Multi level ADR in women

[tisury]

Question for Mark and anyone else who has info on multi level procedures. I have been told by someone who sees Dr. D that they are saying they are seeing a problem with putting artificial discs (Prodisc, in particular) in more than one level with women. That their spines cannot hold up to the weight of the Prodisc. Mark, with all the people you see and communicate with - do you see this trend? That women with multi levels are not doing as well as men? Is there anyone (preferably female) on the forum here, that have had a multi level Prodisc procedure who can offer some input here? I know there are many that have had successful multi levels, but I don't know how many of them are female versus male?

I have made the decision to go to Germany - but I am still asking questions. I am scheduled to be admitted May 21st and Dr. Bertagnoli will do the surgery May 22nd. The planned surgery is a 2 level Prodisc surgery (L34 and L45)above my existing Flexicore ADR at L5-S1.

Hey, anyone else going to be over there the week of the 21st of May ??

Oh, and here's an off topic question - can I use my Capital One Visa in Germany? I have never been overseas, so I may be asking questions in the next two months that seem dumb to some of you. One friend said years ago she used a credit card from her credit union and didn't have any problem. I would have thought that might be a problem.

[KL Aguilar]

I can not answer your surgical questions, but I went to Germany in 2002. We had trouble using a Discover card, but not Visa. However, credit cards were not accepted in some restaurants. I would suggest calling your bank and making sure your ATM card can be used. I seem to remember that the pin needed to have a certain number of digits.

[sahuaro]

Interesting question, Tisury! Did the concern apply to cervical as well as lumbar disks and was it only for Prodisc? Was the concern related to bone density issues or just gender differences in general?

We got a debit card to use in Europe through American Express; there is an international 800 number you can call to transfer more money into the card account from your checking. We were also able to use our MasterCard charge.

[Poncho]

Hi Tisury,

I certainly hope that there is not an overwhelming trend regarding females and multi-level Prodisc ADR problems because I am a 2 level replacement at L4-5 & L5-S1. If there is significant statistical information regarding increased incidence of failure among this demographic of spine patients I would like to know!!!

So far so good. I do have some pings of sciatica here and there especially with weather changes here in the midwest. However, I would take the life I have now any day over what I had just prior to surgery and the chronic daily pain levels.

As far as using a charge card. VISA worked okay for me - but it depends on the business. If you are able to use it, that is great because you will get the best rate of exchange that way (of course I am not taking into consideration the interest rate of the charge card). We also brought traveler's checks with us and exchanged some cash at either the airport or a bank. Our hotel was okay with using a charge card - but their are many retailers such as restaurants that will not.

Make sure you bring some movies with you unless you REALLY like watching MTV and CNN - because the last time I was over that way - all of the other stations were in German. You may also want to bring an electric cord adapter for hair dryer, laptop, curling iron, & etc....

I'm sure Mark is a pro at this by now and can perhaps offer a few tips.

I wish you nothing but the best.

Poncho

PS Tisury, did your Flexicore fail??? OR were there more levels that were painful that they did not know about at the time when you received your Flexicore ADR???

[tisury]

Wow........I just lost a post that I sat here and typed. Have no idea how. But anyhow, no I feel like I am repeating myself.....lol

First, thanks to all who have responded. My impression from this friend (someone I met through another forum) is that there is a major problem with women and the multi level Prodisc according to trial data and that it is being pushed under the covers. That is why I figured my best bet at getting at true response was to come here and find actual people who have had the multi level procedure. They feel that the "weight" of the Prodiscs is contributing to her ongoing problems. I wish I knew more details. That is why I am here. I don't know if it is due to the smaller build of most women or their tendency to have more bone density issues. I just don't know what the reason is behind this statement.

As for my one level Flexicore - no one (including Dr. B or Dr. Zeegers) thinks there are any issues or failures of the ADR at L5-S1. I had many contradictory diagnosis before surgery as to whether I needed a one level, 2 level, or 3 level intervention. Also, contradictory discograms. One said only L34, one said only L5S1. The last discogram was used as the basis for the one level ADR at L5S1. Long, long, long story..........believe me. My pain is pretty much in the same areas and the same intensity as before my first surgery in 2004, so I personally believe that it was just always more than a one level problem.

About exchanging money at the airport or bank - did you get a decent exchange rate doing it there? Are there banks near the Straubing or Bogen facilities to do this or should you do it while you are in Munich? I really need to find time to sift through posts. The problem is I am trying to make it through one more tax season before I leave for Germany (the money will certainly help, if it doesn't kill me in the meantime). I had saved a lot of informational posts over the last couple of years, but my computer crashed the beginning of Jan and I lost ALOT of info. The really important stuff (correspondence with Dr. B and Dr. Fenk-Mayer) I had hard copies of or backups. But I really wish I had all that other info I had collected.

Sitting time is maxed out for now. Thanks again to everyone.

[dshobbies]

Tisury,

I hope there are no issues with multi-level Prodiscs is women!!!! I had 3. I do believe that Dr. Delamarter is an excellent surgeon but Dr. B has more multi-level experience than any other doctor so I would think that he is your go-to guy.

My own experience with my 3 level Pro-disc, during my surgery I had extreme distraction/nerve damage to my left leg, which at 17 months post-op has still not completely recovered, nor is it likely to. I'm still hoping but fascilmate daily between hope, anger and depair. Is it better to suffer with a bad leg vs. a bad back? Most definitely, but it is still a disability and one I was not aware of prior to my surgery. I thought any distraction damage I might suffer would be temporary but this can happen even with a single level and I would think is unrelated to the Prodisc per se.

My back is doing OK and I still have issues but more than anything, and I believe this is the single most important thing I can tell you, is that I have my life back. Though more limited than a 'normal' person, there is little I can't do, barring sky diving and skiing! (How was your trip guy and gals?)

Though a little late, I'd still be interesting in discovering any success rate variances between men and women... Mark?????

Good luck, Dale (I answered your other questions privately)