ADRSupport Community  

Go Back   ADRSupport Community > General Discussion > New Member Introductions

New Member Introductions If you just joined, please introduce yourself here. Please add a signature describing your spinal history (use the "User CP) and ask us how we can help you get started.


Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 06-06-2012, 03:26 PM
JeffR JeffR is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 356
Default Hello everyone

I guess my signature tells most of the story, but I want to introduce myself.

I am 39 years old and the past 3 years have been pretty rough with back pain after a fluke injury put my back over the edge. Like most people here I have tried the conservative route and found little to no relief and am looking to have the pain gone and my life back.

I am in Ontario Canada so I know the options here are very limited and time consuming so I am looking at biting the bullet and going out of country even though it means spending my house money.

Currently looking most at Clavel in Barcelona and it seems like Borree would have been a good option too if not for the accident. Baring that I am also looking at Pimenta in Brazil.

Right now I am getting all my documentation in order - just missing an updated MRI since my current one is too old - to get some doctors to take a look at me and see if I am a candidate or not...

The site has already been a huge help and the people are here are definitely inspiring.
__________________
Lifelong history of back issues from a young age, spasms etc.
1995 - Weightlifting injury
1997 - Hip Injury
2009 - Trampoline injury (just bounced down on my butt)
2009-2011 Physiotherapy and medication, progress but no lasting pain relief
2010 - X-Ray DDD L5-S1, L4-L5, L4-L3
2010 - MRI Herniation L5-S1, Bulges L4-L5, L4-L3
2011 - Epidurals - No relief
2012 - Facet Injections - No relief
2012 - Discogram TBI - positive L3-S1

L3-S1 ADR M6-L w Clavel 11/28/2012
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-06-2012, 06:15 PM
mcjagger mcjagger is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 89
Default

Hey Jeff.....I now live in the USA but grew up in Canada, so know how hard it is to get cutting edge medical assistance....I just recently had a one level adr with Dr. Clavel (see my signature) and have nothing but good things to say about the whole experience....if you go to their website (http://www.bcn-sc.com/ ) , email or phone them directly as they are very helpful....if I can answer any questions about my experience feel free to PM me and I'll be glad to help....good luck in your research and for sure do lots of it.
__________________
2009-2011-multiple Rx-acupuncture-chiropractor- pt-2Nd Dr. Opinion= mri=ddd L4/L5
2010-steroid injection-facet injection- rhizotomy
2011-3rd Doctor opinion=mri=ddd L4/L5-pt- 4th Dr. Opinion=ADR
2012-5th & 6th Dr. Opionion=ADR
Dexa Scan
Metal Alergy Test
May 17, 2012---L4/5 ADR, M6-L, Dr. Clavel
Barcelona Spine Center
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-06-2012, 06:16 PM
banhorn's Avatar
banhorn banhorn is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 94
Default

Hi Jeff,

I went through all the same hoops out here in Calgary last year and the late Mr. Boeree did wonders for me.

If you have any canuck specific q's, ping me. Good luck!

-Brett
__________________
July 2011 - L4/5 M6-L, Courtesy of Mr. Nick Boeree
http://backup.muellhorn.ca
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-13-2012, 08:11 PM
JeffR JeffR is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 356
Default

I've been thinking about Clavel and am in preliminary discussions with his office - originally they wanted to hook up with Ritter-Lang :O. Anyways I just got updated MRIs yesterday and I should get the report tomorrow, then I make copies of my docs and start sending them off. :/
__________________
Lifelong history of back issues from a young age, spasms etc.
1995 - Weightlifting injury
1997 - Hip Injury
2009 - Trampoline injury (just bounced down on my butt)
2009-2011 Physiotherapy and medication, progress but no lasting pain relief
2010 - X-Ray DDD L5-S1, L4-L5, L4-L3
2010 - MRI Herniation L5-S1, Bulges L4-L5, L4-L3
2011 - Epidurals - No relief
2012 - Facet Injections - No relief
2012 - Discogram TBI - positive L3-S1

L3-S1 ADR M6-L w Clavel 11/28/2012
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-14-2012, 07:40 AM
ouch2 ouch2 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 163
Default

Hi Jeff, Sorry to hear about your back pain. I am also from Ontario.
Great to hear that you are in communication with Dr. Clavel. Unfortunately I financially could not go that route and had adr surgery here in Canada.

There are a few surgeons in Canada that perform adr surgery... But not many...3 that I know of...Dr. Jarzem, Dr. Roy and Dr. Bouchard.

