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The Big File All issues not easily categorized in the above forums are here. Comments on general health, diet, "getting comfortable," and more are here. |
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#11
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Jason:
I hope that your surgery gets covered on January 29th. Let's hope for some compassionate decision makers in the insurance company. Hang in there and cervical surgeries are much easier to tolerate for the most part than lumbar. I have two cervical and two lumbar and the cervical has healed up nicely. I hope you have as pain free of holidays as can be and good luck for the upcoming year. Terry Newton
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1980 ruptured L4-L5 1988 ruptured SI-L5 1990 ruptured C5-C6 1994 ruptured C6-C7 1995 Hemi-Laminectomy C5-C6, C6-C7 Mayo Clinic Bicycle Accident 2004 MRI, EMG, Facet Injections, Epidural Blocks, Lumbar Discogram. Stenum Hospital Surgery November 4, 2006 Prestige Disc C5-C6, C6-C7 Maverick Disc S1-L5, L4-L5 |
#12
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No, we haven't discussed an clinical trials yet. Maybe if my insurance balks at ADR but I'm hopeful that I'll get approved. One thing that may be in my favor is that my company is self-insured so they may have some say in the approval. Considering my level of current and planned responsibilities it's in their best interest to get me back as soon as possible. My job function is currently single-threaded so missing me could hurt. ADR patients seem to return to work a good bit sooner than ACDF and I may be able to work from home at least part time very quickly.
I cringe to think how quickly I'd get bored with my PS3 and Wii games .
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DDD C5/6. Incorrectly diagnosed as tension headaches in September 1997. Nearly continuous headache since. Began having pain in wrists in 2000, believed it was onset of carpal tunnel. In 2005 pain began getting worse. Diagnosed as DDD in July 2007. Surgery recommended after 6weeks of PT made the pain worse. ADR scheduled for Jan 26, 2009. Rescheduled for August 5! Bryan disc finally FDA approved, and just in time too. Neck was all jacked up and had to be fused unfortunately. |
#13
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My doc's nurse and I have both been told by the insurance company that the procedure is covered. It just depends on if the medical examiner is willing to accept Dr Heller's reasons as being medically indicated. I'll tell ya, it was VERY frustrating to see the weakness in my right arm. It was never as apparent as it was today that my left arm, and the lower arm/wrist especially, was so much stronger. That was surprising to me as my right hand is the dominant one. Your recovery is an inspiration for all of us Terry. I'm keeping my hopes up and the reality check in my back pocket .
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DDD C5/6. Incorrectly diagnosed as tension headaches in September 1997. Nearly continuous headache since. Began having pain in wrists in 2000, believed it was onset of carpal tunnel. In 2005 pain began getting worse. Diagnosed as DDD in July 2007. Surgery recommended after 6weeks of PT made the pain worse. ADR scheduled for Jan 26, 2009. Rescheduled for August 5! Bryan disc finally FDA approved, and just in time too. Neck was all jacked up and had to be fused unfortunately. |
#14
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Best Wishes, Kathy |
#15
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Insurance denied
Well, not terribly surprised but insurance denied the initial request so it's appeal time. What is surprising is that the procedure they approved was just decompression, not even fusion.
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DDD C5/6. Incorrectly diagnosed as tension headaches in September 1997. Nearly continuous headache since. Began having pain in wrists in 2000, believed it was onset of carpal tunnel. In 2005 pain began getting worse. Diagnosed as DDD in July 2007. Surgery recommended after 6weeks of PT made the pain worse. ADR scheduled for Jan 26, 2009. Rescheduled for August 5! Bryan disc finally FDA approved, and just in time too. Neck was all jacked up and had to be fused unfortunately. |
#16
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I'm sorry Jason that your insurance denied your ADR. Not surprising like you said, but put on your punching bags and get ready for your fight. If we all keep fighting and fighting these appeals, eventually, hopefully, one day they will begin to take notice and change their nonsense denials. Good luck to you in the fight and remember to check out The Insurance Warrior for helpful tips. If you do a search things should pop up for you to read.
Best to you, Cindylou
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CindyLou bicycle accident 6/19/01 2 compression fractures, T12, L1; vertibroplasty @ above levels, 9/15/01 4/06 hip labral tear repair 4/07 Lumbar ProDisc replacement by Dr. B., 3 levels; L3-6 7/2/08 ALIF of L6-S1 7/30/08 Removed bone cement. 8/7/08 Diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, pleurisy, pleural effusion. 3/10/09 right SI Joint Fusion; seeing light at end of tunnel, for first time in 8 years!! |
#17
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Jason,
OUTRAGEOUS !!! AND !!! on them. And we are only a small group of people who are denied coverage every year. Can't fathom a procedure being approved by the federal government and then insurance companies not paying. There must be something that groups like adrsupport can do?? Sandy
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**Accidents, active life-style, always some back/neck pain controlled w/ibuphrofen 2004 excessive pain, x-ray, PT, MRI diagnosis cervical DDD **PM recommended, meds, PT, massage therapy, chiropractor, injections **Dec. 2007 numbness and weakness in left arm/thumb, x-rays, MRI, discs at C4-7 pushing on spinal cord, fusion or ADR out of country **April 7, 2008, discogram at C3-4, surgery 4 levels, Prodisc-C, Dr. Bertagnoli, Germany |
#18
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Talk, post, complain, write letters, write more letters, complain some more. Complain to senators, complain to your employer who's paying most of your health care insurance. Use ADR Support to dig up factual information to support your presentations. Basically make it painful for the insurance companies to justify their refusal.
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Laura - L5S1 Charitee C5/6 and 6/7 Prodisc C Facet problems L4-S1 General joint hypermobility Jim - C4/5, C5/6, L4/5 disk bulges and facet damage, L4/5 disk tears, currently using regenerative medicine to address "There are many Annapurnas in the lives of men" Maurice Herzog |
#19
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Jason,
it sounds like we had similar symptoms, my level was c55/6 as well, i had SEVERE headaches, arm and shoulder pain and increasing weakness in my right hand/arm, tests showed nerve damage as well. I had the prodisc-c on 11/18 (7 weeks ago today), no headaches so far since surgery (*knocks wood*), minimal shoulder pain, weakness seems to be decreasing in my hand/arm as I recover. Best of luck to you. Kristi
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Timeline: 1988:sprained neck roller skating 1989:dislocated neck in a freak accident 1993:MVA 1995:diagnosed with bulging disc C5/6 2000:disk herniated 2000-2004:multiple treatments including nerve root block, trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, pt 2005-2008: pain meds and muscle relaxers only ProDisc-C replacement on c5/c6 11/18/08 |
#20
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I'm sure things will work out. The Dr had already started the appeals process when I called Monday to ask what the next step should be. I was told to call them back today and follow up. No rush though as it doesn't look like the Bryan disc will be aprroved this month and I'll be waiting on that anyway; at least I'll give it a few more months to get approved. Thanks everyone! Jason
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DDD C5/6. Incorrectly diagnosed as tension headaches in September 1997. Nearly continuous headache since. Began having pain in wrists in 2000, believed it was onset of carpal tunnel. In 2005 pain began getting worse. Diagnosed as DDD in July 2007. Surgery recommended after 6weeks of PT made the pain worse. ADR scheduled for Jan 26, 2009. Rescheduled for August 5! Bryan disc finally FDA approved, and just in time too. Neck was all jacked up and had to be fused unfortunately. |
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