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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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  #1  
Old 10-21-2009, 10:30 PM
Jack Jack is offline
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Default Approximate cost or best guess of disc replacement in a qualified surgeon

My insurance company says they will pay half the total bill out of network. I was hoping someone had an ideal about what their disc replacement cost in the USA and didn't mind passing the info to me. I don't need to see bills and such just your best approximation of what it cost.
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Suffered thru every non-surgical cure known without relief.
Pain management '06 to April '10,
Had minimally invasive PLIF with internal fixation on 12/28/09 for isthmic spondylolisthesis of L5-S1 (TDR contra-indicated) DDD at L3-4 & L4-5, All L-Spine doing well. Episodes of no pain at all. After being relatively pain free for 4 months, C-Spine gave up. MRI due 11-1
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  #2  
Old 10-22-2009, 12:42 PM
rhatzy rhatzy is offline
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Default

In the US? at least $50,000 for a one level.
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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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  #3  
Old 10-22-2009, 01:27 PM
Slackwater Slackwater is offline
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Default depends on region

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack View Post
My insurance company says they will pay half the total bill out of network. I was hoping someone had an ideal about what their disc replacement cost in the USA and didn't mind passing the info to me. I don't need to see bills and such just your best approximation of what it cost.
Surgery practice and charges vary by region (probably from a Deyo/Mirza document in Spine or Spine Journal).

May I please suggest, pick two (2) ADR-experienced surgeons on the East Coast .

Ask each surgeon office for a price quote including work-up, 3-day (or standardard)
hospital stay, surgery, anesthesiologist, surgical nurses, "all-up costs".

This exercise will take up some of your time.

Suggest put the request in writing, with the insurance company context,
to your selected surgeons offices, attention the (billing, surgical support
team, administration, ...) correct person you determine after two -> four
phone calls.

I did similar, because insurance coverage position is one-level, and
I need two-level (adr, hybrid, ...)
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  #4  
Old 10-22-2009, 02:34 PM
Amapola Amapola is offline
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My case for 1-level :
Vascular surgeon - $20K
ADR surgeon - $38K
Hospital/Anesthesia/Etc. - $60K

Your mileage may vary. The above prices were what they charged my insurance, I'm sure you can negotiate a bit if you are paying cash.
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  #5  
Old 10-22-2009, 04:19 PM
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Harrison Harrison is offline
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Default The cost varies widely!

Cervical is far less expensive than lumbar ADR as a general rule. Pls see: How much does artificial disc replacement cost?

There are links to topics therein...
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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
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  #6  
Old 10-22-2009, 05:22 PM
2cool4U 2cool4U is offline
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Default Total cost

After insurance negotiations with the hospital, the total cost for my single level L5-S1 Charite ADR was $50K+, including everything. I stayed 3 nights. Put this price in the "midwest" geographic category.

-tc-
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L5-S1 rupture 11/04, left leg pain for 2 wks
Regular exercise/pain-free until 2007
L5-S1 degen. disease w/constant pain since 6/07
PT, ESI, SI jt injections, 3-level nerve root inj. x 2
Massage, heat, ice, TENS, etc
L5-S1 Charite Jan. 19th, 2009, very happy w/decision
New back pain in upper back though.
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  #7  
Old 10-22-2009, 09:59 PM
Jack Jack is offline
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Default

Thanks everyone for the responses on costs. I really appreciate the advice as well. My current plan is to call the in-network docs and see if they do L-spine disc replacement & how many they have done. If that turns no results, then start checking out of network. If I find a yes, I'll send a letter as recommended here.

There sure seems to be a lot of variability in costs.

One of the first things I need to do is to get the radiologist who read the MRI and the recent plain films to quantify the degree of facet dz. The neuro-surgeon that I saw 2 weeks ago got plain films to check on stability of the vertebra. All were stable, however the reading on these was facet dz at L4-5 as well as L5-S1. I'm going to call tomorrow and see if I can't get a re-read.

The check for clinical trials is negative so far but still looking.
__________________
Suffered thru every non-surgical cure known without relief.
Pain management '06 to April '10,
Had minimally invasive PLIF with internal fixation on 12/28/09 for isthmic spondylolisthesis of L5-S1 (TDR contra-indicated) DDD at L3-4 & L4-5, All L-Spine doing well. Episodes of no pain at all. After being relatively pain free for 4 months, C-Spine gave up. MRI due 11-1

Last edited by Jack; 10-22-2009 at 10:01 PM. Reason: more info
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  #8  
Old 10-23-2009, 05:07 AM
Maddie Maddie is offline
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I had an approximate price of $140,000 for five level hybrid surgery in the East. That was for a combination of ADR & fusion at two C levels, and the same (one ADR plus two fusion) in the L3-S1 levels. They didn't break it down into hospital vs surgeon costs.

The same surgery in Germany was ~$55,000
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C3/4-5/6- Mod. ant., severe posterior bulging w. nerve root compression. Sev. narrowing of spinal canal with cord compression.

L4/5/S1- Mod. narrowing, bulging disc, significant hypertrophy of flava lig.

Highly allergic to all metals.

NEW: 3/16/2010: Successful surgery in Brazil w. Dr. Pimenta; Nuvasive NeoDisc at C5/6, and XLIF & ALIF at L4/5/S1 w. PEEK cages. No rods, screws, plates. Non-metal lumbar ADR not available at present time, so went with fusion.
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  #9  
Old 10-23-2009, 11:54 AM
Jack Jack is offline
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Default where?

Was your surgery at Stenum or someplace else.?
__________________
Suffered thru every non-surgical cure known without relief.
Pain management '06 to April '10,
Had minimally invasive PLIF with internal fixation on 12/28/09 for isthmic spondylolisthesis of L5-S1 (TDR contra-indicated) DDD at L3-4 & L4-5, All L-Spine doing well. Episodes of no pain at all. After being relatively pain free for 4 months, C-Spine gave up. MRI due 11-1
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  #10  
Old 10-23-2009, 05:02 PM
Jack Jack is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack View Post
Was your surgery at Stenum or someplace else.?
Maddie,

Sometimes I get in to big a hurry with my posts. If you had a quote from Germany was it at Stenum or someplace else?
__________________
Suffered thru every non-surgical cure known without relief.
Pain management '06 to April '10,
Had minimally invasive PLIF with internal fixation on 12/28/09 for isthmic spondylolisthesis of L5-S1 (TDR contra-indicated) DDD at L3-4 & L4-5, All L-Spine doing well. Episodes of no pain at all. After being relatively pain free for 4 months, C-Spine gave up. MRI due 11-1
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