Wish I wasn't here...but glad I am

[1Day]

Hi,
Newbie here, 47YO female...after 30 years of back and neck pain I finally decided on surgery only for the insurance denials to start. 25 years of PT and Chiropractic, 5 years of injections. Several times a year I can barely move for a week at a time. And I really don't understand pain meds and muscle relaxers, when I'm in that much pain, absolutely nothing helps except for not moving a muscle. Epidurals used to work, not anymore. I think I have forgotten how to bend at the waist. After the last 8 weeks of PT, the PT doc said, you started out with two ropes for back muscles and you still have two ropes for back muscles, they are no better now then day one.

L5-S1 and L4-L5 are the culprits that need replacing. Been waiting on Aetna since June. When my discogram was done, the doc came out and asked how I was doing, I said, all good. He held my hand and said "Young lady, you are one tough cookie, that bottom disc is SHREDDED and the other one is pretty bad too". Surgeon says I'm a perfect candidate for double lumbar ADR.

The funny part is that according to my surgeon and pain doc, my neck is radiographically much more jacked up then my back and they cannot believe that I'm not in daily agony from my neck. Spinal cord compression, herniations and a few other things. The surgeon wants to replace 3 discs in my neck. But, since I currently do not have any issues with pain down my arms, I'm waiting for my back to get done first. When the neck seizes up, there is no moving it for weeks, but I am so used to it. I asked the doc what that golfball was on the side of my neck and he explained it was the entire muscle balled up into one spot.

I never look forward to the neck headaches, and when they happen I'm back to wanting surgery on the neck.

Anyway, thanks for this forum, it helps to know I'm not alone in this. I look forward to getting approvals.

Thanks,
Chris

[jss]

Chris,

Welcome. And, what a miserable story!

Some on this site have had luck getting Aetna to cover a single level ADR, but I don't recall success on a multi-level success. Where are you in the appeals process with Aetna? Here is a link to a thread on this site which contains an article about a judge ordering Cigna to begin covering two level ADRs. It may contain information beneficial for you in the appeal.

Good luck, Jeff

[Harrison]

Hi Chris, thanks for the polite introduction. I hope we can support you in the days ahead. In the meantime, here's your homework:

http://www.adrsupport.org/forums/f58...-health-11053/

Just shout if you need help!

[Lewis01]

Welcome Chris. Glad you are hear. Most people on this site empathize with what you are going through. It's a great resource for learning and inspiration.

My advice is that while you are waiting to get surgery seek out alternative ways to help your condition to be as painless as possible. I have used naturopathic remedies, supplementation, essential oils, special diet etc. to help the quality of my life and greatly reduce pain pre-surgery. Before, I was at the point of not being able to walk some days and in the worst possible pain most of the time. Now I am mostly functional and having much less pain. I will probably still have surgery but I can wait as long as I need to. If you want any info on any of this let me know.

[MikeC]

Chris, I have not found one US based doctor who recommended an ADR; they usually shriek in horror when I bring up that possibility. Drs Clavel and Bierstedt have both recommended a 2 level ADR. Are you in the USA? I have not found any Doritos here receptive to an ADR except for Anders Cohen in Brooklyn. Good luck with you decision on treatment. I will most likely end up in Germany or Spain. Mike

[1Day]

Thanks for responding. My doctor in Los Angeles recommended the double ADR for the lumbar and triple ADR for the neck. He has done hundreds of them. My friend is the one who sued Cigna and won. We have the same doctor and are going to get the same surgery.

[TPatti]

1 day, would you mind sharing who that doctor is? I just had 2 level lumbar with Dr. Bierstedt and like you have some significant cervical issues as well. My cervical issues look worse on film that what symptoms show, I also have no radicular pain bit do get headaches. Dr. Bierstedt thought that there is a chance that my body may adapt after lumbar surgery to but me time before cervical intervention is needed. I will most likely need cervical surgery someday but wanted to buy time if I could to recover from lumbar surgery and technology is always improving. I feel that my headache and tight neck muscle issues are improving as I continue to heal from lumbar surgery. My cervical issues happen more when near the end of the day when fatigue sets in but the time between is consistently getting longer. I too, like Lewis, use many modalities to help both my lumbar healing and cervical issues. I think massage, acupuncture, micro-current, and anti-inflammatory diet and supplement have helped.

[jss]

1Day,

Wow... Congratulations to your friend. Please thank him/her for the rest of us for taking the step that almost none of the rest of us do; to sue an insurance carrier over the practice of denying ADR coverage.

Good luck, Jeff

[CDW321]

Hi 1 Day -
It sounds like we have much in common. We are both female, in similar age range, bad LB disc issues, worse looking Cervical MRI with symptoms just emerging. I think we share a similar first name too.
Welcome to the board. Everyone here is very intelligent and well informed. Please do pass on your LA surgeon's name.

-Christy

[1Day]

Dr. Brian Rudin, thespinesurgeon dot com.