Decided on Clavel, but...

[Cheryl0331]

My heart and God seen to be leading me towards Clavel. One for his impression and assessment of my films. Plus they quoted me 29,480 Euros for a two level ADR w/M6C and Dr. Beirstedt quoted 26,500 just for one.

Here's the but, Has anyone ever had surgery at Gelen Klinik with Dr. Haberstroh? I was wondering why they are coming in so much lower. They quoted 18,000 for a one level...

Just curious, but as I said, I am leaning toward Clavel. The communication has been a 24 hour turn around and I really need that reassurance!

[NJ Gene]

Cheryl, I think you found your answer. When you know it's right, you just feel it. I finally made my decision. It's going to be Scott Blumenthal at Texas Back Institute (TBI). He sat down and spoke with me about the pros and cons of ADR. Since I intend to be active for as long as possible, he recommended the Mobi-C at just one level. The only other surgeon who recommended only one level was Dr. Bertagnoli. He would have used the ProDisc Nova (this version is not available in the U.S.). It would have required my hardware from the fusion to be removed. While I have no problem with removal (in some ways I like the idea), it isn't necessary with the Mobi-C.

I do not have insurance with out-of-network benefits, so I will be paying out of pocket. The whole thing will be just over $22K, including the hospital, surgery, anesthesia, follow-up, etc. He just felt like the right one for me. I could have looked for someone who was in my insurance plan. However, it is well worth the money, in my opinion, to have the right person do this, assuming one can come up with the funds. Don't forget all the tax deductions allowed for medical costs and medical travel. Not only that, but things that you wouldn't have been able to deduct previously can now be added on (i.e. doctor's copays at home, prescription copays, cosmetic surgery, lasix, anything medical not covered by insurance). This goes for you, your husband, and anyone else who is listed as a dependent on your tax return.

Gene

[Dema]

Best of luck to you both, Cheryl and Gene, our prayers for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.
Dema & Raouf

[Cynlite]

Thank you both for sharing your information!

Cheryl, did you have to pay a consult fee with Dr Clavel? I did a lot of searching on the other surgeon you mentioned today and couldn't come up with anything of value to us. He doesn't appear to be attracting a lot of US citizens. I checked the ADRSupport.UK site too and got nothing.

Gene, I'm so glad TBI is going to work out for you. Did you send the surgeon a package ahead to time? Perhaps I should consider him too. What did your surgeon say if anything about putting the Mobi-C next to you fused level?

I'm going to wait until I get Dr. Zeegers' opinion before I make a decision and I have more tests to complete before that will happen. Everything takes so much time!

[Dema]

This web site is of the klinik where Dr. Haberstroh works:
http://www.joint-surgeon.com/orthope.../spine-surgery

I have not heard about this ADCT Disc Regeneration before, sounds interesting!

[NJ Gene]

Originally Posted by Cynlite

Gene, I'm so glad TBI is going to work out for you. Did you send the surgeon a package ahead to time? Perhaps I should consider him too. What did your surgeon say if anything about putting the Mobi-C next to you fused level?

Cynlite, I was thinking about sending a package ahead of time, but decided to see him directly (did not want to wait 3 weeks). This past Tuesday (Mar 24th) I flew from Newark to DFW, went to TBI on Wednesday morning and by 2:00 pm was back at the airport, having made the decision. Dr Blumenthal works with multiple devices and felt the Mobi-C would be the best for numerous reasons, one of those being that it's good adjacent to a fused level. He was very confident that based on my lifestyle I should have ADR at the C5/C6 level which was clearly getting worse over time. He felt no need for C6/C7 as he felt the disc was still in good shape. With ADR at C5/C6, it would likely remain that way.

Gene

[Cynlite]

Gene & Cheryl ~

I want to talk to Dr. Zeegers about his opinion on the Mobi-C vs. the M6-C. If I hear back before you both have surgery, I'll let you know what he says. The Mobi-C is "bone saving" in that it does not have a keel design. The M6-C is self restraining so it is supposed to help protect the facet joints better but, it has many small keels in the design. If you have spoken to your doctors about the differences and have some good information to share, please let me know. I keep leaning towards the M6-C because I think I'm more likely to deal with arthritis pain from the facets as I get older versus risking a disc being fractured by the keel design. Of course, I'm not a surgeon but, those are my thoughts. This is why I'm still leaning towards surgery in Europe but, I have not ruled out the U.S. until I have better knowledge on these points.

Cheers,

Cynlite

[Cheryl0331]

Originally Posted by NJ Gene

Cynlite, I was thinking about sending a package ahead of time, but decided to see him directly (did not want to wait 3 weeks). This past Tuesday (Mar 24th) I flew from Newark to DFW, went to TBI on Wednesday morning and by 2:00 pm was back at the airport, having made the decision. Dr Blumenthal works with multiple devices and felt the Mobi-C would be the best for numerous reasons, one of those being that it's good adjacent to a fused level. He was very confident that based on my lifestyle I should have ADR at the C5/C6 level which was clearly getting worse over time. He felt no need for C6/C7 as he felt the disc was still in good shape. With ADR at C5/C6, it would likely remain that way.

Gene

I guess because of my multi level fusion, they would not take me. I never even got to talk to Blumenthal, his PC gaurddog wouldn't lt me pass...

[Cheryl0331]

Originally Posted by Cynlite

Gene & Cheryl ~

I want to talk to Dr. Zeegers about his opinion on the Mobi-C vs. the M6-C. If I hear back before you both have surgery, I'll let you know what he says. The Mobi-C is "bone saving" in that it does not have a keel design. The M6-C is self restraining so it is supposed to help protect the facet joints better but, it has many small keels in the design. If you have spoken to your doctors about the differences and have some good information to share, please let me know. I keep leaning towards the M6-C because I think I'm more likely to deal with arthritis pain from the facets as I get older versus risking a disc being fractured by the keel design. Of course, I'm not a surgeon but, those are my thoughts. This is why I'm still leaning towards surgery in Europe but, I have not ruled out the U.S. until I have better knowledge on these points.

Cheers,

Cynlite

I wish we could sign a waiver and get the M6 here, but they won't fly, so I will

[Cheryl0331]

Originally Posted by Cynlite

Thank you both for sharing your information!

Cheryl, did you have to pay a consult fee with Dr Clavel? I did a lot of searching on the other surgeon you mentioned today and couldn't come up with anything of value to us. He doesn't appear to be attracting a lot of US citizens. I checked the ADRSupport.UK site too and got nothing.

Gene, I'm so glad TBI is going to work out for you. Did you send the surgeon a package ahead to time? Perhaps I should consider him too. What did your surgeon say if anything about putting the Mobi-C next to you fused level?

I'm going to wait until I get Dr. Zeegers' opinion before I make a decision and I have more tests to complete before that will happen. Everything takes so much time!

Clavel's fee is only 180 Euros, not bad...Other were 300 even 800! Whci I don't mind paying if I know they are going to porvide treatment. I don't have that kind of money to waste to have them say we can help you.