Thank You Mark
 

Mark,

I've known you for over 6 years and I have to say your dedication to people in pain has not once wavered. I've been having a very difficult run of things the last 10 months and you offered help with open arms.

I truly appreciate your help and all that you do for patients. At the end of day, I am blessed to call you a close friend. :D

Without your assistance, I'm sure I'd be shuffled around from one pain management doc to another, like I was. In all honesty, my PM doc looked at the report from my CT myelogram and said "I have no idea what this means." Great, :rolleyes: the plan of action would have been: "Well, how are your meds... OK, see you in 4 weeks."

However, with Drs. Bertagnoli and Fenk-Mayer's help I am hopeful that my pain generator (as per my myelogram) will be "resolved" in one way or another, so I can start living my life again.

I'm hopeful, yet cautious, that we'll hear good news this week!

God bless you brotha'.

I second that. I haven't 'known' Mark for long; but it is very obvious that this is his passion. I couldn't be happier that I found this site and all of you. I would be a basket case without all the help that I have received. Thanks All of You!

Justin- What is your pain generator now? Is there a plan of action to take care of it? I'm praying for you.

Justin, it's been an amazing road that I've been down. It's been such a pleasure for me to be involved in so many people's lives. When I went to Germany for my surgery in 2002, Diane and I had to go get passports. We'd never been overseas. Meeting you in Vienna was on my second trip to Europe. On that trip, I was able to observe surgeries at 4 different spine centers. I was there for Doreen in Straubing and was fortunate enough to observe a ProDisc-C procedure in Vienna.

Having been such a homebody, I'm still quite taken by the international aspect of this. Since meeting you in Vienna, we've seen each other in Los Angeles and New York. I've met Doreen in Seattle, LA and Tahoe. Hopefully, the next time we meet... we'll be skiing too! (Unfortunately, we probably need to be on the other side of lumbar surgery for you and cervical and knee surgeries for me!)

I am the one who is blessed to have you and so many others all around the world that I consider dear friends.

I can't wait to hear what Bertagnoli says about your Myelo...

Kathy... yes, it's my curse... er... passion. This all comes from the entire community. I just looked back through the posts back around the time of Justin's surgery. It was great to read how his story unfolded. But the most amazing thing was that it was the same community. Many of the folks that were posting to Justin 6 years ago are still here. (I should resurrect some of the old threads.) I second your motion... thanks to the entire community. I credit the Braintalk Spinal Disorders forum with saving my life. I'm proud to still be participating, 9 years later.

Mark

Thank you too Mark. For the advice and help but mostly, to you and your wife for the free sandwiches at the get-togethers. :)

Wishing you and Justin my best.

Allan

Mark,

Keep up the great work you do.... :)

Helping someone is the greatest gift one can give.

Todd

keep up the great work mark!!!!
chuck

Mark, it's been about nine or ten years since we first met. Thanks for all your help over the years.

Five years for me. Mark is my lifeline. I'm delighted to have met him personally. Don't know where I'd be without him and GPS and iSpine.

Mark and I in December 07, 4 weeks after my surgery.

http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/v...Aarne12-08.jpg

And I am looking forward to meeting Mark in person, sometime in the coming months.

iSpine and the support here, has given me the knowledge that lets me have confidence that I can make the best decision for my well being. Thanks Mark, for starting this forum. And for you and everyone here for sharing the knowledge you have acquired with all of us.

HI Justin ( I mean Dr. J now) ;)

I was able to break away from stuff from work and finally surf this site for a change.

It is good to see you posting - yet - I hate seeing that you are having symptoms again.

I certainly hope that they can find where the pain is coming from and treat it accordingly.

Yes - Mark has been instrumental in helping so many people on here. I have my life now because of him. - (and of course Dr. B)

Please keep us posted on what they find.

Sincerely,
Sue

Holy Cow! It is great to "see" you Sue!! It's been a while...I replied to your PM.

I hope you are well. :D