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#71
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When you walk into Dr. Pettine's office you see his military plaques, and on his wall is a plaque that says: Friends don't give friends fusions. Unfortunately for me, after much discussion and my bone density test, we had no choice. I am not complaining because he promised me 95 percent mobility and I have it. If I had to do over again, you bet I would do it and not get the pro-disc. You are going to win this...I just know it. Keep on fighting the good fight!
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1998- Injured neck and back in USAF 2011 - Started experiencing Severe Symptoms, Migranes, numbness, spasms in legs and feet and sciatica. Feb 2014 - Received upper Lumbar Injection - Severe Allergy to injection Mar 2014 - MRI of Cervical and Lumbar, protruding disc in C3-7, Herniated Disc in L5/S1, placed on STD and FMLA ) July 2014 - Stem Cell Procedure performed Oct 20, 2014 - ADR (MOBI-C) at C5-7 and Anterior Fusion at L5/S1 by Dr. Pettine and Dr. Techy |
#72
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Going alone raises a very interesting dilemma. I think that I could have done it on my own, cervical is easier than lumbar. I do believe that it was better to have someone there when I was doing all of the walking around. I never had a problem and never needed any help, but it does make one feel more relaxed just in case.
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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 |
#73
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Is there a good Mobi-C surgeon in Arizona?
Dang, I have gone through the Member List here and didn't find a single person who has had ADR surgery in Arizona. It definitely feels like the wild, wild west! I guess that is what I have to expect since we don't have any top notch medical schools in Arizona. Fusion, fusion, fusion that's all they seem to know ....Sigh.....
I went to the Mobi-C site Surgeon Finder and looked through all the surgeons that are local. I didn't find any surgeon that was truly remarkable. There are three listed at the Barrow Institute (best we have here) and I have a referral to one of them. I'm STILL trying to get the appointment! I wonder why the Mayo in Phoenix never shows up in my searches? Sigh again .... Well, on a good note, my neck hurts but, the migraine has sort of gone hiding in the distance of my head waiting to rear it's ugly pain. I hope it stays hiding today. I can deal with this low grade headache. The last week has been pretty brutal. I had to spend too much time on the computer and it couldn't be avoided since the IRS waits for no one. I just have to remember to not look down. All hell breaks loose when I do that!
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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 |
#74
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1998- Injured neck and back in USAF 2011 - Started experiencing Severe Symptoms, Migranes, numbness, spasms in legs and feet and sciatica. Feb 2014 - Received upper Lumbar Injection - Severe Allergy to injection Mar 2014 - MRI of Cervical and Lumbar, protruding disc in C3-7, Herniated Disc in L5/S1, placed on STD and FMLA ) July 2014 - Stem Cell Procedure performed Oct 20, 2014 - ADR (MOBI-C) at C5-7 and Anterior Fusion at L5/S1 by Dr. Pettine and Dr. Techy |
#75
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I can't go out of state because I have a Medicare HMO. They told me if I do go out of state, I would have to get prior authorization and prove medical necessity. They are going to point me right back to my area and fusion. I would bet on that! My other choice would be to wait until January and go on straight Medicare where I'm responsible for 20%. I'll have to look into that again but, I remember thinking that was a dead end a month ago.
There are surgeons doing ADR in Arizona. I have found several that use the Prodisc-C LOL! We don't need to talk about that disc again. I laugh because I feel like I'm chasing my tail like my Labrador puppy. I keep running in circles finding the same ole same ole. Hopefully, I'll get in to see the surgeon at Barrow that trains the other surgeons on the Mobi-C device. I have no idea how much surgery experience he has with it but, he gets decent reviews. I'm pretty sure he's not at the same level as Dr. Pettine or the three surgeons in Europe. I doubt it or I'd be reading about it. There are possibly a few out of network but, what's the point. I might as well go to Europe. I'm just trying to exhaust all options first and I want to see the Mobi-C doctor locally just to get his opinion. I have spent so many years lining up care for my Mom and Dad who had excellent insurance that paid 100%, that I'm used to finding the "rock star" surgeons and doctors. You know them when you meet them! I'm looking for a rock star in my stupid HMO and I can't find one
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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 |
#76
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1998- Injured neck and back in USAF 2011 - Started experiencing Severe Symptoms, Migranes, numbness, spasms in legs and feet and sciatica. Feb 2014 - Received upper Lumbar Injection - Severe Allergy to injection Mar 2014 - MRI of Cervical and Lumbar, protruding disc in C3-7, Herniated Disc in L5/S1, placed on STD and FMLA ) July 2014 - Stem Cell Procedure performed Oct 20, 2014 - ADR (MOBI-C) at C5-7 and Anterior Fusion at L5/S1 by Dr. Pettine and Dr. Techy |
#77
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Thank you Colorado Babe!
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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 |
#78
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I'm curious what AZ surgeons/clinics you've consulted. I've been working with Sonoran Spine. They seem to have a positive opinion of cervical ADR, but a negative opinion of lumbar ADR. I'm not sure if their negative opinion is based on experiences with the older generation devices or just because it's not their specialty.
So personally, with L4-5-S1 issues, I hate to shop doctors as if I'm just looking for someone to tell me what I want to hear, but I'm at the point that I want to get a broader range of opinions. |
#79
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I spoke to Dr. Randall Porter, MD at the Barrow Institute. He is a fusion and a Pro-disc surgeon. Now I'm trying to get in with the Mobi-C specialist also the Barrow Institute. Dr. Yeung is a respected ADR surgeon here however, he only uses the Pro-Disc. The other surgeons I spoke to were quite a few years ago so, they're not relevant. There are a lot of stories of people who have had unsuccessful surgeries with the Pro-disc so, I wouldn't recommend that one since there is better technology today.
I'm looking for someone that has a lot of experience but, that's hard to find in Arizona. Most likely to find a great surgeon, I think you're going to have to travel out of state or to Europe. Dr. Pettine in Colorado is a good one and Dr. Bluementhal in Texas is also recommended. I think the problem we have here in Arizona is because of lack of experience with ADR and probably due to the older technology as you mentioned. The surgeons that participated in the trials are the ones with the most experience and they are all over the country. In the US, I believe there's a new lumbar disc getting ready to be approved by the FDA. You'll need to talk to the other lumbar patients here on this website as I'm not up on that. Also, fusion and ADR in the lumbar spine is more complicated because of the weight it has to bear. In some cases, I've read that fusion may be the better option but again you need to talk to others about that. It really is patient specific.
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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 |
#80
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hi everybody
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2007 mri revealed all but 2 discs of entire spine are either bulged, some torn, a few herniated and compressing foramenal nerves or chord c3-4 fusion. myelomalacia at 2 levels, facet arthropathy, spinal and foramenal stenosis, yadda, yadda... |
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