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#131
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Dema, I'm so glad you connected with Dr. Zeegers. He has a very kind and sometimes direct personality. His personality works fine with me because I'm pretty direct myself and don't have a problem being interrupted and redirected in a conversation. I know this is how a highly analytic mind tends to work as he processes the information and tries to put the puzzle together.
I took my time filling out the two questionnaires. I had to do both for the neck and the legs and keep the information separated without repeating myself. I spent time thinking about it first because I wanted it to be really clear in my head what I experience. It would seem that it would be easy but, it was not for me because my symptoms vary depending on if I'm sedentary, walking, walking while carrying something, sleeping, standing etc. I have to stay as sedentary as possible to keep my pain reduced and that is just not working with my personality one bit! In the process of gathering all my medical history, I spent time reviewing it myself and I think that was a good exercise. However, I know my limitations in trying to make the conclusions myself. I know that my neck really degenerated a lot over the last 7 years and the osteophytes did grow back. I think Dr. Zeegers will be very good at figuring out what's going on since he has spent years working with this kind of information. I see months of working towards this goal coming together in the next few weeks all colliding with a significant decline in my mother's health. Emotionally, I know I cannot prepare myself for it all.
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2006: epidural shots did nothing; 2 surgeons recommended 2 level fusion, I declined. 2007 - 2010 4 foraminotomy and cord decompression cervical surgeries and 2 endoscopic discectomy T7-T8 surgeries; total 6 with Dr. Jho (Pittsburgh,PA) My C6/C7 autofused around 2009. 2013 - 2015: epidurals 3 times (again did nothing) and 4 Radiofrequency ablation (or RFA) procedures. 2016 more RFAs, hit the 10 year mark of this insanity and pain, 3 level M6-C ADR with Dr. Clavel May 19, 2016 Last edited by Cynlite; 04-27-2015 at 01:07 AM. |
#132
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You are so right Cynlite, he redirected my conversation a few times over the phone
Given all the info he is asking for, I am hoping we get a valuable report and accurate recommendation for treatment, and we both move closer to getting our lives back.
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7/2007 Whiplash injury 11/2009 Cervical disc herniation C3-C6 (C5-C6 worse) 2010-2013 Conservative treatments (drugs, PT, epidurals, prolotherapy, acupuncture...etc), little effect on pain Considering surgery (typical questions, which type & which surgeon!) |
#133
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So sad
My heart is broken. My dear Momma passed this morning. Ironically but not really, there is a confluence of events as I wait for the doctor's report this week that will set in motion the plans for my surgery. My Mom set me free to be healed. I would have stayed in pain forever for her.
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2006: epidural shots did nothing; 2 surgeons recommended 2 level fusion, I declined. 2007 - 2010 4 foraminotomy and cord decompression cervical surgeries and 2 endoscopic discectomy T7-T8 surgeries; total 6 with Dr. Jho (Pittsburgh,PA) My C6/C7 autofused around 2009. 2013 - 2015: epidurals 3 times (again did nothing) and 4 Radiofrequency ablation (or RFA) procedures. 2016 more RFAs, hit the 10 year mark of this insanity and pain, 3 level M6-C ADR with Dr. Clavel May 19, 2016 |
#134
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I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I wish you all the best.
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1979 car accident: rear ended 1980 ACDF C4-5 4/8/11 stopped, hit again 3 epidurals, PT, 2 MRI's,etc. scheduled 3 times for C5-6, 6-7 fusion, plus laminectomy at C3-4, and C 7, advised to do Bilateral lamino-foraminotomy C5-6, C6-7,a Percutaneous Discectomy L4 -L5 7/14 RFA on L3 to L5 (awake, local only) C5-6,6-7 M-6 ADR with Dr. Clavel 9/17/14, 12/7/15 RFA L2-S1, Facet injections C2-7 6/3/16 RFA L2-S1, epidural L4,5, 8/26/16 RFA C1-7 |
#135
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Our condolences on your loss Cynlite, and pray that your mother's spirit will guide you to the right treatment to becoming pain free.
Dema & Raouf
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7/2007 Whiplash injury 11/2009 Cervical disc herniation C3-C6 (C5-C6 worse) 2010-2013 Conservative treatments (drugs, PT, epidurals, prolotherapy, acupuncture...etc), little effect on pain Considering surgery (typical questions, which type & which surgeon!) |
#136
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Cynlite, my condolences as well. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
Gene
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Car Accident 2002 - Small Herniated Disc C3/C4 1998 Larger Herniation and Cervical Fusion C3/C4 2005 Herniation C4/C5 - 40 epidural steroid injections from Oct 2005, - Oct, 2007 2008 - Foraminotomy at C6/C7 on left side Feb, 2010 - Cervical Fusion C4/C5 Dec, 2010 - Lumbar Fusion L3/L5 2013 - Bulge on C5/C6; herniation C6/C7 right side Mar 26, 2013 - Foraminotomy at C6/C7 on right side May 5, 2015 - ADR with Dr Blumenthal of TBI for C5/C6 using Mobi-C |
#137
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Update
Thank you Scoop, Dema, Gene, Colorado Babe and Stone for your condolences. It's such a difficult time for me and your words brought me comfort! It's good to know that there are such kind hearts in the world that will reach out to comfort someone they only know online. You are the best!
