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#1
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Preparing for 5 levels ADR Dr. Bertagnoli
Hi,
My US doctor proposed lumbar and cervical fusion. I already knew that was a non starter, the only question was where to get ADR and how to pay for it. Fast forward, I have a quote from Dr Bertagnoli, and have the funds ready. Then I found this forum. Will post up a question in the appropriate category. Thanks to everyone here for the wealth of actionable information.
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Age 56 Severe neck and back pain, 10 years+ on opiate pain meds every 4 hours, numbness and weakness in both arms and legs. Evaluated by Dr Bertagnoli for ProDisc at L3L4, L4L5, L5S1, C5C6 and C6C7 Sept 4th, 2019: Completed 3 level CP-ESP at C4 thru C7 with Dr. Biren Desai in Cologne, Germany Scheduled for March 11, 2020: L3 thru S1 LP-ESP with Dr Clavel in Barcelona |
#2
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Oh my gosh, five levels. Any news since your post from July 2?
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"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 |
#3
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Harrison, thanks for asking. From Dr. Desai:
Dear Mr. Gibson!I'm a bit disturbed by his mention of fusion as an option. I could get fused by any hack doctor in hometown, USA. Anyway, I will jump through the hoops and see what happens. Also he didn't mention my lumbar situation, so I asked him to look into it. Since the guy Emailed me directly (assuming it's not an assistant) he's either not crazy busy or he works all night.
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Age 56 Severe neck and back pain, 10 years+ on opiate pain meds every 4 hours, numbness and weakness in both arms and legs. Evaluated by Dr Bertagnoli for ProDisc at L3L4, L4L5, L5S1, C5C6 and C6C7 Sept 4th, 2019: Completed 3 level CP-ESP at C4 thru C7 with Dr. Biren Desai in Cologne, Germany Scheduled for March 11, 2020: L3 thru S1 LP-ESP with Dr Clavel in Barcelona |
#4
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If you think about it, though, he's offering fusion at levels where the thoracic spine is about to pick up and ADR at level(s) where the rest of the C-spine might be compromised by adjacent level effects. It isn't a horrible compromise if you're forced into that. BTW, the local hacks that you mention would likely not get the three devices, of whatever type they are, fully aligned and have the misalignment cause unnatural stresses within the spinal column, so you are better off going to someone who's done a lot of multi-level.
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Laura - L5S1 Charitee C5/6 and 6/7 Prodisc C Facet problems L4-S1 General joint hypermobility Jim - C4/5, C5/6, L4/5 disk bulges and facet damage, L4/5 disk tears, currently using regenerative medicine to address "There are many Annapurnas in the lives of men" Maurice Herzog |
#5
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Agree completely as far as going to a top guy. Where I live in a glittery tourist mecca in the desert southwest, I would not have some clown here extract a tooth.
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Age 56 Severe neck and back pain, 10 years+ on opiate pain meds every 4 hours, numbness and weakness in both arms and legs. Evaluated by Dr Bertagnoli for ProDisc at L3L4, L4L5, L5S1, C5C6 and C6C7 Sept 4th, 2019: Completed 3 level CP-ESP at C4 thru C7 with Dr. Biren Desai in Cologne, Germany Scheduled for March 11, 2020: L3 thru S1 LP-ESP with Dr Clavel in Barcelona |
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