Jarrod's surgical outcome in Barcelona!!

[Jarrod]

Hello everyone,


Its been a while since i updated my post and recovery from my 3 level cervical ADR surgery in Barcelona, Spain with Dr. Clavel. I have had a roller coaster ride for recovery but things seem to be looking up.

To start Dr. Clavel is amazing and a very good surgeon with outstanding bedside manner. Also he has no problem responding to emails in a timely manner. As it stands now I have had spinal epidurals at levels c5/6, and c7/t1 with no improvement and also had an ulnar transposition surgery to move my ulnar nerve from behind the elbow. My hand dexterity is almost back to normal but yet my last three fingers still have numbness in varying degrees. This damn shoulder blade/ trap pain is still there but less intense as before. I noticed that it did not seem to matter what activities I did it would just come and go at will nothing really sets it off. I am back weight training but at a lesser degree than before. I do this because I dont hurt any more than just sitting around so why not be active.

My back ache pain has taken me to Dr. Robert Thompson (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Specialist) to see if maybe my pain is due to my bracial plexus being impinged. He thinks that I have TOS and would like to operate when I am ready. Just not sure if I can do another surgery yet. Also I am going to St. Petersburg Fl. in August to get an MRI neurography scan of the nerves that make up the plexus to see where the impingement is before I commit to surgery.

Overall I am doing ok but life is different and i try not to get discouraged and keep trudging along until I find my pain culprit. I also must mention that I had a myleo ct done and everything looked ok, a little foraminal narrowing at c5/6 and c6/7 but nothing for alarm. C7/t1 looks great. I still feel very blessed to come out of a major surgery and live a somewhat normal life, but will never give up trying to get pain free.

Sorry for the delay in posting, but I had to get through the negative part of recovery before I could give any real advice. The United States is so far behind in terms of real patient care and the insurance and political bs is really holding up progress in our Great country. I have the spinal kinetics m6c which is made in CAliforina but not fda approved. It is the most widely implanted disc in Europe as we speak. Anyway i wish everyone I great and quick recovery. God Bless.

Sincerly, Jarrod

[Maria]

Thanks Jarrod for the update and glad to hear that you're doing better. It is sad to read that one has to go out of the country for cutting edge technology to be obtained. I agree re the insurance/politics type of stuff that goes on in US and it's just disgusting really.

Back to you~ hope you continue to heal and do well. If more surgery is in your future I only hope if and when you undertake it relief and success will be yours.

take care~ Maria

[jsewell]

Jarrod,
I'm glad you got over the bad or hard part of recovery. I agree i would and don't ever stop until i have found all pain generators. I don't know much about TOS but will look it up to be more informed . Keep us posted on your progress.
judy

[mmglobal]

Jarrod, I have a client you should talk to. She has been through the mill diagnosing problems that may be cervical, TOS or others. She had some procedures aimed at TOS that were unsuccessful. Contact me off the forum and I'll put you in touch with her.

TOS is one of those specialties in which the doctors who embrace and treat the diagnosis may have a tendancy to overdiagnose what they are looking for. Be careful.

For most of us, pain free is not a possiblity... once we get a significant distance down the road of spine procedures and surgeries; putting us back together in a pain free state is for a lucky, small percentage of us. That does not mean to stop trying... just beware. You don't do surgery to go from a pain level of 2 or 3 to zero. A pain level of 2, 3 or 4 would be considered success AFTER surgery.

All the best,

Mark

[Jarrod]

Mark,
Thanks for the imput on TOS. I am planning on getting a neurography scan to confirm the diagnosis. I want to make sure that they can see the nerve entrapment before I go any further. I am hoping for the scan in August. They actually have a neurography scan center that just opened in St. Petersburg Fl. so at least I can stay in state for it. Tos is very tricky and before nueurograhy there was no clear diagnosis for it. Im hoping to get to the bottom of my pain generator sometime soon, but am being very cautious about surgery. My St. louis surgeon was quick to want to preform surgery, but I wanted a more comprehensive diagnosis which is why mri neurography is in my future. As far as my ADR surgery I feel very confident that it was a success and feel very blessed to have found Dr. Clavel. who was and still is involved in my recovery. I email him and he responds within the day. My recovery has been up and down and the past 4 months has been so much better than the previous 6 month period that was just unbearable at times. I even considered taking out the discs for fusion, but Dr. Clavel said to wait and that it would get better slowly, so I did and it has gotten so much better. I had 3 levels which is very big surgery, and I think I was expecting to just get it done and be back to normal in 6 months.

For all of you out there who have had ADR surgery or thinking about having it done,,,,(It will take you all the way up to 2 years to get back to yourself and feel like it was the right thing to do.) I was in great shape (280 pound bodybuilder) before my herniation and surgery and it has taken me 19 months to get to where I feel somewhat normal and not in pain for half the day. So please take it from me Mr. Impatient that it takes time and to expect ups and downs throughout your recovery period. Please use the forum for suppport and to vent as i did, the people are great and they truely understand what you may be going through. Keep your head up and stay motivated to get through the rough phase of recovery, it will get better, I was so depressed and worn out, physically and mentally, but now i am 80% improved and feel my life comming back.

