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View Full Version : How to contact Dr Bierstedt?


Deemzee
08-07-2013, 06:01 PM
I'm trying to contact Dr. Bierstedt for an opinion. When you google Dr Bierstedt you get three or so different spine sites, all with the goal of hooking you up with him. Is one better/faster/cheaper/more official than another?

This appears as the top hit:
ONZ Spine Surgeon for Disk Replacement, German Spine Specialists – M6 ADR Artificial Disk Replacement - Stop spine pain now, Lumbar Cervical Spine Surgery (http://www.germanspinespecialists.com/best_spine_surgen.html)

but then there's this one:
Dr. Thomas Bierstedt (http://www.betterthanspinalfusion.co.uk/germany/thomas-bierstedt.html)

and this seems more direct and official:
Vita/professional background (http://en.onz-online.de/about-onz/team-of-senior-consultants/dr-thomas-bierstedt/vitaprofessional-background/)

Any advice?

NJ Gene
08-07-2013, 07:57 PM
The first site you mentioned works. One hte left side is a column, the lowest one being "Contact Us". However, to save you some time, I would e-mail Malte Peterson directly at m.petersen@germanspinespecialists.com I would not recommend you deal with the American team leader, Kelli Meier. She is a former patient of Dr. Ritter-Lang, who doesn't have a good reputation on these boards. She is currently a chiropractic student in Colorado and has a busy schedule. Furthermore, if you deal with her and ultimately use Dr. Bierstedt, she'll get a commission. Malte works directly with the doctor and has more knowledge than Kelli.

Good luck getting in touch with him!

Gene

TPatti
08-07-2013, 08:36 PM
Yes, contact Malte, the address NYGene posted is correct. I am 3 weeks post-op from Dr. Bierstedt and doing well!

Tatonka_usn
08-07-2013, 10:39 PM
I would not recommend you deal with the American team leader, Kelli Meier. She is a former patient of Dr. Ritter-Lang, who doesn't have a good reputation on these boards. She is currently a chiropractic student in Colorado and has a busy schedule. Furthermore, if you deal with her and ultimately use Dr. Bierstedt, she'll get a commission.


NYGene - Wish I'd actually seen this a bit sooner, I actually attempted to contact Dr. Bierstedt through his website a couple weeks ago and the response I received was from Ms Meier. It would appear that her lack of a good reputation is well deserved as, during our conversation, she make it sound as though her cervical ADR was done by Dr. Bierstedt (having never mentioned anything about Dr. Ritter-Lang). Personally, I got the feeling she was more of a pitch-person than a patient advocate, and now find myself questioning my decision to contact Dr. Bierstedt at all. While he and I had a nice conversation, for nearly an hour yesterday, this turn of events has me really wondering who I can really trust. :uhoh:

TPatti
08-07-2013, 10:46 PM
I have heard these allegations about Kelly before on this site and do not know first hand anymore than what I have heard from others. I have always dealt directly with Malte. I can tell you that my whole experience with Malte, Dr. Bierstedt, and Medicos has been nothing short of spectacular. I am now 3 weeks post-op a 3 level lumbar and am doing very well, still a long road ahead, but am told I am healing ahead of the curve. If you have any questions I would ask Malte directly, I do not think it is fair for allegations about one person so far removed from your actual surgery and recovery to have an impact on your choice for what is best for you.

Stonewall_Boris
08-07-2013, 11:09 PM
Hi,

Ken, the Canadian rep wont mind if you contact him, I know that.

ken@germanspinespecialists.com

Or

ken@myspinesolution.com

When contacting Ken I usually use both email addresses.

If you PM me with your email address I'll be happy to forward your email to him. Ken also has a nice list of tips for when you go to Germany. He keeps it updated with info from patients that come back from Germany with more info or tips.

Tatonka_usn
08-07-2013, 11:23 PM
Hi,

Ken, the Canadian rep wont mind if you contact him, I know that.

ken@germanspinespecialists.com

Or

ken@myspinesolution.com

When contacting Ken I usually use both email addresses.

If you PM me with your email address I'll be happy to forward your email to him. Ken also has a nice list of tips for when you go to Germany. He keeps it updated with info from patients that come back from Germany with more info or tips.

Thanks, Boris. Ken was actually in touch with me today, and I plan to give him a ring this weekend.

Please don't mistake my previously mentioned frustration as a criticism of Dr. Bierstedt and/or ONZ. Rather, it's a cynical fear that there's a wild west mentality out there, where some are clearly less interested in the patient than making a buck. This is obviously a BIG DEAL and, inching closer to finally "pulling the trigger", I don't take my decision lightly.

Stonewall_Boris
08-07-2013, 11:55 PM
Tatonka_usn,

That is an excellent question about screening possible surgeons and surgeries they propose to finding a surgeon AND procedure you are comfortable with. Unfortunately that quest is yours and yours alone. You will find many here that are or who had gone through that process and I would encourage you to read their posts to understand their reasoning. Possibly to contact them for follow up information.
For myself,one technique I used was when I got my MRI's digitized I sent them to 3 doctors in the US and 3 in Europe. 5 responses got back to me, all 5 said I needed L3 to S1 discs dealt with. They had different procedures but I thought 5 out of 5 was pretty amazing that they all identified the problem discs.
After a bit more research in the procedures that I was interested in I SPECIFICALLY asked in which series which image they saw the problem in in the MRI images I sent them. When that question was answered to my satisfaction I began to get a sense that I was talking to the right people.
I hope more people here will share their decision making process with you as we are all unique and make the decision based upon what we believe is the best for ourselves.

