Geoff's Blog - Alpha Kilinik L4/L5/S1

[Firerescuefin]

I tried getting on the Alphaklink.com website last night...and it no longer existed. I googled alphaklinik and got the ATOS website. As Mark has documented, this has been in the works for some time. As we arrived this morning, they were still removing some of the ALPHA signage. Speaking to the staff, the transition seems to be pretty seamless. Their desire is to expand, remodel, and market more aggresively. Fortunately, there is still a "guy" here named Zeegers, they've got plenty of Activ L's in stock, and there are no plans for the power to be cut off during my surgery. We are still slamming chocolate cappucinos and OJ as we fight the sleep/jetlag monster. I am about 3/4 of the way through the testing, and will post something (test result) I found out of interest later on today.

It's suppose to be 70 deg. today. Not bad for a fall day in Munich.

[Firerescuefin]

That's how long you should plan to be a the clinic on your test day. Let's go over what you get.

Strength and Muscle Recruitment Test:
Test lumbar strength via Medx (very interesting and relevant - measures your strength curve and ROM against averages of healthy individuals of same age and weight, then graphs your information in relation to. As you can imagine most back pain sufferers don't score very well here.

Muscle Recruitment/Nerve test - Compares firing order of paraspinal muscles on both sides of spine. In healthy individual, they should fire together and overlap on graph. When the system is mechanically compromised, one will be taking up for the other or not working at all

Meet with generalist and perform basic physical, ultrasound, etc....basically do you meet the basic health requirements to get this done

Meet with Zeegers to go over films and tests - "Yep those sure are black thin and painful...corresponding with pain dermatome patterns"

Bone density test

Anesthesiologist

X-Ray to give them a good idea of prosthetic sizing

Neurologist - Looks at you with a new set of eyes and provides diagnosis....Zeegers stated that he likes to use him as an unbiased second opinion.

Final meeting with Zeegers..."We feel like we have an excellent diagnosis...see you in the morning"

Tests not given that could have been...MRI, Discogram (deemed uneccesary)

Checked in at 0830...Left for hotel at 1945 (745 PM)

Lesson learned. Pack a breakfast/lunch/dinner...or send someone to get you some.

The staff and the entire experience was great today. Yes, the day was long, but that's a lot to fit into one day. I spent 2 hours with Dr. Zeegers today and about another 1.5 hours on the phone before coming to Germany. Not only does his reputation precede him, but he is accessible and genuinely caring regarding his patients. My wife sat in on the visits. She likes him, and today has really confirmed in her own mind why we chose Zeegers and Alpha.

Surgery will be tomorrow at 11:30....Zeegers told me to get a good nights sleep...I told him it was his sleep that I was concerned about

[chasswen]

may the force be with you tomorrow.
all will be down hill from here out.
chuck

[Alastair]

Insist on discography before your surgery!!

We have just had a UK patient come back froma Zeegers surgery and he said no discography was needed and its not worked - - - - possibility of the wrong disc replaced -- - - - not like Zeegers but I don`t know the circumstances out there now with the "New regime" - - -saving money???
Best
Alastair

[Firerescuefin]

The discography was completed a few months ago. The results were very conclusive and reproduced my pain exactly. Dr. Zeegers saw no reason to do another. I was very clear with him regarding tests. I told him I would do everything he recommended. Seeing that the patient pays for everything here, I am not sure how ATOS/Zeegers is interested in anyone saving any money.

[Alastair]

Ah! Thats totally different -- - - we had a UK patient recently out there and no one not even Zeegers did disco on him -- - - I hope it goes well for you tomorrow - --- Friday is surgery day at the AK -- - been there done that
Best
Alastair

PS there is all this financial turbulance worldwide made me think moneywise

[Cheryl]

You have made great decisions. I agree with you no disco needed since you had consclusive one.

Will anxiously await post op post.

[Firerescuefin]

Well its, a little after 9:15 in the evening in Munich. I am laying in my room with my wife and son beside me. I will post more later on this evening, but the short story is that the discs I have now are much better than the ones they replaced. Zeegers words about those two discs after the surgery were "Pain, pain, pain" He was suprised that I was not more symptomatic than I was. I think I was that symptomatic, I'm just not one to show it as much on my sleave. My wife was probably the only one that understood where I was at from a pain perspective. Dr. Zeegers said placement was "perfect" and that things could not have gone better. That is obviously what we wanted to hear. I am still jet lagged and know I will be up for awhile. I will post again before going to bed.

Thanks for all of the prayers, kind thoughts, and encouragement.


Geoff

[Cheryl]

I can't believe I am saying this but welcome to the other side.

Let us know more when you are up to it.

[Firerescuefin]

Well, it's saturday afternoon around 4pm. I just got back from my first real walk. The abdominal pain (although certainly real) was not my problem. The issue was my continual reaction to the anasthesia. Until about an hour ago, anything that remotely looked like sitting or standing up turned me as white as a ghost. Now, I am feeling pretty good. I just took a walk down the hall to talk to a friend (I made on the test day) that received Stalif L5/S1 and Activ L @ L4/5. The first thing he asked me about was my back pain. I told him IT'S GONE....at least the pain that I knew. My bones feel sore, but I am not feeling the shooting pains down the legs, nor the knifing mechanical pain in my back. I received the surgical report from Dr. Zeegers this morning. It's basically his dictation during the surgery. I found it extremely interesting, as he is describing what he is seeing as he is going about his businees. For examply, he repositioned L5/S1 three times before he was satisfied with the placement. I told my wife this morning the same thing I shared with Mark a couple of months ago. "We went to the right guy for the right surgery." The rest is in God's hands, and we can live with that. I think under any other scenario, I would look back and what if things to death. It is so great having my wife and son with me. As I mentioned before, she had her doubts before we got here, but having lived through the last couple of days and seeing the quality of care we have received, she is so glad that we came. I know any of you considering something like this want and need the full support of your spouse/family. My 3 month old son has been a rock star here. He is loving Munich and Munich is loving him...and I cannot imagine not having them here.

[Alastair]

Congratulations on getting your first walk in, I think all of us Zeegers patients have done the walk down the corridor, met friends that we met the day before surgery.

I don't know if you walked back from the recovery room, or if they stopped doing that but that was very spooky.

I have got to think that either Monday or Tuesday you will be back at your hotel, and making brief trips to the gym?
Take it easy -- -- -- slow and steady wins this race
best,
Alastair

[dshobbies]

Geoff,

How miraculous for you but repeating A's warning.... SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE e.g. several short walks vs 1 long one.

A great big congratulations from the states.

Dale