I'm still waiting on Dr. Zeegers in Europe for feedback. He mentioned up front that I may have an infection in my neck from surgery 7 years ago. I'm sure hoping he doesn't lead with that in his diagnosis. If it is the case, then I won't be able to have disc replacement surgery. He'll want me to have some more tests to confirm or deny this condition. I'll have to deal with the infection first if I have one and I certainly don't want to risk surgery without knowing for sure because its a contraindication for this surgery. Two other surgeons have looked at my MRI's and none have mentioned an infection. This is so frustrating. Hopefully, he will get back with me by Friday as it's been 13 days since I sent him everything he requested. Unfortunately, he was traveling last week so, that set us back.
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2006: epidural shots did nothing; 2 surgeons recommended 2 level fusion, I declined. 2007 - 2010 4 foraminotomy and cord decompression cervical surgeries and 2 endoscopic discectomy T7-T8 surgeries; total 6 with Dr. Jho (Pittsburgh,PA) My C6/C7 autofused around 2009. 2013 - 2015: epidurals 3 times (again did nothing) and 4 Radiofrequency ablation (or RFA) procedures. 2016 more RFAs, hit the 10 year mark of this insanity and pain, 3 level M6-C ADR with Dr. Clavel May 19, 2016 |
#138
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New Development
I first spoke to Dr. Zeegers on March 11th. I wired him the money on March 16th and by then had sent him most of the information needed but, he wanted some other tests and MRI's so, I had to work on getting the Lyme test and additional MRI's plus, fill out the very long questionnaires he asked for. On April 25th, I completed the package and emailed him that it was complete. He told me he would be traveling the next week but, would get it to me after that AND that he had not worked on my case because he was waiting for everything. Okay, I understand him wanting to wait for a completed package. Based on our conversation, I expected to receive the report the first week in May but, nothing showed up. I sent several emails, one last Monday that he did not respond to and one yesterday. He responded yesterday that holidays, tight schedule etc. caused the delay and he'd get it to me asap. Still no date on when I can expect his report. So, I sent him a message this morning asking that he not work on my case and asked him if he could refund my money. I've decided that I will move on without him and hopefully he will refund my money. If he sends the report soon, then I would be happy to work with him but, I don't want to keep waiting. It's been 3 1/2 weeks since the completed package and no idea of when this waiting will end! I am in pain and really want to get my surgery planned.
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2006: epidural shots did nothing; 2 surgeons recommended 2 level fusion, I declined. 2007 - 2010 4 foraminotomy and cord decompression cervical surgeries and 2 endoscopic discectomy T7-T8 surgeries; total 6 with Dr. Jho (Pittsburgh,PA) My C6/C7 autofused around 2009. 2013 - 2015: epidurals 3 times (again did nothing) and 4 Radiofrequency ablation (or RFA) procedures. 2016 more RFAs, hit the 10 year mark of this insanity and pain, 3 level M6-C ADR with Dr. Clavel May 19, 2016 |
#139
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My prayers are with you
Quote:
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54 yr old female 5'7" 147 lbs. non-smoker conservative treatments failed 2007 fusion @ C4-6 peek cages, failed due to long term use of cox-2 inhibitor 2008 revised C4-6 donor bone, plate & screws 2009 fusion with Roi-C @ C3-4 2015 MRI & CT mjr ddd @ C6-7, segmental kyphosis at C7-T1, 2-level M6-C prosthesis by Dr. Clavel Barcelona Spain 2019 H.O. formed behind M6-C @ C6-7 left nerve rt & in spinal canal. 2020 Revision C6-7 to a CP-ESP prosthesis by Dr. Schmitz Dusseldorf Germany |
#140
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Quote:
__________________
2006: epidural shots did nothing; 2 surgeons recommended 2 level fusion, I declined. 2007 - 2010 4 foraminotomy and cord decompression cervical surgeries and 2 endoscopic discectomy T7-T8 surgeries; total 6 with Dr. Jho (Pittsburgh,PA) My C6/C7 autofused around 2009. 2013 - 2015: epidurals 3 times (again did nothing) and 4 Radiofrequency ablation (or RFA) procedures. 2016 more RFAs, hit the 10 year mark of this insanity and pain, 3 level M6-C ADR with Dr. Clavel May 19, 2016 |
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