is in Barcelona
__________________
2009-2011-multiple Rx-acupuncture-chiropractor- pt-2Nd Dr. Opinion= mri=ddd L4/L5
2010-steroid injection-facet injection- rhizotomy
2011-3rd Doctor opinion=mri=ddd L4/L5-pt- 4th Dr. Opinion=ADR
2012-5th & 6th Dr. Opionion=ADR
Dexa Scan
Metal Alergy Test
May 17, 2012---L4/5 ADR, M6-L, Dr. Clavel
Barcelona Spine Center
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-19-2014, 08:49 PM
2Confused 2Confused is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 322
Default

Paella! All the food in Spain is fabulous!!
__________________
50 year old female
Rear-Ended in 2009
Disk rupture cervical 5-6 & 6-7
2 level M6 ADR, Dr. Clavel - Oct. 2012
Insurance paid
Not a day goes by that without me whispering a silent "thank you" to Dr. Clavel
Post Op 2+ years
Cross Fit 3-5 times a week
Running 5ks
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-20-2014, 12:47 AM
Stonewall_Boris Stonewall_Boris is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 547
Default

2Confused,

All food in Europe is fabulous. Europe has a strict non GMO policy.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-20-2014, 03:41 PM
ian ian is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 155
Default

I spoke with Dr. Bierstedt today. He actually called me up. He dropped some serious knowledge on me and broke everything down concerning my films, my history and why he's certain my problems are discogenic related at L4/L5.

My decision just got a whole lot harder!
__________________
- 20+ years of constant back pain
- Sacralization (natural fusion) at L5/S1
- DDD at L4/L5 dating back to mid twenties
- Torn ligaments in SI joint
- PRP injections at SI joint
- Tarlov cysts on sacrum
- Lumbar stenosis
- L4/L5 ADR Feb 25, 2014 with Dr. Bierstedt.
http://iansroadback.blogspot.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-20-2014, 07:28 PM
bwink23 bwink23 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 263
Default

Well Ian, you got two top surgeons to come to the same conclusion...i suppose it's a matter of picking which one you want to go with and getting it started ?
__________________
2013 - MRI and CT scan....DDD L4-S1
left side (where my pain is) interarticularis pars fracture/defect with Spondylolithesis L5 over S1 with 2MM anterior displacement

Feb. 2014 - Hybrid lumbar fusion(l5/S1), ADR(L4/L5)...2-level cervical ADR (C5/C6, C6/C7). Dr. Pablo Clavel of Quiron Hospital in Barcelona, Spain. All M6 implants (PEEK cage and plate from Medtronic at fusion level in lumbar.) SAME DAY OPERATION for both areas of the spine.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-20-2014, 07:39 PM
ian ian is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 155
Default

Yep, time to get off the pot and choose. I've got an appt scheduled with a neurosurgeon at UCLA in a couple weeks to evaluate a couple other issues in my spine, so after I speak to him I'll make a decision regarding ADR.

It's funny, this feels like a life altering decision. And I've never been indecisive about anything before.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bwink23 View Post
Well Ian, you got two top surgeons to come to the same conclusion...i suppose it's a matter of picking which one you want to go with and getting it started ?
__________________
- 20+ years of constant back pain
- Sacralization (natural fusion) at L5/S1
- DDD at L4/L5 dating back to mid twenties
- Torn ligaments in SI joint
- PRP injections at SI joint
- Tarlov cysts on sacrum
- Lumbar stenosis
- L4/L5 ADR Feb 25, 2014 with Dr. Bierstedt.
http://iansroadback.blogspot.com
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-20-2014, 08:06 PM
2Confused 2Confused is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 322
Default

True!! But I prefer the Spanish diet over the German! French or Italian works too! I love to visit the markets when in Europe - the produce looks and smells like it should! Yea, no GMO's!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stonewall_Boris View Post
2Confused,

All food in Europe is fabulous. Europe has a strict non GMO policy.
__________________
50 year old female
Rear-Ended in 2009
Disk rupture cervical 5-6 & 6-7
2 level M6 ADR, Dr. Clavel - Oct. 2012
Insurance paid
Not a day goes by that without me whispering a silent "thank you" to Dr. Clavel
Post Op 2+ years
Cross Fit 3-5 times a week
Running 5ks
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-28-2014, 09:19 PM
Jen93312 Jen93312 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 87
Default

Hi Ian,

It is a life-altering decision, part of the reason I haven't done anything yet, that and the lack of continuity in diagnosis.

I also have sacralization in the lumbar, probably caused by an extra vertebrae. Anyway, I wont get into my history, but I would very much like to hear the "knowledge" or however you put it, that Dr. B dropped on you about the discogenic pain.

Sorry so brief but I'm laying down trying to type and I don't want this to time out!

Take care,

Jen
__________________
Jen
C3 Bulge
C4 Bulge
C5 ruptured
C6 Bulge
7/2011 epidural that caused a "fragment to present itself"
10/2011 C5-C6 Foraminotomy & removal of fragment
Positive for left-sided Hoffman's reflex
Effacement of anterior spinal artery
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Making the Leap - who to choose? LauraB New Member Introductions 60 12-04-2013 12:45 AM
New to forum - What cervical disc to choose? mathck New Member Introductions 3 12-24-2012 09:32 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:04 PM.


© Copyright 2006-2023 ADRSupport.org All rights reserved.