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 02-10-2014, 11:31 PM
MMsC5-6-7's Avatar
MMsC5-6-7 MMsC5-6-7 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 13
Default Newly diagnosed - is 2-level ADR an option?

Really grateful to find this forum. I’ve been kind of freaking out with my diagnosis - severe spondylosis at C5-C6/C6-C7; moderate at C4-C5. I realize now I've been ignoring symptoms of my cervical spine degeneration for a few years - headaches, numbness in toes, numbness/tightness in hands, aching neck, and weird skin sensations. I am fortunate that I have not lived with the excruciating pain that a lot of you all have had for years.

What finally led me to the doctor was tightness in my throat, on/off mild difficulty swallowing and hoarse voice. I had ENT consults, barium swallow, endoscopy, then saw a neurologist who sent me for a C-spine MRI. He sent me with the results to a neurospinal surgeon here in Dubai (Dr. Shim / Wooridul Spine Centre), who sent me for CT scans. Dr. Shim said I need fusion at C5-6/C6-7. I also sent my scans / records to Houston for a second opinion (Dr. Kim, Mischer Neuroscience Institute) - same recommendation of fusion. I have not had a doctor tell me that my throat symptoms are related to my spine, but I feel almost certain they are.

The more I read on here of your experiences, the more convinced I am that I do not want to do fusion, and 2-level ADR is the route to go if at all possible.

I have a lot of questions and would so appreciate feedback.

  1. I have "spondylotic spurs from C2-C7 compressing the cord". Do the spurs affect candidacy for ADR? If not, does the surgeon remove the spurs during ADR surgery?
  2. The recommendation is for me to have fusion of C5-C6, C6-C7, but the surgeon also mentioned in the medical report that I have moderate spondylosis at C4-C5. Could this affect my candidacy for 2-level ADR? Wouldn't fusion just exacerbate the C4-C5 issue?
  3. The surgeon also said that whomever operates on me needs to be acutely aware that the "left vertebral artery makes a medial loop at the C4 body". Could this in any way affect my candidacy for ADR?
I am an American expat living / working in Dubai. I have Aetna International insurance - does anyone have experience with Aetna approving 2-level ADR, whether in the US or in Europe?


Thank you in advance for your support and experience,
Melissa
__________________
--------------
DEC 2013 MRI/CT scans show severe spondylosis at C5-C6/C6-C7; moderate at C4-C5
Spondylotic spurs C2 thru C7
Left vertebral artery medial loop at C4 body
Foot / hand numbness
Throat tightening and on/off lump sensation
Neck pain, upper back ache between shoulder blades
52 years on this planet (most of the time)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-22-2014, 10:54 PM
Harrison's Avatar
Harrison Harrison is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,010
Post

Melissa, sorry for the late reply. I believe you may have done some research by reviewing the Insurance Hell forum -- did you get any answers?
__________________
"Harrison" - info (at) adrsupport.org
Fell on my ***winter 2003, Canceled fusion April 6 2004
Reborn June 25th, 2004, L5-S1 ADR Charite in Boston
Founder & moderator of ADRSupport - 2004
Founder Arthroplasty Patient Foundation a 501(c)(3) - 2006
Creator & producer, Why Am I Still Sick? - 2012
Donate www.arthropatient.org/about/donate
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-24-2014, 10:30 AM
MMsC5-6-7's Avatar
MMsC5-6-7 MMsC5-6-7 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 13
Default

No worries Harrison! A few of us have talked back and forth about insurance - Kelly has submitted hers for approval but I'm not sure how that is going.

I have decided to move back to Texas first before making a decision on surgery. Will follow soon with an update - in the middle of packing! Relocating internationally is a bear!
__________________
--------------
DEC 2013 MRI/CT scans show severe spondylosis at C5-C6/C6-C7; moderate at C4-C5
Spondylotic spurs C2 thru C7
Left vertebral artery medial loop at C4 body
Foot / hand numbness
Throat tightening and on/off lump sensation
Neck pain, upper back ache between shoulder blades
52 years on this planet (most of the time)
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
Hi, Newly diagnosed C3&C4 nerve impingment Mike L. New Member Introductions 8 03-11-2009 12:41 AM
Newly diagnosed - Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Sammy The Big File 5 03-01-2008 07:28 AM
diagnosed w/ osteoporosis of spine CindyLou The Big File 6 09-19-2007 06:31 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:50 AM.


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