My 3 mo X ray - Discs tilted all over the place

[Bill1961]

Forgot to add..

While your searching for a surgeon, to me the more important question is not "can you get the disk out?" Due to the degree of subsidence, can you reconstruct my vertebra so that I will have a successful fusion and a normal curved spine?

This may or may not be the case with all the "experienced" ADR removal surgeons.

[steve55]

Excellent point Bill. Im now starting to agree. I just spoke to mark about this and he kind of said the same thing in that there just aren't that many ADR removal cases out there. It is more important that the surgeon is good at the reconstructing part.

But now my delemma. How do I go about finding a good one that is in my Humana network? The Ortho I saw today is Donald Mackenzie. He is English and about 55-60 yrs old. He knows Regan (even told me to say hi for him when and if I do see Regan). But he did make the comment that if he had a spine problem , Regan would be the guy who he'd choose. But again, if what I need is pretty straight forward, basically a fusion, then cant any descent surgeon do the job? So, perhaps you are right, perhaps I dont need a "Big name" surgeon for what I need done.

[steve55]

How does one go about finding out whether a doctor is good or not?????

[Bill1961]

Steve,

I don't have a clue and would hate to steer you wrong about good surgeons in Texas. However here is a place outside of Dallas (Tyler TX) Texas Spine and joint hospital. Spine,Neck,Back,Shoulder,Hip,Knee,Wrist, Neurosurgical and Orthopedic Surgery - Texas Spine & Joint Hospital

I would imagine a practice of their size, there must be some pretty good Dr's. They have both Orthopedic and Neurosurgeons.

A phone call and appointments to a couple of places can't hurt. If you call for the appointment and the particular surgeons date is out 3 weeks or more ask to see if you can have an appointment with his/her PA. They are usually pretty easy to get to. Then when you show up with your films and they see your situation I would bet the PA heads right to the surgeons office. If the PA is on the building so is the surgeon. Most do surgery together.

[Michelle Maree]

Sorry to have to be so blunt but in my opinion -Go back to Dr Bertagnoli.

[Michelle Maree]

I dont understand why you havent already booked a surgery date with Dr Regan.
It sounds as if everyone is stalling and passing the buck and no one wants to help you. Have you tried to book a date with Regan yet? Or do they always seem to delay you and say "let me get back to you about that first or so and so's on holiday at the moment and wont be back untill such and such." This kind of behaviour is typical when they dont want to do the surgery.
I know, it has happened to me, and when you push to make a date you get "The Letter".

This may not be the case but it sounds far too familiar to me.

Also I doubt very much they are interested in reading these forums, they are on the other side of the coin, and are far to busy playing golf and holidaying in the Bahamas.

IMOA lock in a date with Regan now!
Or book the first flight to Germany that you can before it is too damn late!

I am saying this because I care,
Michelle.

[Bill1961]

http://www.adrsupport.org/images/uploads/Dr_Z.pdf