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The Big File All issues not easily categorized in the above forums are here. Comments on general health, diet, "getting comfortable," and more are here.


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  #21  
Old 02-01-2009, 11:13 PM
mango
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Thumbs up Fellow Mainer

Hi Grumpy
I am orginaly from Lewiston, I can wait, not on pain meds,yet, Still working a little and enjoying life. will hold out for the surgeons knife and insurance fight.
A wicked thank you
Gil
How about the steelers
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  #22  
Old 02-02-2009, 02:41 PM
Kirk Kirk is offline
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 135
Default

When I was looking at ADR in Germany I considered two surgeons. Dr. Bertagnoli was my first choice, but I felt like there really was no difference between him and Dr. Zeegers. When I got Dr. Bertagnoli's price, it seemed higher than I thought it would be, so I got the price from Dr. Zeegers. It was, indeed, considerably lower. When I told Bertagnoli's people that the price was too high for high, they did not attempt to negotiate - they just said, basically, "ok, good luck."

Bottom line, I do not think it is negotiable, but it is always worth a try.
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http://kirksbacksurgery.blogspot.com/
My tale of woe:
"Threw back out first time in 1986 at 22 years old leaning over brushing teeth. Recovered in a few days.
Threw back out again 1988, 1989, 1993. Chronic pain begins in 1993. MRI shows
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  #23  
Old 02-05-2009, 07:47 PM
jettylou jettylou is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 9
Default Dr. B

I sent an email to Dr. B's office and told them I had a diagnosis from Stenum and wanted a second opinion but that I didnt want to spend $350 for them to give me one. They replied back a couple weeks later with a PDF of their requirements and wouldn't budge on the evaluation costs. Then right after I got that email, I got another from them with a link to pay by PayPal. I now have a contact with a family friend who is related to an orthopedic surgeon (she doesn't perform ADR) in Germany who is giving me an evaluation for free and hopefully will recommend a good Dr. I am leary of both Stenum and Dr. B at this point...maybe I'm just paranoid.
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DDD L4-L5
DDD L5-S1
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  #24  
Old 02-13-2009, 09:12 PM
hezeronek hezeronek is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 44
Default Yep.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jettylou View Post
I appreciate you taking the time to answer my PM as well. Needless to say I am very nervous about going abroad for surgery. My Brain says don't but my pain says go!
Along the lines of money. Did anyone else have to pay 250 Euro for the medical evaluation with Dr. b?
Yep, I hadda pay for the consultation too... So far well worth it, but ask me again after surgery! (I hope I'll say the same!) Best of luck to you!
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  #25  
Old 02-13-2009, 10:33 PM
rhatzy rhatzy is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Default !

Stenum, in my humble opinion is the best in the business. They will look at everything you have and give you a diagnosis and a path to take. They get back to you fast and will even talk to you on the phone. I had L3-4 and L4-5 done with them in January 2008 and am back to work as a captain for American Airlines. They use the maverick and the cervical M6 and their rates are 28,000 Euros for a two level and that includes everything.

If you want, they will be in Missoula, Montana June 13 and 14 and will talk with you there for free. They are a nonprofit organization and travel to other countries to do ADR.

Mark
__________________
L4-5 discectomy 1996
L3-4 discectomy 2007
Maverick L3-4, L4-5 January 08 Stenum
Multiple facet blocks and epidurals
L5-S1 annular tear 8-08 lased with ELD
October 08 back to work
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  #26  
Old 02-14-2009, 07:49 PM
trkdoc714's Avatar
trkdoc714 trkdoc714 is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 137
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I agree with rhatzy. After all of the rumors thrown about concerning Stenum, I was leary about the visit. The team spent well over a half an hour with me reviewing my past MRIs, surgeries and asking general questions to see if maybe something else was wrong. Before the visit was over, I was hugely impressed with the character and compassion shown.

If anyone gets the opportunity to get an evaluation with them, I think they'll be equally impressed.

I'm currently trying to rearrange my budget to have a single level Maverick implanted.

The one thing they wouldn't do was install a zerk fitting for future lubrication if needed.......

Bob
__________________
04/06 L5/S1 Rupture
05/06 MRI shows DDD @ L2-S1
06/06 Diskectomy/ Laminotomy L5/S1
04/07 Recurrent Disc L5/S1
4 Ortho and 1 Neuro Surgeon, 5 MRIs, 1 EGM, 1 Myleogram & 11 EDIs later:
03/27/09 L4/5 & L5/S1 Maverick disc at Stenum
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  #27  
Old 02-17-2009, 07:22 PM
Rein Rein is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 265
Default Stenum - Nonprofit? ADR Abroad?

Quote:
Stenum, in my humble opinion... They are a nonprofit organization and travel to other countries to do ADR.
Mark
Mark

It's obvious from your several posts mentioning Stenum Hospital that you are satisfied with their services and that your outcome was successful (more or less). I say more or less because it appears from your signature that you may also have had a concurrent L5-S1 issue that was not diagnosed or addressed at the time of your surgery and a 3-level ADR might have been a better option at the time. That said, I congratulate you on getting your life back and getting into the air again! It must feel really great.

I visited the Stenum website (http://stenumhospital.com/) to investigate your statements, quoted above, but could find no evidence to support them. Would you kindly reference your source for that information?

Thanks!
__________________
03/09/26 - Ruptured L5-S1.

Years of pain, discectomy, research into anatomy, hardware, clinical trials, facilities, surgeons, techniques, insurance. Attempts at ProDisc, Activ-L trials. Now, low bone density. D'oh!!!

At 61 years, no longer qualifying for trials due to my age (chronological, not physical or mental).

2009 - Working on improving bone density or getting rich so I can go to Germany, where medicine and insurance have gone beyond the Stone Age.
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  #28  
Old 03-04-2009, 05:19 PM
Rein Rein is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 265
Default My Own Research For Facts

Not having received any actual citations or references for the statements made above by Rhatzy,

(“As I have said many time, Stenum is great... I think they are a nonprofit organization and I know that one person didn't pay at all and just left. I also know that they do this operation free for people really in need. They travel all over to do this. I also believe they are one of the cheaper ones out there.” “There are also horror stories on this site about surgery done by doctor B. I believe the two surgeons at Stenum have done more ADR's than anyone on earth... Stenum, in my humble opinion... ...will even talk to you on the phone. They are a nonprofit organization and travel to other countries to do ADR.”)

I decided to do my own research. I’ve taken the question to another thread, to separate it from the original topic. Here’s the link:

http://www.adrsupport.org/forums/sho...1796#post81796 (Fact vs. Conjecture - ADRSupport Community - The Big File)
__________________
03/09/26 - Ruptured L5-S1.

Years of pain, discectomy, research into anatomy, hardware, clinical trials, facilities, surgeons, techniques, insurance. Attempts at ProDisc, Activ-L trials. Now, low bone density. D'oh!!!

At 61 years, no longer qualifying for trials due to my age (chronological, not physical or mental).

2009 - Working on improving bone density or getting rich so I can go to Germany, where medicine and insurance have gone beyond the Stone Age.
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