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International Assistance Any topics relating to traveling or communicating with international treatment locations are here.


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  #171  
Old 07-01-2015, 12:13 AM
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Cynlite Cynlite is offline
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Getting metal allergy tested is not an exact science unfortunately but, we do the best we can with what is available. How are you feeling now Pittpete? It's been a couple months since your surgery. Hope you are on the mend and doing much better.
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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
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  #172  
Old 07-01-2015, 03:30 PM
pittpete pittpete is offline
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Wow, im doing pretty well, thanks for asking.
Little stiffness here and there but that mechanical pain is gooooooone!!!!
woot
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Born 1970/1995-Hurt at work/1996-Right disc fragment L4-L5 discectomy-On/off back pain,no serious leg pain until/2007-Right herniation L5-S1,recurrent small herniation at L4-L5 with unbearable leg pain/6/08 discectomy L5-S1/leg pain relieved/occaisional mechanical pain/2012-Cymblata 60 mg,occasional aleve/2014-LB pain not debilitating but chronic,Rhizotomy relieves facet pain on right side/2015-L4-S1 facets shot/4/15 PLIF L4-S1 with facectomy
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  #173  
Old 07-01-2015, 10:04 PM
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Cynlite Cynlite is offline
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Oh happy day! I'm so pleased to hear this wonderful news PittPete! CONGRATULATIONS!

I always worry about fusion even knowing that some of you have done quite well with it. Dr. Clavel recommended a fusion of my L3/L4. I don't think I'll do it but, I haven't fully made up my mind yet. It helps to hear positive outcomes.
__________________
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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  #174  
Old 07-04-2015, 06:40 AM
Jerry5 Jerry5 is offline
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Default What I know now

Went for a two level ADR, in Germany, but they could not access the L51, anterior, so I ended with a fusion.

It works, it is strong, so if there were a hybrid, L51 fusion and an L45 adr, I would agree, but not the fusion alone, if there were only one level, I would opt for the disc.

My two cents.
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Jerry, Somewhere Ohio

L2-3 herniation, two days before Thanksgiving, 2012, Discectomy/Laminectomy, 3/13 Numbness in the right leg, lateral femoral, gone, July 10, 2014 L45 M6 ADR, July 15 PLIF L5-S1, Not able to access L51 Anterior.
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  #175  
Old 07-04-2015, 10:32 PM
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Cynlite Cynlite is offline
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Me too, but he doesn't want to do an artificial disc because of my facets. I have a grade 1 anterolisthesis at that level along with a diffuse bulge. I'm doing inversion everyday to see if I can change it. It's worth a try. I passed on the epidural because I had a bad reaction to the drug. I may need to go back and speak to my pain specialist about it. I cancelled the procedures after I called. I guess he didn't catch it on my list of bad drugs. I'm not very keen on getting my lumbar fused when I'm not sure how much of my pain is coming from my very screwed up neck. One of my neck surgeries improved my walking for a few years but, my neck has really degenerated in the last five years. I've got to get this surgery ASAP but, it's complicated getting it scheduled.
__________________
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; 07-05-2015 at 11:56 AM.
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  #176  
Old 07-05-2015, 03:24 PM
Cheryl0331 Cheryl0331 is offline
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Default facets?

I thought that wasn't as much a concern with ADR anymore; especially with M6 's?
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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
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  #177  
Old 07-05-2015, 04:32 PM
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Cynlite Cynlite is offline
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So far, Dr. Clavel is the only surgeon to recommend surgery on my lumbar spine. When I asked him why he couldn't use an artificial disc his response was "Did another surgeon say he would put one there?" said rather emphatically. Cheryl, you know as much as I do. I'm still trying to figure out if I even need surgery there. If I do, then I would expect to get other surgeons on board with the diagnosis. Dr. Bierstedt is the only other one to comment and he said no surgery on my lumbar or thoracic. I'm hoping Dr. Zeegers will give me a response someday soon regarding my lumbar and thoracic spine. He's holding up my report because he wants further tests done on my cervical spine and I've had the worst time trying to get my insurance company to approve them. Another month screwing around with this and I've made little to no progress.
__________________
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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  #178  
Old 07-07-2015, 08:28 PM
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Cynlite Cynlite is offline
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Posts: 666
Unhappy One step forward and two steps back

I have been struggling with a problem so, thought I would put it out to the community. Dr. Zeegers will not give me his opinion because he wants me to get a bone scintigraphy test and a ct scan of my cervical spine. I asked him to give me his diagnosis without the tests but, he hasn't responded to my email. This is frustrating since I'm out close to $1000 for his opinion and have gained nothing from it so far because he brought this concern up before I retained him. I have not been able to get my insurance to cooperate and pay for the tests. In fact, they have now lost the records of even looking into it and denying them. I have also looked into paying cash and know this will set me back at least $1000 for the two tests and probably more. I'm still trying to figure out how to get it done. I sent Dr. Zeegers' letter explaning why I need the tests to Dr. Clavel. Dr. Clavel does not think I have osteolysis in my cervical spine. Dr. Bierstedt never mentioned it either and neither did the surgeon at the Barrow Institute. Dr. Zeegers is concerned that there is a low grade infection in my neck from my surgeries 2008 - 2010. Do I keep fighting this uphill battle to get the tests done or schedule the surgery with Dr. Clavel and hope he's correct? My problems are more complicated than this but, I thought I would just throw out the first one and see what you all think.
__________________
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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  #179  
Old 07-11-2015, 11:16 PM
Dema Dema is offline
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Dear Cynlite, sorry you are having such troubles with getting insurance to approve these tests. Do you have a neurologist, neurosurgeon or pain manager that would prescribe the same tests and help get insurance to approve? Not sure if this works, but thinking maybe they will approve if the doctor is local!
Also try asking Dr. Zeegers if he would give you his recommendations based on either having an infection & an not having it. I hope he will understand the issues with the insurance and work with you.
Wishing you well
__________________
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!)
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  #180  
Old 07-12-2015, 01:12 AM
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Cynlite Cynlite is offline
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Thanks for your reply Dema! I really appreciate it. Ideally I do need a local specialist to order the tests. That would solve my problem and get my insurance to cover the tests. I wish it was as easy as that but, it's not.

My primary care already tried to help and the insurance company lost the record of them trying to get prior authorization. She won't help me a second time around. I already asked. I'm afraid it's because it is unclear what Dr. Zeegers wants!

I tried to get referred to a neurologist. First available appointment for a good one is October and there is no guarantee he would help. It would take me another couple of months to get back in to see the neurosurgeon at Barrow who thought fusion was a grand idea so, I am not hopeful that he will help me get the tests ordered for a surgeon in Europe either. I'm now trying to get access to the radiologist that read my original x-ray report. I am hopeful that he will correspond with Dr. Zeegers in Europe so they can figure out what test I need if any. The imaging lab wouldn't let me speak to the doctor on the phone as he will only speak with another doctor. I sent over an email requesting that he correspond with Dr. Zeegers on Friday.

Corresponding with Dr. Zeegers is not very easy because of the language and time difference but, he does try to answer my questions and help. He isn't really sure what nuclear test I need from a U.S. standpoint so, we spent a week emailing back and forth about that and I still don't have the answer. It is quite frustrating. Hopefully, I'll have better luck this week. On top of all this, I have really not been feeling well so, it makes all this harder.

I hope you are healing well from your accident and making better progress than me. Sending you my well wishes and prayers.
__________________
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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