Newbe Intro:

[marzman54]

Originally Posted by NJ Gene

Bob,

I wish you the best of luck. I believe you'll be in good hands with Dr. Bierstedt. I was two weeks away from 2 levels of ADR with him, when Dr. Frazier talked me out of it. However, in your case, you need somebody very experienced with ADR. I believe you will do well with him.

I look forward to reading about positive outcomes on this forum once the surgery is complete. Since you are making the expenditure to travel overseas, don't forget about all the medical deductions you can take on your tax return. You know how to reach me if you have any questions.

Warm regards,
Gene

Thanks Gene, I did speak with Dr. Frazier briefly over the phone and he said the cervical was a difficult case and confirmed that something should be done soon. He also talked briefly on the lumbar issues as well and came up with a few names of surgeons in the states to talk with and I had already seen one of them recently. He was very easy to talk to in the brief conversation and I thank you for giving me his name. I will do my best to account for all expenditures incurred from surgeries and if I have any questions I appreciate the offer to discuss and will take you up on it. I will let you know how it goes when I get back.
Thanks so much,
Bob

[drewrad]

Congratulations Bob on a date as well as Bierstedt.

I am exceptionally curious about your case, esp. the neck and how it turns out.

As for facets, just make sure you're good on that front. Do you know if 2/3 is on the table at this point. Very curious about that.

Multilevel guys, myself included, require the very best, most skilled neuros. Take the recovery slow. Very easy. Don't expect or demand too much too soon. None of us get back to pickup basketball nor should that be a goal.

I saw your images. You will require special care, skill and patience. Let me know what further tests reveal in re to Dexa.

Also, the final strategy.

[scoop302]

Bob, I wish you all the best on your trip over and the surgery. Just think, in one month everything will be different, I wish you all the best.

[jss]

Bob, wishing you the best next month!

[Dema]

Best wishes Bob next month with the surgery & smooth recovery, and look forward to your post-op update.
Dema

[marzman54]

Originally Posted by Dema

Best wishes Bob next month with the surgery & smooth recovery, and look forward to your post-op update.
Dema

Thanks everyone for the good wishes it comes in handy at times and this is one of them. I feel as confident as I have been in a long time with my decision especially now that my head is screwed on straight which was not the case when my Lyme disease was as it,s peek.

Drew, to your question on L2-3. It is also on the table but it will have to be further evaluated when I get over there. Dr. Bierstedt assures me that they have an extremely large selection of surgical hardware / supplies to be able to make last minute decision change at pre-op or potentially in surgery if need be.

I will start a new thread once I get over there and let you know what the surgical plan is before surgery and if it holds true after surgery. It will be a hectic couple weeks getting everything lined up for travel here on my end.

Thanks again to everyone.
Bob

[Harrison]

Bob,

In all clinical studies, local or systemic infections (and Lyme is both) is a contraindication. That's why I was concerned and emailed you earlier.

The chances are good that bugs are in the disc that is diseased and causing the death if it and adjacent structures. Pls see my previous posts about DDD and bacterial diseases. I would treat the Lyme for many months before you have surgery, perhaps you have done this.

Is Dr B giving you special treatment because of your Lyme? Given what Lyme docs know about Borrelia and how it invades spinal tissues, I really hope he is.

I hope that you can adopt a post-op program that includes antimicrobials, organic food, detox, good care and a careful, slow recovery.

[Harrison]

Long topic here on how bacteria invade spinal discs:

http://www.adrsupport.org/forums/f50...al-pain-12687/

Study on (random) patients with lumbar spinal pain and antibiotics (nothing specifically about Lyme but excellent outcomes):

http://www.adrsupport.org/forums/f50...ck-pain-12171/

[marzman54]

Originally Posted by Harrison

Bob,

In all clinical studies, local or systemic infections (and Lyme is both) is a contraindication. That's why I was concerned and emailed you earlier.

The chances are good that bugs are in the disc that is diseased and causing the death if it and adjacent structures. Pls see my previous posts about DDD and bacterial diseases. I would treat the Lyme for many months before you have surgery, perhaps you have done this.

Is Dr B giving you special treatment because of your Lyme? Given what Lyme docs know about Borrelia and how it invades spinal tissues, I really hope he is.

I hope that you can adopt a post-op program that includes antimicrobials, organic food, detox, good care and a careful, slow recovery.

Harrison, thanks for the info.

I have had Lyme disease for approx. 8 years now in which It was finally caught in late 2010 by my 3rd PCP I had seen in one year and he said I needed a specialist and that he did not personally know of one. All of my initial blood tests came back negative in which almost 60% do in later stage Lyme disease as you must know. Testing is a joke in this country by regular CDC type doctors who quite frankly have there head in the sand as I see it, and just do what the insurance company's and CDC tell them they can an cannot do like robots. Luckily I found a man who did the NH Chronicle special and he gave me 3 doctors to try and after a long waiting list I was able to see my current Lyme specialist who is my acting PCP. After sending multiple blood tests out to igenex and others she confirmed her initial diagnosis of late stage Lyme with 2 main infections and 2 co infections and also found that my CD-57 tests for immune function came back at 24 and a normal number for me should be over 100. In her opinion with my case history taken, she felt I probably contracted it back in 2006 to 08. Being that my job for the past 35 years has involved land clearing, road building and home construction it was not a stretch to say that I was in the "hot zone". At that point I was very sick and having colds or flu like symptoms constantly from being around people. I became kind of a hermit at that point because of immune suppression problems and not being able to fight off anything. I was immediately put on high dose oral antibiotics and was initially on them for a year and a half then I was put on IV,s daily for close to 9 months. All of this time during high dose antibiotics I was on her herbal/natural/homeopathic meds and supplements to help with healing. I was on High dose antibiotics for approx. 2.5 years with supplements and then after my second surgery I was weaned off them and am only on natural /herbal / homeopathic meds and supplements as well as a healthy diet. My current CD-57 testing comes back at 85 now and climbing so we know my immune system is on-line and working now but still needs a little support naturally.
Harrison, I could go on and on about my treatment over the past 5 years and I believe I am at a point where I can have this surgery as I have had 2 prior surgeries both of which I went back on antibiotics before and after surgeries as well as special iv,s before and after surgery while in the hospitals, all of which was handled by my Lyme doctor. She is highly involved in my decision making process and we have a meeting on the 26th of this month to discuss what meds she will put me on prior to and after surgery as well as I think some Iv,s before and after surgery while in Germany. I believe that she also wants some tissue samples taken from the removed discs and have them tested as well, to gain a little more insight.
I am resigned to the fact that everything I do now in my life revolves around my Lyme disease but I am in a far better place now than I was 5 years or more ago. I can tell you that it is HELL going thorough this and probably the disease wouldn,t have gotten as far as it did if I wasn't a hard headed stubborn Yankee. The last 5 years have literally changed my life and the way I look at things now ( for the better ).
My Lyme doctor and I have discussed the spine problems at length and it is of her opinion that " yes " Lyme is a factor but when you look back at my long history of back and neck problems ( 12 years of lumbar and 20 years of cervical ) and the stuff I have put my body through over the years ( pre-Lyme disease ) that there is no denying the destruction of the discs and surrounding tissues of my entire spine and that in itself is a separate issue but we have to consider the affects of the Lyme disease on the damaged segments as well and it becomes a balancing act to get it right.

I do thank you for your concern and I am always grateful for new advice. I will let you know what protocol we come up with for the surgery as it pertains to the Lyme disease.

Sincerely,
Bob