Your mri in 2010 sounds similar to mine. All the best at your appointment for your results. Does your doctor that you are seeing think that adr is your best option?
__________________
41 years old
Back injury Spring 2010
Discectomy/Lami Summer 2011..unsuccessful
ADR L5/S1 Maverick L5/S1 Feb 6th 2012
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-14-2012, 11:41 AM
laid up doc's Avatar
laid up doc laid up doc is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 775
Default

make sure you ask lots of questions about the "Marfan-like" problems... definitely not a typical comorbidity for an ADR patient!
__________________
US non-spine MD - laid up no more!!!
had recurrent annular tear L5/S1, failed everything
M6L done 10/19/11 w/ Dr Clavel getting back to my old self more and more every week!
laidupdoc@gmail.com if my PM box is full

The content herein represents my professional thought and opinions in a general sense only; they do not constitute professional advice or services. if you need medical advice, please consult a licensed physician.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-13-2012, 12:59 PM
JeffR JeffR is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 356
Default

(No longer) Laid-up-doc - I Probably overstated the Marfan stuff. I do not meet the criteria for Marfan syndrome but I do have some symptoms, e.g. I was born with a pectus excavatum.
__________________
Lifelong history of back issues from a young age, spasms etc.
1995 - Weightlifting injury
1997 - Hip Injury
2009 - Trampoline injury (just bounced down on my butt)
2009-2011 Physiotherapy and medication, progress but no lasting pain relief
2010 - X-Ray DDD L5-S1, L4-L5, L4-L3
2010 - MRI Herniation L5-S1, Bulges L4-L5, L4-L3
2011 - Epidurals - No relief
2012 - Facet Injections - No relief
2012 - Discogram TBI - positive L3-S1

L3-S1 ADR M6-L w Clavel 11/28/2012
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-14-2012, 10:57 PM
JeffR JeffR is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 356
Default

So clavel is suggesting 3 level lumbar adr. Scary stuff - was expecting 1 or maybe 2 but I know from my MRI that the lower 3 are affected to varying degrees. Waiting to hear back from a few more docs and also speak with Clavel on the phone...
__________________
Lifelong history of back issues from a young age, spasms etc.
1995 - Weightlifting injury
1997 - Hip Injury
2009 - Trampoline injury (just bounced down on my butt)
2009-2011 Physiotherapy and medication, progress but no lasting pain relief
2010 - X-Ray DDD L5-S1, L4-L5, L4-L3
2010 - MRI Herniation L5-S1, Bulges L4-L5, L4-L3
2011 - Epidurals - No relief
2012 - Facet Injections - No relief
2012 - Discogram TBI - positive L3-S1

L3-S1 ADR M6-L w Clavel 11/28/2012
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-15-2012, 10:05 PM
JeffR JeffR is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 356
Default How to know how many levels?

I am confused and I think rightly apprehensive at the thought of 3 level ADR but how do you know if that is the right call? Ritter-Lang said 1, Clavel is saying 3, waiting to hear from Zeegers and Dare and TBI.

I just am really scared about doing either to many or too few.

Arghhh....
__________________
Lifelong history of back issues from a young age, spasms etc.
1995 - Weightlifting injury
1997 - Hip Injury
2009 - Trampoline injury (just bounced down on my butt)
2009-2011 Physiotherapy and medication, progress but no lasting pain relief
2010 - X-Ray DDD L5-S1, L4-L5, L4-L3
2010 - MRI Herniation L5-S1, Bulges L4-L5, L4-L3
2011 - Epidurals - No relief
2012 - Facet Injections - No relief
2012 - Discogram TBI - positive L3-S1

L3-S1 ADR M6-L w Clavel 11/28/2012
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-16-2012, 03:04 AM
annapurna annapurna is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,668
Default

What have you had done for diagnostic work? Discograms? Anything else? That might help you figure out how many you need done to deal with your current condition. If one level is only slightly gone compared to the others you might look at ADCT to treat that level combined with one or two ADRs. For that matter, if your facets aren't up to it, you might find you need a hybrid of fusions and ADRs. The other to remember is that, while it's cheaper to replace everything in a single surgery, it isn't impossible to go back in and fix a level in the future. It's really going to depend on how much of your pain is being caused by each level and how likely each is to need replacement in the foreseeable future.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:58 AM.


© Copyright 2006-2023 ADRSupport.org All rights reserved.