Germany & Dr. Bierstedt for Cervical ADR?

[Cheryl0331]

Dr. Clavel did an internship on cardiothoracic medicine. I have read that some poeple prfer Dr. Bierstedt over him because they have a vascular surgeon on site. I'm sure that Quiron Hospital is well equiped in this way as well. I would have gone to Beirstedt, but he did not see the segmental kyhposis that Clavel caught. I want someone who is open to looking at all of my spine and my symptoms. Bierstedt qouted 26,500 euros for one level and Clavel is doing two for 29,480 euros. I don't want to have to go back; know what I mean?

[Cynlite]

Cheryl, Is Dr. Clavel going to do something different in surgery that Dr. Bierstedt would not have done regarding your segmental kyhposis? I'm just wondering if he didn't bring it up or if he missed it? It's kind of an important difference. Could you please expand on this because I don't know anything about segmental kyhposis. Thanks.

[Stonewall_Boris]

Congrats on your choice,

Making the decision is one of the hardest things to do.

[Cheryl0331]

I had sent a flexion extension MRI to Clavel and he noticed that there was too much segmental kyphosis below the c 6/7 upon flexion and that he would most likely do adr at c 7/t1 as well. Both Bierstedt and Clavel agreed that c 6/7 for sure. To be fair, I sent the updated MRI to Beirstedt but he stood by his first assessment that only adr at c 6/7.

Segmental kyphosis is when the curve of the spine is disrupted.
Cervical Degenerative Changes with Segmental Kyphosis
You can do a search on it and read all about it.

I just didn't want to undergo another surgery if that level was going to need addressed later anyway...

[Cynlite]

That's interesting Cheryl. I didn't realize you got different opinions. I was under the impression that Dr. Bierstedt was a less conservative surgeon from other comments I have read not more so, that proves that impression incorrect. Good to know. I'm not sure I can conclude now that either of the two are more or less conservative than the other.

I understand why you made the decision you did. I'm in the opposite position right now. I know I need surgery at my C5/C6 level. Dr. Bierstedt thinks I should have my disc replaced at C3/C4 also. I'm not far enough along to know if I want that or not. I haven't contacted Dr. Clavel but, am considering him. A step at a time ....

Thanks for clearing that up!

[scoop302]

Same thing happened to me. Dr Clavel noticed things that Bierstedt did not until I questioned them on it. I mean ken in canada, and not the dr or even Malte. Dr Clavel brought the problems up right away, told me it wasn't a big deal, he had seen it before, and that he could take care of it no problem.
Dr Clavel is in a large hospital that is a trauma hospital also. I believe him saying before my surgery, that they had vascular and thoracic surgeons there on staff. I met with a very hot cardiologist the day before my surgery.

[Cynlite]

Hey Scoop, so now you've gone and raised some questions . LOL

1) Are you saying that Dr. Clavel works in a more equipped hospital than Dr. Biertstedt so, that in the event of an unforeseen emergency, his hospital would be better able to handle it?

2) What things did Dr. Bierstedt miss that Dr. Clavel caught in your diagnosis?

These questions are important to me because I'm a new patient trying to figure out where to go. As you know, it will be a huge investment financially and in my health. It seems to me that Dr. Clavel's patients are big fans of him and often tend to put down Dr. Bierstedt as not being as good a surgeon on this board. Dr. Bierstedt's patients seem be be quite pleased with him as a surgeon. For the most part, they both have a small number of patients that were still in pain after surgery and unhappy with the outcome. They seem to be on even keel (no pun intended. ) I am really interested in the facts so I can make the best decision possible.

Surgeons are all brilliant minds IMO so, I have not found that I personally like all of them socially speaking. I expect them to have big egos and I don't think it matters if I like them personally or not although it is nice if I do. I'm trying to find the best surgeon out there to fix my broken body not a best friend. Thanks for your insights!

[Stonewall_Boris]

Hey Cynlite,

I don't think you can go wrong with Dr Clavel. I was seriously considering going to him. At the time the country was going through serious "austere measures" and there were major strikes going through the country. I didn't want my surgery interrupted by that.

Dr B. at Hattegin works from a fully equipped hospital. As most people have said, the post op facilities at Medicos is remarkable.

But the choice is yours (as it should be).

[Cynlite]

Thanks Stone! I thought it odd that a few minutes after I read your post the first thing I ran into on Yahoo afterwards is an article regarding Anti-American sentiment in Germany. Coincidence? You made a good point about watching out for international issues when planning a trip. Thousands in Germany protest against Europe-U.S. trade deal

[Stonewall_Boris]

One of the things my wife and I noticed while in Germany was that our "stomach" problems went away. The food over seas tasted differently, odd at first. When we got back to Canada it all started again. So I started looking into this. So I'm very against GMOs. Something that Europe is against as well.