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  #211  
Old 05-09-2016, 09:26 PM
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Grover771 Grover771 is offline
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Cynlite! I'm SO happy for you!! This is the best news I've heard in a days!! Get packing girl, tell those girls you'll be home soon and let's get this done!
Whoohooo!!




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Originally Posted by Cynlite View Post
Well, this thread is about to come to an end. I have surgery scheduled with Dr. Clavel for May 19th. I got my airline ticket and my hotel reservation for the third week I plan to be there. Yolanda will take care of the first two weeks. I have been working like crazy since I got her email at 5 a.m. yesterday morning to pull my trip together and still have so much to do. When I was a normal person, this type of thing was not a big deal for me but, now that I am in so much pain all the time, it's really hard to do just about anything. This entire year has really been difficult. I've had to lay in bed a lot and not move to keep the pain tolerable. (As my Mom said before she died "I feel like a slug." I am missing her so much right now and wish she was here to share the experience. Happy Mother's Day Mom!) I'll just keep plugging away at my list. I used to travel internationally so, at least I have experience with it. It's taken me a year to pull this surgery together with lots and lots of research plus, some bumps along the way. I was so relieved to get the green light from Dr. Clavel. Honestly, I can't wait to meet him! I sure hope I'm one of the lucky ones that doesn't have problems after surgery. Wish me luck .


@Scoop, I posted about the knee. Just go back a page or two if you want to read the long story. The short story is I have titanium screws in my knee from a surgery many years ago so, the first blood test that said I was allergic to titanium was crappy information. The second blood test from Orthopedic Analysis made much more sense because it matched the history of my reactions to metals. The Mobi-C ended up not being an option for me. That little diversion ended up costing me an extra couple thousand when you add up all the tests and doctor appointments plus, 10 months to get through it all. I'm pretty miffed at our healthcare system. At least that part is behind me.
__________________
Deb
___________________________
1988 diagnosed with DDD, bulging
2012 trauma lumbar following yard work
Nov 2012 MRI Bulging discs L4,5, S1
Mild stenosis
Dec-Jan PT
Jan 2013 Discogram
Results Level 5 Annular tears L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1
Need 3 disc fusion
Facet Joints injections, March 2013- no relief
Transform.., Epidural Injections 4-23-13 Right L2-3 No relief
2nd ESI 5-14-13 L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1 No relief ugh.
ADR L3-4, L4-5, Fusion L5-S1 Fusion Dr.Blumenthal TBI July, 2013

Last edited by Grover771; 05-09-2016 at 11:39 PM.
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  #212  
Old 05-09-2016, 10:12 PM
Cynlite's Avatar
Cynlite Cynlite is offline
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@Grover, you have always been so kind to me through this journey. I can never thank you enough for all the love and moral support you've given me. I don't think I would have been able to stay positive this long without your support so really, from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU! I just know that one of these days, we will meet in person. I'm looking forward to sharing a bottle of wine with you outside on a patio and can see our sweet doggies playing in the yard around us. I feel very blessed.
__________________
2006: epidural shots did nothing; 2 surgeons recommended 2 level fusion, I declined.
2007 - 2010 4 foraminotomy and cord decompression cervical surgeries and 2 endoscopic discectomy T7-T8 surgeries; total 6 with Dr. Jho (Pittsburgh,PA) My C6/C7 autofused around 2009.
2013 - 2015: epidurals 3 times (again did nothing) and 4 Radiofrequency ablation (or RFA) procedures.
2016 more RFAs, hit the 10 year mark of this insanity and pain, 3 level M6-C ADR with Dr. Clavel May 19, 2016
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  #213  
Old 05-14-2016, 08:06 PM
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Cynlite Cynlite is offline
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On my way to Barcelona. Sitting at JFK in tons of pain in the lounge. Thank you to everyone who suggested business class. Last minute reservation was pricey but glad to have it.

Conversion rate at the airport is a sin. They are charging 1.32 when the market in at about 1.13. I'll take my chances in Barcelona.

Here I go! By myself so this is fun ( not ) .
__________________
2006: epidural shots did nothing; 2 surgeons recommended 2 level fusion, I declined.
2007 - 2010 4 foraminotomy and cord decompression cervical surgeries and 2 endoscopic discectomy T7-T8 surgeries; total 6 with Dr. Jho (Pittsburgh,PA) My C6/C7 autofused around 2009.
2013 - 2015: epidurals 3 times (again did nothing) and 4 Radiofrequency ablation (or RFA) procedures.
2016 more RFAs, hit the 10 year mark of this insanity and pain, 3 level M6-C ADR with Dr. Clavel May 19, 2016
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  #214  
Old 05-15-2016, 01:28 AM
beaverc beaverc is offline
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Default 5 Days away!!!