Hope that helps

Deemzee
08-08-2013, 03:30 AM
Im still a bit unsure though: should I contact Malte or Ken or does it not really matter? Also I feel the same way about what's out there-- it IS the wild west. Look at the discourse my seemingly simple question generated. You never know who youre talking to and what their true motivation is. Worse still is that that sometimes holds true for doctors as well. This site rocks...but unfortunately for me, the researching it inspires often happens in the middle of yet another sleepless anxious night while under the covers so as not to disturb my wife. Thank you to everyone for helping to separate the wheat from the gunslingers.

LauraB
08-08-2013, 07:56 AM
If I might add my two cents, Malte and/or Ken are both excellent choices for contact with Dr. Bierstedt. They are in constant communication throughout the process and DO NOT leave you hanging. I am aware that Dr. Bierstedt's surgical partner, Dr. Illerhaus, will be in Canada (Edmonton, Manitoba & Ontario) at the end of the month through the first week in September. If interested in an appointment, PM me and I will forward contact information. Dr. Bierstedt's office is very respectful of the requirements of this forum.

I also agree that the choice for alternative surgery overseas is a big decision and one that requires the patient to be his/her own advocate. I, too, became the victim of a doctor's who stood more to gain financially than what was in my best medical interest.

Stonewall has sound advice in that you should send your diagnostics to both US and overseas. Once you've acquired their surgical opinions and have done research, you will know who is YOUR best choice. If you are constantly second-guessing (LIKE ME), you will know you are moving in the wrong direction.

Good luck to you on your quest.

Surprised 1
08-08-2013, 08:03 AM
Im still a bit unsure though: should I contact Malte or Ken or does it not really matter?

Deemzee, I will relate my current experience in contacting Dr. Bierstedt. I filled out the online form and submitted that info. The next morning I had an e-mail from Kelli reiterating the instructions on sending the MRI report and x-rays to Germany and that the doctor would call me directly. These documents were received in Germany on a Thursday and Dr. Bierstedt called on Saturday. (As we were scheduled to leave on a 3 month trip I do think that the doctor took this into account and expedited his call to us. Of course, the conversation changed what plans we did have.) We have since been dealing with Ken for practical matters, Malte for medical questions. They have both been very responsive, informative, polite and kind.

I do hope that you get in touch w/ Dr. Bierstedt because he may be able to address your kyphosis. Best of luck,
Susan

Gman88
08-08-2013, 12:18 PM
I have had a good experience with the whole process with Bierstedt's staff. I dealt with Malte and Ken through the whole process. I have surgery set up for 08-27-13. It took me some time to do the research and I am happy with my decision with Bierstedt. I guess I will find out soon if I made the right one or not. I was a bit skeptical during my search as well. Good luck in your search.

Deemzee
08-08-2013, 02:12 PM
I have gotten many opinions from both the US and Europe over these last two years and I've spent enormous sums of time researching and meeting and googling and asking questions. I certainly appreciate what you're saying about "knowing", but I guess in my case the challenges are so unique that no two opinions are identical-- and oftentimes they completely contradict each other. It's just not obvious which way to go. Different levels, approaches, devices, risks...coming from the best doctors in the world...terrifying. It'd be easier if there was at least some consensus but I fear my condition is somewhat uncharted territory. I'm a filmmaker, not a neurosurgeon. I'm trying to go with my gut but finding that extremely difficult, especially with the stakes so high and the opinions so varied...not to mention questionable affiliations and bad reviews and shady organizations. And the expense (not to mention the pain) is potentially ruinous if it's not done right the first time. I'm getting closer to deciding (I'm running out of time) but I am constantly second-guessing. How can't you? Wish I had a crystal ball.

LauraB
08-08-2013, 09:29 PM
Deemzee: That is why you are here...now. I've waited five years for a better choice than fusion. I didn't know that ADR even existed until just a couple of months ago - I felt like I came out of a cave. Relying on US surgeons to diagnose and treat is really a shot in the dark. They rely too heavily on the insurance factor. My own neurosurgeon told me he would not consider ADR, or how did he put it....I wasn't a candidate for ADR because my insurance didn't cover it - defined....he wouldn't get paid.
Just narrow down your surgeon research to 2 or 3. It will fall into place.
I was ready to pull my hair out just two weeks ago. Now, I'm looking forward to my trip and becoming a new "me" again.

Surprised 1
08-09-2013, 11:30 AM
Something that may be of help when searching for a German surgeon is to use German Google: (or whatever country you are looking at)

Google (http://www.google.de) (link to German google)

This can provide much more information than US google and there's a button you can hit to translate to English. (Of course, maybe everyone knows of this already and I am late to the party...)

LauraB
08-09-2013, 11:47 AM
Surprised: Well I'm late to the party too. Thanks - you at least helped me out.