Dr. Regan and ADR Explant Surgery

[Jim M2]

I just told Dr. Regan's office I want to move forward with surgery.

Yesterday I spoke with Dr. Regan for a forth opinion on how to handle my situation. I remembered hearing him at a GPN seminar 10 years ago. Also Mark recommended that I should see Dr. Regan for an expert opinion. In the end I decided he is the best doctor for the surgery.

For my symptoms Dr. Regan was able to find good correlation to the imaging. The right facet is at end stage of degeneration. The ADR core is deformed. It is pinched in the back and not floating. What I thought was L4-5 discogenic pain is not discogenic pain. It is almost certainly compression and positional compression (i.e. sitting/standing) that loads up the L5S1 facets. Things are further aggravated by cysting and bone growth. As the discussion went on Dr. Regan kept returning to the MRI and pointing out pathologies and how he deals with them. I was very impressed. Mark was with me and made key observations and clarifications. I thank Mark from the bottom of my heart for finding the right doctor and keeping the dialog moving. After the excellent outcome I wouldn't dream of doing it alone. It's such scary decision and there are many risks but now everything has fallen into place.

I had despair, now I have hope.

Thank you Mark!

[vnf]

Need to remove for personal reasons

[Maria]

Jim,
So glad to read that Mark was instrumental in helping you get pointed in the right direction with Dr. Regan and that there was clarification and/or explanations of what's going on and something that can be done about it!

Will your insurance cover your explant? I can't remember if you had your ADR done in the US or not or with or without your insurance authorization. Anyway I do hope insurance covers it.

Please keep us informed on your surgical date!

Maria

[henry4956]

I know the darkness and despair that accompanies hopelessness. Soon your hope will turn into joy

God Bless

[Jim M2]

Thank you for the encouraging replies.

I had the implant in Germany. I petitioned my insurance for re-imbursement after I returned home. They paid 90%.

My insurance does not require pre-approval for the one procedure code to explant the artificial disc. There are many associated procedure codes and the hospital stay for which pre-approval is necessary. Very frustrating.

[vnf]

Jim

One thing to consider....ask the doctor for his personal email.

I've read sooo many times about people who cannot reach their doctor after
their surgery when they are having a problem and want to discuss it with THE DOCTOR. It seems that the doctor is very busy with the next surgery but then you can't have access to them anymore.
I find that frustrating. I paid for the doctor...not the staff.
Back in my post op days, when I discussed this with Dr. Boeree, he was so confident that I wouldn't have any problems, he gave me his home phone, cell phone, email, everything just to make me feel better.
I told him this pre op because I was very worried about it because I had seen so many people post this online.
Speak up now and ask for a way to reach THE DOCTOR.
The staff is overworked already and to be honest, someone who is not in pain doesn't have the urgency that the person is pain has!
I don't know about now but back when I was considering doctor's, even Clavel gave me his cell phone. Dr. Zigler gave me his personal email when I was talking with him.

It's a big concern to me and I let them know it right up front.
Already told Zeeger's the same thing.
I'm paying for the doctor not the staff. He understood and told me not to worry. We'll see but I did make him aware so I hope he sticks to it.

Just my opinion but this is a big concern to me.