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New Member Introductions If you just joined, please introduce yourself here. Please add a signature describing your spinal history (use the "User CP) and ask us how we can help you get started. |
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#1
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my painful story
Dear All;
This is my first posting on the forum that I fortunately discovered by accident. I had a 2 level laminotomy in April 2011 and life has been miserable ever since. That was after consulting 3 surgeons who each had a different recomendation "do nothing" to "fusion", so I took the middle road, and have been suffering ever since. I have seen my surgeon many times for follow up but all I hear is that my MRI is normal. That is a bad joke as I am in constant pain with numbness in both feet as the day goes on. A friend of mine had mentioned disk replacement surgery in Germany to me at the time and I thought that was a crazy idea. Well two years later I no longer think that it is crazy, just scary. My friend's son was operated on by Dr Ritter-Lang in 2008 and had good results, although he did mention that it was like a production line. Since I have been reading on the Internet I have come to realize that Ritter-Lang is controversial. I have been in touch with the office of Dr Thomas Bierstedt and his contact in Germany; Malte Petersen. I see that Malte had been associated with Stenum and Dr Ritter-Lang but I have no information on Malte of on Dr Bierstedt, other than that they claim that he is one of the worlds greatest surgeons. They are recommending a 2 level ADR at S1/L5 and L4. I had a phone call from Dr Bertagnoli's US agent, Tim Mcvair, who was rather abrupt and had to hang up for another call. He has not returned my e-mail since our telephone conversation. Needless to say, I did not get a "warm and fuzzy" feeling although I cannot rule out this option. The pain and numbness gets worse, it seems, by the day. I have a phone called scheduled with my physiatrist as HSS later today as I had asked her about ADR and I hope that she will give me some good advice. She has given my about 3 injections but they do not help. I have also tried Gabapentin and Lyrica which don't help either. My questions are: does anyone have some feedback on Dr Bierstedt as there are very few comments on the forum? I would welcome any other suggestions that you might have. Thanks for reading. Mike |
#2
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Mike welcome happy/sorry to have you here.
If you are looking at Ritter-Lang and are considering the M6 I would suggest you look at Dr. Pablo Clavel in Barcelona. Scour the message boards for some recent posts of mine for his contact info. A LOT of the patients here have had or are scheduled to have surgery with him and I think you would find a consultation with him beneficial. -Jeff
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Lifelong history of back issues from a young age, spasms etc. 1995 - Weightlifting injury 1997 - Hip Injury 2009 - Trampoline injury (just bounced down on my butt) 2009-2011 Physiotherapy and medication, progress but no lasting pain relief 2010 - X-Ray DDD L5-S1, L4-L5, L4-L3 2010 - MRI Herniation L5-S1, Bulges L4-L5, L4-L3 2011 - Epidurals - No relief 2012 - Facet Injections - No relief 2012 - Discogram TBI - positive L3-S1 L3-S1 ADR M6-L w Clavel 11/28/2012 |
#3
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Hi Mike,
Sorry to hear that you have had to join this group but welcome aboard. I am very new so most have a lot more info than I do. Dr. Clavel seems to be consistently highly regarded. I have had great success communicating with his office so far, I have not yet had a personnel consult with him. I would like to, but I need to figure out how to handle my care back in Buffalo, NY after surgery. I can not find any doctors willing to be part of the aftercare that is needed. |
#4
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Hi Mike, Sorry you are in so much pain . Just wanted to tell you my experience with Dr. Bierstedt. He operated on my back last November, I have an ADR at L5/S1 and I recovered without any complications and must say that this was my best decision in a long time. Dr. Bierstedt is very personable and never rushed me, he took his time to answer all my questions and made me feel at ease. The surgery went as planned. Dr. Bierstedt has only 2-3 surgeries on one day, not an asembly line! I hope that you will feel better soon with whatever decision you make!! It was worth it for me, almost brings me to tears because I can do things now without major backpain like playing with my kids or just do normal household chores. Hope I could give you some feedback, Claudia
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DDD L5-S1- mechanical back pain since 2008, disc herniation same level 2011. Siatic nerv pain and tingling in foot. Stiffness and muscle spasms in lower back. Conservative treatments for four years only gave me temporarly pain relieve. November 27th 2012- artificial disc replacement L5-S1 by Neurosugeon Dr. Thomas Bierstedt in Hattingen, Germany All my symtoms are GONE! |
#5
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Thank you!
Wow, thank you for all the great input. I have seen the name of Dr Clavel I the forums and he had good reviews. This is a very scary venture here but living with the pain is not really an option either. My physiatrist from HSS called my today to tell me that ADR was not an good option for me, but that I needed to calm my sciatic nerve. Ok, we'll I have been seeing this doctor for 2 years and my sciatic nerve is not calmed at all.
I wish they would have just told me, "yes, great idea". Well life is not so clear cut . I am getting another opinion on Monday. In the meantime ..ouch!! Yes, sorry to be here but glad that this forum exists. Any additional input is always appreciated. Too much suffering for us. Were our backs only designed to last 45 years but now our life expectancy in 75-85 years old? Looking forward to the dialogue. Mike |
#6
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Mike,
Can you get a copy of your x-rays and MRI? If so, you can send this off to the overseas docs and get their opinion. Some charge a fee for this, but it might be the best money you've spent to get an opinion from a doctor not governed by the FDA rules. As far as I'm concerned, it's the best money I ever spent!
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L5-S1 Lumbar M6 by Nick Boeree 10-14-2011 |
#7
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Quote:
No amount of money can buy THAT kind of care. Only a decent person who genuinely cares about his patients can provide that.
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Multiple traumas to spine starting age 13. 1st American to have 6 ADR's in one surgery. C3-4 - C/7, & L5-S1 - L3-4. Surgery w/ Dr. Clavel, 3/18/13, M6. Before surgery: severe spinal stenosis C5/C6 (cord "flattened" per stateside doc), + for Hoffman's & Babinsky's. At time of surgery: 5 yrs MAX before ending up in wheelchair. Clavel found L5-S1 partially fused. Had to cut it apart to put in M6. Please excuse brevity - SEVERE carpel tunnel. |
#8
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Quote:
Seriously get him to review your images (for free) and then get a consult with him (for a reasonable fee). -Jeff
__________________
Lifelong history of back issues from a young age, spasms etc. 1995 - Weightlifting injury 1997 - Hip Injury 2009 - Trampoline injury (just bounced down on my butt) 2009-2011 Physiotherapy and medication, progress but no lasting pain relief 2010 - X-Ray DDD L5-S1, L4-L5, L4-L3 2010 - MRI Herniation L5-S1, Bulges L4-L5, L4-L3 2011 - Epidurals - No relief 2012 - Facet Injections - No relief 2012 - Discogram TBI - positive L3-S1 L3-S1 ADR M6-L w Clavel 11/28/2012 |
#9
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Quote:
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#10
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Quote:
__________________
Lifelong history of back issues from a young age, spasms etc. 1995 - Weightlifting injury 1997 - Hip Injury 2009 - Trampoline injury (just bounced down on my butt) 2009-2011 Physiotherapy and medication, progress but no lasting pain relief 2010 - X-Ray DDD L5-S1, L4-L5, L4-L3 2010 - MRI Herniation L5-S1, Bulges L4-L5, L4-L3 2011 - Epidurals - No relief 2012 - Facet Injections - No relief 2012 - Discogram TBI - positive L3-S1 L3-S1 ADR M6-L w Clavel 11/28/2012 |
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