Please keep us updated. Is Dr. Coric so busy that he couldn't get you in sooner? It seems like a very long time to wait for a consultation.

Update Dr. Coric Appointment Charlotte NC
 

Good news, I received a call from Dr. Coric's office that he's able to see me on 6 February as opposed to mid April.

My wife and I will be making the 5.5 hour ride to Charlotte NC (USA) and will let the board know what he says about my lumbar condition.

Congratulations. This is great news. Your appointment will be here before you know it. :clap::clap:

Been there done that...,
 

Sorry for the phrase, but this is a HUGE commitment and investment.

I had my first surgery here in the USA, a very fine doctor, but you will find, that the USA is under the control of the FDA, they have a lot of people that influence them.
My Take.
After 2 or 3 opinions, I went to Germany, there are several in Europe, that are very experienced.

Although I get a little weak and sore, at the L51 fusion level, (will get some therapy in the near future-to help understand this change) but I am reversed.

The pain is gone and I have not taken any pain meds after about 9 days from surgery.

It is a HARD decision, but if you do it, and be done with it, it will change your life.

PM if you want some more information.

Jerry5, I definitely get your point and I'm starting to understand and learn this myself. It appears my health care provider (United Healthcare) wont cover lumbar ADR surgery (from what I have read online). If anyone can confirm this please do. If this is the case it will probably be fusion unless I pick up the bill and I doubt I can afford this.

For whatever it's worth, I had a fusion at L3/L5 (two levels in one surgery). My lower back has been better since the minute I woke up from surgery (it's been 4 years already). It's my neck where I continue to have issues (I've had 4 surgeries on my neck on one on my lower back).

My fusion was done in a minimally invasive way with very small incisions. If fusion is your only option, make sure to get the opinions of a few surgeons. If you find out that you are covered for ADR, you obviously want to get several opinions as well.

You might want to contact Texas Back Institute (TBI). They perform ADR and I've been told by some that they help you through the insurance process. To be completely honest, I've seen others on these boards saying the exact opposite. There is only one way to find out, contact them. Here is their link: Total Disc Replacement | Artificial Disc Replacement | Texas Back Institute

Gene

It appears United Healthcare doesn't cover lumbar ADR. Here is the link.

https://www.unitedhealthcareonline.c...the_Spine.pdf/

You can always request, and appeal if denied. This can be a long and frustrating process, but I feel the more we push as patients, the more chance we have of getting the policies changed.

I fought Aetna for a year for a two level cervical ADR and I lost. My surgeons office gave me a huge discount for paying upfront, and they were also willing to take payments if I needed to. A lot of people do well with fusion, that decision has to be yours. But don't rule out ADR because of the cost before doing research on the price.

Hope this helps.

I was denied by Tricare (United Healthcare) for Lumbar ADR in the summer of 2014. I appealed three times and finally won but as we got closer to the surgery date, I decided with the help and advice of my surgeon to not use the Pro-Disc and got a fusion instead. I am glad I went with the fusion. I wouldn't change anything if I had the chance to do it again.

Insurance companies want you to give up. They want you to do whatever it is they will pay for. I say, be an advocate for yourself and don't take no for an answer and fight for what you feel is best for you and your body. :wiggle::wiggle:

I would recommend Dr Zeegers in Germany. May cost a bit, but he has been doing it the longest with the highest success rate. Other dr i saw just looked at my MRI and wanted to slap in the M6 disc. Dr zeegers did a full review and the M6 would have failed in a year or so because it was not built to hold the stress of the l5/s1 due to my spine pathology. He used the Activ-L which I am very happy with.

Sure it cost a bunch, but I wasn't going to let any doc fiddle with my back and be bound to FDA approved disc which are generation behind. Dr Zeegers has been doing it since 89 and is the pioneer. Canada and US has only been doing it since 2008. So I didn't want to be a test subject. So many people I see go with dr's just because insurance covers it or they are cheaper. It' s your back for Christ sake, splurge for once and go with the best! You only get one back.

I figured if any should go wrong, at least I went with the best.

Just my 2 cents.

This is the rest of your life! Don't let some guy in a cheap suit who works in some cubicle somewhere, who thinks of you as some paper to be pushed make the decisions for you! F*** them!

If you are willing to get a loan to buy a car, why would you not consider doing the same for your health and well being? After all you have only one chance to get it right, and this decision is for the rest of your life!

Don't think about the money. Find the best doctor, with the most experience, that uses the best device, for your unique needs and circumstance.

Don't give up!