Hi Everyone,

I am new to this group; I have DDD L4-L5 and L5-S1. Backpain has been a part of life for over 15 years. My pain use to come and go but in December it reached the point where I woke up in such pain that I could not walk or move. Thinking that it would subside as it did before, I waited until Feburary to see a doctor. The rollercoaster ride began....After six months, two surgeons, chiroprator, physical therapy, injections, discogram and 7 prescriptions for Vicodin, I was told I needed surgery.
An option was ADR which has lead me to this forum. It is so good to know that there are people out there who understand. Although it took me a while to realize, there is no magic bullet to cure DDD but may get relief from surgery, I feel that the ADR is the best option today.
The final obstacle is my health insurance. Not sure where that will end up but if anyone in the US has had the surgery paid for and can give me tips in my pursuit please let me know.
Looking forward to reading more stories.

Welcome Sue,
there's a lot to read here.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Dutchman working in France;

Did you have surgery? Was it successful?

welcome sue
very pleased to meet you http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...icon_smile.gif
whom is doing your surgery?
best wishes
chuck

Welcome, Sue.

Insurance is the big problem. They don't want to pay for ADR.

You have come to the right place to get information. Good luck with your decision.

Jane

My surgeon is Dr. Balderston - University of Pennsylvania BBB Orthopaedics was in the clinical trial group for ProDisc.

I had ADR doen on June 13 2007 and
honestly?
I cannot yet say if it was a succes or not.
The constant pain is gone, but as soon as I ramp up the activity level, the pain and tremors come back. Also I wake up at night sometimes because of the pain.

I was told to wait six weeks post-op and then see. And to take it real easy, so I do.

sue
dr. balderston is a great surgeon. no worries and he works with dr. bertagnoli. he is also my state side surgeon http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...icon_smile.gif
no worries
chuck

chasswen,

Thanks for the feedback; I am beginning to go in panic mode. I had 8 inches of my colon removed 10 years ago and it was a horrible recovery time. Dr. tells me this surgery is not as bad since I am going into it fairly healthy.
Any post op info would be appreciated. Did Dr. B send you abroad for surgery?

Since I need two levels I doubt insurance will cover it but I want to exhaust all options since the $$$ amount is so high, To date, I have not even gotten a rejection letter from insurance, to start the appeal process.

So as of now, I went from triathlons...swim, bike, run to pills, pills and then more pills.
With surgery scheduled in August.

Any insight on post op and insurance would be appreciated.

well adr recovery is no cake walk.
really depends on how much disc space is left.
i had saw dr. balderston and was to have a charite but was denied by blue cross. after waiting for all most a year we bite the bullet and borrow against the house for surgery with dr bertagnoli. and i asked dr balderston if he would follow me after surgery. so thats about how it took place.
also my recovery post is in surgery outcomes area.
feel free to contact me if you need any thing.
chuck