SURGERY DATE:10/13/2003
AGE AT SURGERY DATE:38
SURGEON: Dr. Bertagnoli
SURGERY LOCATION/CLINIC:Straubing,Germany
DEVICE(s), LEVEL(s):L3/4,L4/5,L5/S1
COST =29,208 Euro (Paid extra for private room)
AMOUNT BILLED:
INSURANCE ALLOWED:
OUT OF POCKET:100%
TRAVEL: $1600
EXPLANATIONS? Hotel,food,phone,etc for my wife. Flew on frequent Flyer miles
ONSET OF LUMBAR PROBLEMS, DATE OF INJURY, CAUSE, ETC...: 1986
PRIOR SPINE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES (IDET, ESI, etc...):Laminectomy 1986 and 1998
PRE-OP MEDICATIONS:Vicoden when needed. Pamelor 75 mg per day
PRE-OP DIAGNOSTICS (discogram, nerve root blocks, etc...): 2 epidurals and 2 SNRB
PRE-OP NEUROPATHIES (what, where, & degree of pain, numbness, tingling, sexual/bladder/bowel symptoms, etc.):Constant back pain and leg pain right side
PRE-OP CONDITION : 50% back 50% leg pain. worked until surgery
TIME POST-OP AT ORIGINAL POST HERE: 2 weeks and 2 days post op
DESCRIBE YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE: Overall fine, although had severe colon irritation/subileus. This pain was worse than the post op pain.
RATE FUNCTIONALITY / SATISFACTION AT INTERVALS BELOW:
FUNCTIONALITY:
1. Very poor: much worse... disabled after surgery.
2. Poor: worse after surgery.
3. Neutral: No improvement, or improvements offset by new problems.
4. Fair, some improvment, limitations are still serious.
5. Good, substantial improvement, some limitations.
6. Excellent: no limitations.
SATISFACTION:
1. Very sorry I had the surgery.
2. Somewhat sorry I had the surgery.
3. Too soon to tell, or I'm ambivalent about the surgery.
4. I'm somewhat glad I did my surgery.
5. I'm very glad I did my surgery.
FUNCTIONALITY: _5 SATISFACTION: _4__ [6 WEEKS POST-OP]
FUNCTIONALITY: __5.75_ SATISFACTION: __5_ [3 MONTHS POST-OP]
FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [6 MONTHS POST-OP]
FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [1 YEAR POST-OP]
FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [2 YEARS POST-OP]
6 WEEKS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ECT... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): At 6 weeks post op I am back to work full time, although instead of the 10-11 hour days, they are more like 6-8 hour days. The original pain is gone. Still have a fair amount of leg pain on the left side (seems more muscle than nerve). Some lower left back pain( must be from surgery as I never had this before) Both diminish when I slow down with activity. Still taking Neurontin. Also take Vicoden and Soma when I need it. Usage depends on activity. I feel very stable and am certain that all of my pain will subside as time moves on. Thus far very satisfied with the results.
3 MONTHS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): 3 months as of this week. Pain very minimal. Ultracet when needed. No more leg pain. Able to use snow blower (unfortunatly).Walking 2 miles on the treadmill speed up to 4mph. Only 2 more weeks of PT lot's of stretching. Working 50-60 hours per week. so far so good
6 MONTHS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):
1 YEAR POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):
2 YEARS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):