16 years postop, Charite and fusion!

[mmglobal]

Last night, I had the pleasure of spending the evening in Dr. Zeegers' home, meeting some very interesting people. They were taping a program for Belgian TV about Dr. Zeegers and some of his patients. I wish I had the opportunity to take more pictures… it was great with huge smiles and hugs all round.

Hans (photo below) was only 29 when he came to see Dr. Zeegers. His condition was much like mine; several years of disability, unable to enjoy anything because of the constant pain and everything that goes along with it. Dr. Zeegers performed a single level Charite’, plus a single level fusion that was not stable enough for ADR. Hans had a slower recovery than I did, taking six months to get better. That is one of the MAJOR differences between fusion and ADR. With the hybrid procedures, you must recover from the fusion too. In any case, since his recovery, he has never looked back. He is an athlete and has returned to his sports… now 16 years later, his back is still wonderful. (If we ever get a chance to play some tennis, I promise to teach him a lesson!)

Hans’ enthusiasm for Dr. Zeegers and helping other spine patients is very impressive. He has a notebook that he shares with anyone who inquires. It’s filled with patient testimonials and information about the procedure. It was so great to spend some time with him. He’s only the second person I’ve met in person with ADR implanted for more than a decade. His perfect condition, lack of facet problems, etc., was very encouraging.

I’m sending him an email inviting him to the forum. I hope he’ll come and post on the surgical outcomes forum and tell his story in his own words.

All the best,

Mark

Hans (16 years post-op), Mark (8 years post-op):


TV interview:

[Maria]

To hearing more about your trip Mark. Hans looks like a very healthy (buffed) person! Wonderful to hear that duration of his Charite implant has given him such good/renewed spinal health!

I heard on the news this morning the airport in Frankfurt is closed and has canceled many flights re the magnitude of winter storm. Hope if you're traveling home for Christmas all will go smoothly. I imagine my spine would be creaking and cracking with the weather you're out and about it!

[dshobbies]

I marvel at my 5 years - I wonder how much the successes of these very early recipients will ultimately be part of 'whole' ADR picture?

Good for him and Dr. Z

[fuzzy]

Awesome story, Mark. I also had Fusion ADR hybrid with Zeegers in 07 and my progress of improvement was as expected, steady improvement to the excellent outcome it is today.

If you see dr. Zeegers, please give him my greetings!

[mmglobal]

Fuzzy, he's driving me to the train station in the morning... I'll let him know.

Call me next week... I look forward to catching up with you. All the best,

Mark

[mmglobal]

Dale, I still hear of doctors telling potential ADR patients that they'll only last 10 years. That's ridiculous. All we've learned about materials with hips and knees is already incorporated into the current crop of ADR's. The things that cause wear... loading, range of motion and surface area are all very small in the discs compared to the other joints. Wear problems and device failures we've seen have to do with poor implantations (sizing, placement) more than anything else.

That is a great point you are making... the nay sayers will continue to ignore the long-term data gathered overseas.

Mark

[JeffreyD]

Hey Mark, sounds like an awesome trip. You are going to have some incredible stories to tell, for sure! Please give me call when you return home.
Jeff