[Lmatt]

Am 68 year old retired lawyer in US. After three C spine fusions someone FINALLY pointed the damn MRI downward. I underwent Charite replacement in Stenum July 4 of 03. (Very strange to wake up to 4th celebrations on TV in German.)I speak enough to get by so it was amusing enough to take my mind off what I had just done to L4,5-S-1,and the abject terror I was really feeling.

Hate to see this litigation. Most of the people around my "class" of 03,etc are quite happy, a few are not, but after nearly fifty years of litigation even then, I could guess the "problem children"....I do wish ALL surgeons would screen a little better,whether abroad or in USA. A firm "NO" might solve many problems.

After all these years,had only one scare...Osteophytes in the next highest cavity above L-4. Fine local specialist scraped them out & life & grandkids are good. Fact is, all of us live with a fear of transplant failure & some surgeries just don't work. We take a big risk, but it's usually OUR risk
& except for a very few, med schools seem to do well in weeding out the problems. Have watched this & other forums for years. I wish you all well.
Lmatt