Melissa,

Sorry about your shocking news. The good thing is now you know what worse case is, and it's a blessing to have such technology this day and age to get a look in there pre surgery. But, as cocky, none the less. In 2004 I had an MRI that showed a large bone spur pressing into my spinal cord. All my discs were in tact. In 2011, I had another MRI with the mindset of "I really need to contend with this bone spur" and 5 bulging disc were revealed. Shock is a conservative word for that feeling.


Hobbes1212 (Michele) has had a 3 level ADR. The first surgery was 1 , then another MVA and she had two more. She is a pro disc owner and had her surgery by Dr. Richard Wohns in Puyallup WA. His clinic is Neospine. she did not have insurance coverage. She is vey kind in answering any questions.


Keep us updated on your progress and prayers for you about this.

HAD A SURGERY WITH DOC B IN Germany

iT WENT TERRIBLE WRONG i NOW SUFFER FROM MORE PAINS THAN BEFORE

THE CLINIC WILL ABANDON YOU ONCE THEY SEE THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG AFTER SURGERY

BE VERY CAREFULL

Explain, what 'went wrong' so we can get a better understanding here SADR. Then, we can help you better.

Sorry to hear of your problems.

Currently both hands are suffering from atrophy and pain, right hand basically non functional, in a strength test a third of a normal one, very painful during sleeping , sitting triggers pressure on right hand elbow and shoulder, neck muscles are weak and hurting
Basically worse than before surgery

Okay, so tell us... what procedure did Dr Bierstedt perform on you? It sounds like cervical. Was it multiple M6s? Was it a hybrid fusion? Was it a single level?

Also, show images both later and A/P views so we can get an idea of placement of hardware.

That is a start for dialogue.

I can tell you my opinion on whether or not I believe someone has a good placement or if something is ejected too far out into the canal or whether or not midline was not achieved on the A/P.

I'm not a doc, but I can tell, but then again, perhaps nothing is wrong. How long has it been postop?

MMsC5-6-7:
First off it's never a bad idea to get a second or third opinion. With four levels state side is almost not going to happen; at least not with ADR's. I do not think a ridged cage at 6-7 would be a good idea. Typical hybrid would place adr above and below a fusion. PLEASE have Dr. Clavel look at this first! I think the three surgeons in Texas are: Blumenthal and Zigler, and Guyer. Guyer knows Dr. Clavel in Spain from what I understand.

Brewster:
There have been advances in break down or take downs of auto fusions. I will see what I can find.

Sadr, pls see this important topic:

https://www.adrsupport.org/forums/sh...ad.php?t=11053

Also, your post belongs as a new post, not as a reply to an old topic. Let me know if you need help. Pls address before posting again, thank you. I hope we can help you, too.

Yes, when we were in Barcelona, Clavel indicated to us that he communicates on a regular basis with the folks at TBI. Was very complimentary of them.

Our experience with TBI is that they were conservative in the diagnosis (which is both a good and bad thing). I do not see them doing more than a two-level ADR in the cervical, but things are progressing more quickly in the USA now, 18 months is a lot of time for folks to gain more experience in the field. I would definitely recommend a opinion from them.

SADR, I'm sorry you're having so many problems post op. But it can take a while before you can really determine if it was a success or not. I can only speak for me, but my pain was titanically worse post op. It took months before I started feeling like I was headed in the right direction and over 2 years later I'm still improving.

And allow me to say something that might be hard to hear, for anyone who has gone overseas for surgery. Despite how nice and supportive any doctor in Europe might be, once you return home, you are on your own. There's nothing any doctor 7,000 miles away can do other than recommend you see a doctor stateside. All they can do is answer questions, that's it.

It's extremely important to have your support network in place when you return. In my case that meant a spine specialist, chiropractor, massage therapist and physio therapist.

I'm guessing you aren't that far along in your recovery. But please rest assured that you're not alone in thinking the surgery was a failure. I had countless scares my first 18 months and thought for sure something was wrong. You gotta hold onto hope. It's all you got. And bust your *** every single day to keep moving forward.

Not a day goes by that I don't do something to continue getting stronger and more pain free. The recovery isn't 6 months, 12 months, or every 24 months. It's a lifetime of recovery.

I sincerely hope you get better soon as I know first hand how life altering it can be when you're in constant pain. My thoughts are with you.

- Ian