May everyone improve and have a quality of life after spinal surgery, GOD Bless!!

Sincerly, Jarrod

[DixSea]

Jarrod,

Thank you for sharing your story... I am in the decision making process & so frustrated, so confused that I really do not know what to do. I have heard that insurance might pay for surgery in Germany, but Dr. Clavel was my first choice. I understand that Dr. Clavel will travel to Stenum Hosp. and do surgery with Dr. Ritter Lang. My doctor here initially suggested ADR, then he changed and said fusion, then last week he said 2 level ADR but he immediately informed me that insurance would not pay for a 2 level ADR. My head is spinning - well, no its not that would cause way too much pain.
Reading testimonials such as yours does ease the fear of traveling across the big pond, but its still a very scary proposition. Any suggestions?
Any advice?
I'm open...
Thank you.

Originally Posted by Jarrod

Mark,
Thanks for the imput on TOS. I am planning on getting a neurography scan to confirm the diagnosis. I want to make sure that they can see the nerve entrapment before I go any further. I am hoping for the scan in August. They actually have a neurography scan center that just opened in St. Petersburg Fl. so at least I can stay in state for it. Tos is very tricky and before nueurograhy there was no clear diagnosis for it. Im hoping to get to the bottom of my pain generator sometime soon, but am being very cautious about surgery. My St. louis surgeon was quick to want to preform surgery, but I wanted a more comprehensive diagnosis which is why mri neurography is in my future. As far as my ADR surgery I feel very confident that it was a success and feel very blessed to have found Dr. Clavel. who was and still is involved in my recovery. I email him and he responds within the day. My recovery has been up and down and the past 4 months has been so much better than the previous 6 month period that was just unbearable at times. I even considered taking out the discs for fusion, but Dr. Clavel said to wait and that it would get better slowly, so I did and it has gotten so much better. I had 3 levels which is very big surgery, and I think I was expecting to just get it done and be back to normal in 6 months.

For all of you out there who have had ADR surgery or thinking about having it done,,,,(It will take you all the way up to 2 years to get back to yourself and feel like it was the right thing to do.) I was in great shape (280 pound bodybuilder) before my herniation and surgery and it has taken me 19 months to get to where I feel somewhat normal and not in pain for half the day. So please take it from me Mr. Impatient that it takes time and to expect ups and downs throughout your recovery period. Please use the forum for suppport and to vent as i did, the people are great and they truely understand what you may be going through. Keep your head up and stay motivated to get through the rough phase of recovery, it will get better, I was so depressed and worn out, physically and mentally, but now i am 80% improved and feel my life comming back.

May everyone improve and have a quality of life after spinal surgery, GOD Bless!!

Sincerly, Jarrod

[Jarrod]

Dix,

Some advice for you! Dr. Clavel is a great surgeon with wonderful bedside manner Also he replied to my emails for as long as I sent them to him up to a year later. My surgery went as smoothly as possible for a 3 level ADR, 8 hours after surgery I was up and sitting in a chair eating some soup, and 2 days after I was taking a shower by myself. I needed no oral pain meds execpt for 800 mg Ibuprofen, and that was needed rarely.

The nursing staff and hospital Qurion were top notch and I had a private room with a great view. My sister and I were out of the hospitial in 3 days and touring barcelona at about 5-8 miles per day (walking). The plane ride home 10 hours was a breeze and I am very pleased with my m6 c discs.

It was about 6 months after surgery that I had my worst symptoms that had me going crazy and wondering if the discs had migrated or were malfunctioining, but im at about 18 months post surgery and feeling very good, back to bodybuilding and doing things like I use to. I cannot thank Dr. Pablo Clavel enough for giving me back my life and letting me enjoy things the way I use too. Be aware though that it takes time for your body (spine) to adjust to the discs and the trauma that it has been through. I hit the turning at about 1 year and believe me I was very worried that I was a failure surgery...so be prepared to go through ups and downs during recovery. I have heard good and bad stories on Dr. Ritter Lang so for me it would have to be Dr. Clavel and demand that he and only he operates on you no interns. It was the best 40,000 $ investment I ever made and suggest you go ADR vs FUSION for the adjacent protection it seems to offer. Dont be scared of going to Spain, Barcelona is gorgeous and the people and hospital staff are amazing. I hope this helps as I was nervous before my decision, but I guarantee you will not be dissapointed if you choose the m6 disc and DR. Clavel, he is amazing!!! Feel free to contact me at jalexander@gmx.com as I would like to help other spine patients with this difficult decision. GOD BLESS!

Sincerly, Jarrod