[stanreader]

Hi, awesome forum and so glad to find it and meet everyone here. Very inspiring.

Last week I discovered I may need 3 level ADR and that its only really available in Europe. Quite a shock. Have spent the last week looking through this forum and the Internet in general trying to understand options. It appears Dr. Clavel in Spain may be a good choice (I speak Spanish). Its a little hard to tell, however, since he appears to solely use the M6 and other doctors in Germany seem to favor other devices. There is a strange kind of trash-talking that seems to go on between some of these doctors and their patients. I have sent initial emails to Clavel and several German doctors and only heard back from the US contacts for two German doctors. Any thoughts about how to navigate the competing claims and options these doctors are providing?

Pain is pretty significant. Haven't been able to do pushups since January. Now difficult to lift much with right arm. Here is a summary of what the latest MRI shows:

C3-C4: Grade 1 central annular disc bulge with mild uncinate process spurring noted on the right. No significant stenosis is produced. Minor foraminal encroachment.

C4-C5: Moderate degenerative disc change with broad-based grade 1-2 bulging disc and marginal osteophyte complex. Right greater than left uncinate process spurring. This produces mild to moderate right lateral recess and foraminal narrowing.

C5-C6: Moderate degenerative spondylosis with disc space narrowing and grade 1-2 bulging disc centrally, asymmetric far laterally on the left becoming grade 2, producing moderate to severe foraminal stenosis which is slightly increased from the previous study. Borderline central stenosis without cord impingement.

C6-C7: Broad-based grade 1 bulging disc centrally and minimally asymmetric to the left with left uncinate process spurring produces minimal left foraminal narrowing without additional significant stenosis or impingement.

C7-T1: Minor degenerative change without acquired stenosis or neural impingement.

IMPRESSION:
1. Degenerative spondylosis, multilevel, slightly progressive. There is moderate left foraminal stenosis present at C5-6 secondary to asymmetric grade 2 bulging disc and uncinate process spurring, moderate right lateral recess and foraminal narrowing on the right at C4-5 secondary to asymmetric bulging disc and uncinate process spurring.