The misery of the NHS!

Hello, I'm Tracy, new here today so appologies for being a bit raw! (Alaistair kindly invited me to join, via another site).
I'm now the big 40 and have had back problems since age of approx. 23. Always in to physical activity so feel that has been my saving grace, except but now my back has been going AWOL!
Had 2 x cortisone facet joint injections; X-ray; caudal + lumber epidurals and an MRI scan. Diagnosis = DDD L4/L5, worse on L5/S1 + small disc prolapse, retrolisthesis + posteroir osteophytes. A consultant at The Royal Bournemouth Hopsital suggested Pro-Disc Implant(s) via Mr Lam at Guy's hospital. Never heard of such an op., so in complete shock! Advised in Sept. 2005 and 8 mths later in April 2006, I've been told I'm not on Mr Lam's list as hospital is a NHS Foundation Trust and run out of money;(I missed out by approx.1 day with 2 patients in front of me). All psyched up ready to go with this op. and nothing doing! Really angry and disappointed. Have been given another surgeon to see without Pro-Disc Implant but unsure of my options. Can I ask this surgeon whether he feels a Pro-Disc Implant would still be my best option and wait until monies become available; will I even be put on the waiting list for it? I don't want to be brow-beaten in to having another op. if the Pro-Disc Implant is the best choice for me! Does anyone know who much these ops. cost privately in the UK? Please can anyone tell me how I would enqiure about the op.in Europe via Alphaklinik and have good reprentation and a good surgeon? I recall Alaistair had a good Dr and others who have mentioned a good representative. Any thoughts and ideas would be most welcome and appreciated.
Thank-you, Tracy.

Hi Tracy,

Welcome! Since you're already in Europe, you might want to contact both the Alphaklinik (Dr Zeegers) and ProSpine (DR Bertagnoli) via their websites. They are two big names/places in ADR. ProSpine will give you a free case evaluation based on your imaging, and I believe the Alphaklinic charges a nominal fee (confirmation, Sir A?)

For UK info, Alastair is probably your best bet and aside from Dr Lam, I personally don't know of any other surgeon in the UK who does ADR.

Back to the AK and ProSpine: from what I understand, DR Zeegers has implanted all types of discs and Dr Bertagnoli generally prefers the ProDisc, and has even 'tweaked' it a bit.

As far as cost goes: I've been evaluated for a single-level cervical ADR at Prospine, and the estimate was approx. 18,500 euros.

I was also scheduled for a different type of surgery at the Alphaklinik, but didn't go through with it due to a blood problem. However, I spoke directly with both my would-be surgeon and the anesthesiologist on the phone a few times, and had much contact via email.

ProSpine has also provided extensive information via email. Anita PELUDAT is the American-born foreign patient coordinator and she can help you with organizing your stay should you decide to go there.

You'll find a lot of information here on both places, and many patients who will willingly share their experiences and their advice, not to mention their support. Good place, good people

Welcome again, and good luck.

Trace

[Harrison]

Tracy, welcome to the forum! Believe it or not, we have some great arthroplasty docs here in the U.S. too! Trace offers some good advice on docs on your side of the pond.

May I suggest that you also manually sift through the posts, as well as check out both (there 2 different) FAQs -- one for the application and one for the topical content.

Good luck!

[Alastair]

Hi Tracy,
I'm pleased that you have arrived here safely. There are a number of different disc replacement prosthesis which are used in the UK. You can see illustrations of all these if you look in the FAQs. Different surgeons use different prosthesis, some use the Pro Disc which you have mentioned, and some use the Charitee and some use the Maverick in the UK. Personally I don't think there's anything to choose between the actual prosthesis about 99.9% is the skill of the surgeon and his experience.

Strangely enough the choice of which are prosthesis to use is like Kentucky fried chicken -- -- -- it's a franchise. It's a funny old world across here in the UK where backs are concerned as we only have 60 spine surgeons in the entire UK, and only a few of those do disc replacement. I think I sent you a list of the UK experienced spine surgeons that do this. There's a link to the Alphaklinik in the FAQs, the cost for a single replacement for me including the hotel was �12,000 -- -- -- it might be a tiny bit more but not much now.
Mr Lams fees are below if you had it done privately
All inclusive fees summarised below: Mr Lam

4 day hospital stay + implants + Surgeon fee + Anaesthetic fee + MRI/consultations x2



1) Single level �11,000 (US$19,250)

2) 2 level �15,000 (US$26,250)

3) Discograms �1200 (US$2100)


Best
Alastair

[ans]

Hi Alastair,

Does Dr. Lam (why do they call him "Mr." in the UK?) work with a vascular surgeon? These seem like pretty good prices. Thanks, ans

[Kim]

Hey ANS
I remember this discussion before about surgeons being called Mr to distinguish themselves from a physician I believe I am sure that Alastair will come along and correct me if I am wrong but i remember we talked about this before on the board.
Kim

[Alastair]

HiKim,
yes you are absolutely right, The specialists are called Mr and the rest of the world is called Dr unless you really are a super wizard in which case you get called Professor. We only have handful of those in the medical profession in the UK.

Yes Mr Lam has a separate vascular surgeon who works with him during all the ADR surgeries, he runs an extremely experienced team and now is acknowledged throughout Europe as one of the best surgeons around.

Obviously because of his age he is not a super Guru like Dr Zeegers and Bertagnoli, but he's a man with "Gifted Hands" and you can watch him doing surgery on TV on a regular basis.
Best,
Alastair

[Kim]

Hey Alastair where are his surgeries televised? I get BBC here and another British channel I cant remember the name of but would be very interested to see him working if it is possible. Could you clue me in on this and also do you know how far in advance he is scheduling surgeries these days? I know he was scheduled for several months in advance last time I heard.
Thanks
Kim

[Alastair]

Yes he is on BBC1 a programme called "City Hospital"its on at 10am UK time, and starts again on Monday 24th of this month, he is not on every day, he usually tells me if there is a VERY interesting case to view. Of course it is subject to the TV people so you can look all week and only see him once but they do tell you at the start of the programme what is on.Its at Guys Hospital of world renown.

If you want to fix "Private Surgery"(Pay) with him there is no queue as the NHS(Free to UK citizens) so usually things can be arranged in a few weeks
Best
Alastair

Alastair,

I'd be very interested in seeing a copy of any tape you make of Dr Lam's surgery (hint hint)

Trace