No-no's on fusion!

Cathy · #1 (**permalink**) 11-14-2006, 05:10 PM

Hi everyone. This is my first time posting here. I'll try to make this as short as possible. A year ago August (2005) I fell and herniated L4,5 badly. I had a discectomy that November, but the following week I simply rolled over in bed and re-ruptured it. I had another discectomy in Feb. 2006. Unfortunately, I have continued to have tremendous pain. The latest MRI has shown that there isn't enough disc matter left and my vertebrea are hitting on one another. My surgeon said I need a fusion (he doesn't do ADRs). I have been doing research on ADR surgery and have decided that it is what I would rather have. My surgeon is supportive of my decision and said that there is a doctor in Melbourne FL, which is several hours away from me, who does ADRs. I called his office yesterday, but his staff couldn't even give me a ballpark number of how many of these surgeries the doctor had done. After I prodded her a bit more, she said that he has probably done a minimum of 20. That does not seem like enough experience to me. Then I called the Texas Back Institute. The woman there spoke of how great the doctors were and what wonderful results they had. However, when I mentioned that I had a fusion at L5, S1 ten years ago she immediately said that she didn't think I would be a canidate for ADR for that reason. With my hope dashed, I called Jim Rider who is a contact person for Dr. Ritter-Lang at Stenum Hospital. He was very enthusiastic and said that Dr. Ritter-Lang does ADR sugeries on patients who have had fusions all the time with great results. Unfortunately, he said that they only take cash up front to the tune of $30,000, I am a work comp patient and have been out of work since my injury. Therefore, in order for me to go through with this I would have to sell my home. At this point, even though it would break my heart, I was considering it. My hopes of having the surgery that I believe is the best for me were restored. That is until I just read some feedback from others, some of which have gone there with horrible results. Once again, I am at a loss.
Now I am thinking of contacting Dr. Zeegers to see if there is any chance that he would take me as a patient. I am hoping that he is willing to accept work comp patients because I truely don't want to be homeless.
I have only read good reports about him. However, I don't know how to contact his office. I only stumbled onto this site moments ago. I have heard Marks name mentiond numerous times also, I believe injunction with patient avocacy. I'm not even sure if I am in the right forum to contact either. I would appreciate any guidance. Sorry this was so lengthy.
Cathy

dshobbies · #2 (**permalink**) 11-14-2006, 05:31 PM

Hi Cathy,

Welcome to this forum and no need to apologize for any length of your post. Everyone entering the adr world is confused and directionless. Please, whatever you do, do not go to the Stenum Hospital. Dr. Zeegers is great but I don't believe he takes wc claims.

Also, too many of us took out second trust deeds on our home to have this usually cash, surgery.

However, before pulling your hair out, please talk to Mark at globalpatientnetwork.com. He'll help you steer the right course. I wish you every luck,

Dale

Cathy · #3 (**permalink**) 11-14-2006, 06:40 PM

Thanks Dale. I will contact Mark right now. I truely am losing hope and I hate feeling this way. I am normally a very positive person with much faith, but I feel beat down. I guess I need to pull myself up by my boot straps.
Thanks again,
Cathy

Cathy · #4 (**permalink**) 11-14-2006, 06:59 PM

I just posted a response to the replies that I got from my first message, then tried to go to the website that Dale suggested, followed by coming back to this forum, and I noticed that my reply is not on the board. At any rate, I wanted to thank those of you who responded. Also, I want to let Dale know that I went to the "globalpatientnetwork.com" like he suggested in order to contact Mark, but I didn't see any link to him. Perhaps I did something incorrectly.
Cathy

dshobbies · #5 (**permalink**) 11-15-2006, 12:46 AM

Cathy,
First, I'm a she and Global Patient Network is Mark, and this is his forum. mmglobal is Mark... so Mark, how about telling her how to get in touch with you!
Dale

mmglobal · #6 (**permalink**) 11-15-2006, 01:48 AM

Most websites have a 'contact us' button on the navigation bar (where you get the buttons used to navigate the website.

Anyone can contact me on the phone numbers and email addresses on any of the websites discussed.

Cathy · #7 (**permalink**) 11-16-2006, 05:35 PM

So sorry for the gender mix up Dale

Thanks again for the info. Have a great weekend and a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Cathy