Wow 5 days away from your surgery , must be incredibly exciting!! From what I have read about Clavel I think you have made a good decision. I have avoided a 3 level lumbar fusion for quite a long time. Seems here in the USA they have a rubber stamp for fusion , and to me it's somewhat sad that Americans have to venture to Europe / pay cash when they have insurance here, just to have the hope and assurance as well as the confidence you need to have in your Dr. for a successful surgery.
Question: Did you go to Spain for a work up / exam with Clavel at an earlier date or was everything done by sending your records / scans etc. via e-mail? Looking forward to reading your success story on the 20th!!!! All the best.
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  #215  
Old 05-15-2016, 01:02 PM
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Cynlite Cynlite is offline
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Thank you! It's a hard trip to do on my own but, I'll survive. I'm sure it will get better. I'm pretty jet lagged since I just arrived a few hours ago.

Everything was done online via email, Dropbox and Skype.

I agree with everything you said. Healthcare is a for profit business and that takes precedence over our health. Fusion is sometimes the only option but, it's sad when an ADR will work better and they still recommend fusion. I don't agree that ADR is experimental but, the insurance companies are sticking with that story.

You can tell by the length of this thread, that I put a lot of energy into deciding on Dr. Clavel. I know it's the right decision for me.
__________________
2006: epidural shots did nothing; 2 surgeons recommended 2 level fusion, I declined.
2007 - 2010 4 foraminotomy and cord decompression cervical surgeries and 2 endoscopic discectomy T7-T8 surgeries; total 6 with Dr. Jho (Pittsburgh,PA) My C6/C7 autofused around 2009.
2013 - 2015: epidurals 3 times (again did nothing) and 4 Radiofrequency ablation (or RFA) procedures.
2016 more RFAs, hit the 10 year mark of this insanity and pain, 3 level M6-C ADR with Dr. Clavel May 19, 2016
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  #216  
Old 05-15-2016, 03:17 PM
Stonewall_Boris Stonewall_Boris is offline
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Best of wishes!
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  #217  
Old 05-15-2016, 07:16 PM
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Cynlite Cynlite is offline
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Thank you Stone!
__________________
2006: epidural shots did nothing; 2 surgeons recommended 2 level fusion, I declined.
2007 - 2010 4 foraminotomy and cord decompression cervical surgeries and 2 endoscopic discectomy T7-T8 surgeries; total 6 with Dr. Jho (Pittsburgh,PA) My C6/C7 autofused around 2009.
2013 - 2015: epidurals 3 times (again did nothing) and 4 Radiofrequency ablation (or RFA) procedures.
2016 more RFAs, hit the 10 year mark of this insanity and pain, 3 level M6-C ADR with Dr. Clavel May 19, 2016
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  #218  
Old 05-16-2016, 02:30 AM
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scoop302 scoop302 is offline
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I'm so happy for you. I know it is unsettling, but it will be much easier than you are thinking. If Yolonda is taking care of things, then you will have a really nice man pick you up and take you directly to the hospital. It is all very easy, you don't have to worry about anything. There is a safe in the hospital room too are staying in, it is big and has great views. The first night, a translator stays with you just in case, but you will be fine. When you get back to the room after surgery, you will be pain free and you will be amazed at how you feel and how much you can do. I know you will do great, best of luck to you and I can't wait to hear from you after.
__________________
1979 car accident: rear ended
1980 ACDF C4-5
4/8/11 stopped, hit again
3 epidurals, PT, 2 MRI's,etc.
scheduled 3 times for C5-6, 6-7 fusion,
plus laminectomy at C3-4, and C 7, advised to do Bilateral lamino-foraminotomy C5-6, C6-7,a Percutaneous Discectomy L4 -L5
7/14 RFA on L3 to L5 (awake, local only)
C5-6,6-7 M-6 ADR with Dr. Clavel 9/17/14,
12/7/15 RFA L2-S1, Facet injections C2-7
6/3/16 RFA L2-S1, epidural L4,5, 8/26/16 RFA C1-7
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  #219  
Old 05-16-2016, 09:43 PM
Back in Black Back in Black is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 19
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Good luck Cynlite! I'm excited for you and your hopefully pain free future.
__________________
Suffered from back pain (on and off) since my 20's
1994 - Began Chiropractic treatments.
1999 - Added deep tissue message to my treatment regime.
Aug 2015 - X-Ray & MRI show DDD at L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/S1, with severe herniation and loss of disc height at L4/L5.
Sept 2015 - Two epidural cortisone injections at L4/L5.
Apr 2019 - Updated x-rays & MRI show further deterioration of discs from L3-S1, with bone-on-bone at L4/L5.
June 2019 - Three level ADR scheduled
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  #220  
Old 05-16-2016, 10:22 PM
drewrad drewrad is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 629
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It is your time now. It has come. You have chosen wisely IMO. This may sound strange, but enjoy your time there.

There is nothing to worry about now.

Keep us updated on your progress.
__________________
Weightlifter since 12 years old, now mid-40's and figuring out this wasn't such a good idea.

Chronic back pain started in 2010 while shrugging weights that a 40 yr. old shouldn't even try.

MRI in 2012 showing L4/L5, L5/S1 herniations and L2/L3 bulge.

L5/S1 taking on new shape, chronic sciatica, etc.

DEXA bone scan performed 5/7/14 showing mild osteopenia.

Surgery performed July 9th, 2014, Dr Clavel, hybrid three level lumbar.
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