Dr. Questions??

[JoJo]

I think there is a list of questions to ask doctors in the FAQ section of the board, but if there is, I can't find it.

If someone knows where it is, I'd sure appreciate it if you could send me off in the right direction.

Thank you, again and again, for your help!

[Alastair]

Please use the search facility -- - this is the latest which has been posted - - -loads more

Hi Cathy,
well if you've been reading these pages then you should know that recent correspondence from me has been that you really should be in hospital for two to three days at least to let your bowel recover following ADR. Ask the doctor how long you will be in hospital because this is one of the recommendations by Dr Regan and the other top spine specialists.

I would point you to the FAQs for pre-and post-surgery hints and tips -- -- -- there's a whole heap of stuff in there
Cheers,
Alastair

--------------------
ADR Munich 26th July 2002 L5/S1
Your best asset is your health
My story is here
http://www.adrsupport.org/content.asp?cid=192
Thank goodness for Dr Zeegers I am painfree
I am here to help,I live in the UK

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From: Yorkshire UK | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged

Harrison
Administrator
Member # 2

posted 11 September, 2005 05:21 PM
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Cathy, you may have seen these resources on the main site:

Professional Articles, which include Q & A columns I did with doctors, as well as the Depuy paper on the Charite' surgical procedure:

http://www.adrsupport.org/content.asp?cid=198

Pre-op considerations:

http://www.adrsupport.org/content.asp?cid=178

Post-op Recovery, including a paper I wrote to help you think about recovery stuff:

http://www.adrsupport.org/content.asp?cid=179

Hope this helps...there's a lot there!

--------------------
"Harrison"
info@adrsupport.org
Founder & Administrator
Reborn June 25th, 2004
L5-S1 ADR June 24th in Boston
Canceled fusion April 6 2004
Fell on my *** winter 2003
www.adrsupport.org

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From: Woburn, MA | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged

Should I be concerned if I am the first patient for the Charite for my surgeon?

[Alastair]

Well all doctors have got to start somewhere, and certainly it would be good if it was a doctor like Dr Zeegers who's done over 1500 surgeries and is very experienced.

I have got to think that your doctor will take extra care with you being the first one that he has ever done. He actually has been on a training course to learn how to do this, in the USA I understand.

I hope things go well for you, do come back and let us know. I think it was very honest of your doctor to tell you that you were the first surgery that he was doing.
Best,
Alastair

[Harrison]

Kim, that is a loaded question. I talked to Dr. Banco's (my surgeon) 1st patient in New England prior to my ADR, and after 4.5 years (now app. 6 years ago), was doing great. This made me feel much better about being the doc's 14th patient.

All that being said, "being the first" historically meant that a greater number of complications may occur with this doctor's patients (data, please?). At least, the anecdotal data suggests this. However, training for spine doctors in ADR has gotten much better, and better (best) practices have helped increase the quality of learning for all involved. As training and experience across America continues, I expect and certainly hope that the quality of techniques improve, and presumably we will see better patient outcomes. Time will tell, and the stories and surveys from folks here will help tell that story very eloquently!

If you believe in your doc, like him/her, and they have considerable experience in anterior (lumbar) procedures, then it makes your decision easier, right? If any of this things are missing, I would worry. That's just me.

Any way, you may find these articles on "the other side" of this web site helpful, particularly the Depuy (Charite') paper:

http://www.adrsupport.org/content.asp?cid=198

Good question -- keep them coming! Don't stop...you will know when it's time to stop asking and be complete with your decision.