- its fine that you prefer surgery in the US however MANY Americans DO go overseas for their surgery. *Do you think their research into this is wrong?
Using the word “wrong” is wrong. It’s everyone’s own decision. Any “research” is based on anecdotal data. You/we do the best we can reading posts and communicating with others. That’s why I built this board in 2004 – there were very few information resources available to help patients make even qualitative decisions.
- yes traveling overseas is very difficult, I was one that could not afford first class and I made it there and back; note take*Lufthansa*in my*opinion. *Traveling, say to Texas would have been just as bad.*
Maybe, it depends where you live.
- prices stateside are NOT*COMPARABLE OR BETTER than or overseas <== I'm all ears if you can prove this, really, we spent circa $50,000 for a 3 level lumbar ADR, travel, hotels and all costs included.
The higher volume spine centers are definitely comparable. And moreso if patients are amenable to hybrid procedures (ADR plus fusion). Texas Back et al clinics.
- better chance of reimbursement, OKAY. *As I understand it the FDA has only approved a double*cervical**ADR and a single level lumbar ADR. *What if you need more levels done? *Who pays for that?
See above, hybrids.
- while there are "many"*surgeons*that have done ADR's since 2001 how many have done multi level ADR's?
By now, dozens if not more than one hundred. You need only locate the training surgeons associated with the Charite or ProDisc. I may have posted this many years ago. In 2004, Depuy Spine had 1000+ spine surgeons trained in disc replacement.
- as per suing doctors I really can't comment. *Under which*circumstances would you sue an American doctor?
You need only look at the complications that patients have experienced from the US or overseas. For example, the horrible early days of Stenum when they bragged about the “speediest” spinal ADRs was followed by many cases of subsidence. And there have been patients that have died on the table. Would you agree that these cases are egregious?
Just a reminder that these are my opinions only. I posted a notice about being careful about using information from this board ten years ago:
http://www.adrsupport.org/forums/showthread.php?t=12270