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Old 08-28-2011, 05:33 PM
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Jstuckey Jstuckey is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2010
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Couple of thoughts-
1. Secondary insurance - From what I know of insurance working in a hospital, your procedure has to be a covered procedure by the primary insurance before the secondary will pick up any of the tab. They won't pay if the the primary says not in the plan / not covered / experimental / blah, blah, blah. I'm thinking revisions or specific ADR related problems would probably be an issue with payment too.
2. I'm obviously a fan of ADR when appropriate - but I'm having L5-S1 fused soon, as it is too far gone (facet damage) for an ADR at that level. If your L4-5 above the culpret is healthy, it may not be a horrible thing to have a fusion there. My surgeon said there is very little movement at L5-S1 anyway, so the stress on the above disc is the most minimal that it could be with a fusion at that lowest point, as opposed to fusions at higher levels. In other words, I don't think it would be the worst thing in the world for a fusion, if your options are limited.

Keep working on it and read, read, read....Send your reports overseas for free opinions. You'll learn a lot.
__________________
Joey Sue - 50 years old
9/28/2011: Hybrid STALIF TT interbody fusion at L5-S1 and M6-L ADR L4-5 with Nick Boeree, UK - forever grateful to you Nick! Still doing great.
Prior to the fix: Severe DDD L4-5 and L5-S1 with moderate facet degen at L5-S1, but only mild facet degeneration at L4-5.
http://healthyback2011.blogspot.com/
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