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 08-21-2011, 07:34 PM
janaya3 janaya3 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 124
Default L4-5 Prodisc Surgery Set

So after a ton of mere browsing through the site I have decided to finally post and to say that I will be having ADR surgery. I was set on going to Germany to have the M6 after each doctor I spoke with said they did not do artificial discs because the "data" doesn't support its' use and that a fusion is the gold standard, however I was lucky I found a neurosurgeon in IL who works with the Prodisc L. The date is set for August 25, 2011. I am nervous and anxious but relieved that this is finally going to happen for me after some run ins with my insurance possibly not covering the procedure despite their clinical policy bulletin stating that the procedure is a covered item. Well I will keep all posted and according to my surgeon I should be discharged in as little as 48 hrs but it all depends on my progress.
__________________
36 YO male with L4-L5 DDD of idiopathic etiology
Successful Surgery w/ Prodisc L Aug. 25, 2011 (size Medium, 6 degree lordotic angle w/ 10 mm PE inlay)
CURRENTLY 85-90% IMPROVED!!!!!!!!!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-21-2011, 10:03 PM
jss's Avatar
jss jss is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,411
Default

Janaya,

Congratulations on getting your surgery scheduled and getting your insurance carrier to cover it. The latter is getting easier and easier, but is still far from a given. Good luck on Thursday; and please update us when you're able.

BTW: For my insurance appeals I performed extensive research and will never let anyone tell me that the data doesn't support the implantation of an ADR(s) into a carefully selected candidate. While there are still a lot of unknowns, ADR, in a good candidate, is proving itself to be at least as good as fusion.

Good luck, Jeff
__________________
C4/5 - ACDF in 2000
C5/6 - ACDF in 2002
C3/4 & C6/7 - M6 ADR, Nov 2009, Barcelona
Conceded defeat to a manifestly disingenuous BCBS-TX in my quest for reimbursement, Jan 2011
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-22-2011, 02:37 AM
Azhure's Avatar
Azhure Azhure is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 39
Default

Welcome!
So glad you did not give up and have a fusion (or have to pay for a trip to Germany)! Sounds like you've definitely been smart and done your research. I admire educated patients!
It is always a bit nerve-wracking to have any kind of surgery, and this one was the most "involved" surgery I'd ever had, but it has (so far) been worth it, I think. Just take that recovery time and go slow! I tried to start being super-active at 3 weeks and it wasn't pretty. That's the best advice I can give you at this point - LET YOUR BODY HEAL after surgery!
My insurance blatantly, black-and-white did NOT cover ADR (TriCare for dependents); they considered it an unnecessary procedure that cortisone injections could treat just as well (Yeah, RIGHT!). I volunteered to be an FDA guinea-pig and have a disc that's currently not in use in the US (outside of the trial), but at least I didn't have to come up with the $50,000 for surgery!
The ProDisc-L is a great, promising device that I know many people have had great success with! Good luck to you!
__________________
Surgeon: Dr. Kenneth Pettine @ The Spine Institute, Loveland, Colorado
Freedom vs. ProDisc-L Trial Participant

2006: Initial disc herniation/spinal injury at L4-5, L5-S1
2007: Physical therapy and manual chiropractic rehabilitation to manageable level.
2010: Fall down flight of stairs, re-injury.
07/20/2011: L4-L5 Freedom ADR Surgery

Facebook Me
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-22-2011, 11:35 AM
truck54's Avatar
truck54 truck54 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 19
Default

good luck on your surgery.. keep us posted ...
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


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Prodisc C surgery Marisette New Member Introductions 6 03-20-2011 07:26 PM
Prodisc-C surgery scheduled jchebert1979 The Big File 4 06-03-2009 11:40 PM
MY PRODISC SURGERY Dina The Big File 4 09-12-2006 06:51 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:38 PM.


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