Originally Posted by Original post Sept 8, 2003

SURGERY DATE: Aug. 8, 2003

SURGEON: Dr.Ritter-Lang + Dr. Zechel

SURGERY LOCATION/CLINIC:Stenum Hospital, Bremen, Germany

LEVEL(s):1 at L5S1

COST =
AMOUNT BILLED: $21,000 EURO
INSURANCE ALLOWED: none
OUT OF POCKET:all
TRAVEL: $2000
EXPLANATIONS?


ONSET OF LUMBAR PROBLEMS, DATE OF INJURY, CAUSE, ETC...: 1988 when I was "adjusted" by a chriopractor for a pinched nerve in neck

PRIOR SPINE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES : Lots of PT, ESI's and Facet Rhizotomy

PRE-OP MEDICATIONS: Anti-inflams and Percocet

PRI-OP DIAGNOSTICS: MRI + diognostic injections

PRE-OP NEUROPATHIES : tingling/pins + needles in toe and outer thigh

PRE-OP CONDITION: Mostly back pain, much worse when standing, sitting, walking. Pain level 6 -7

TIME POST-OP AT ORIGINAL POST HERE: 1 month

(In the following sections, rate your surgical success and comments as described in the first post of this thread.

DESCRIBE YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE:

RATE SUCCESS / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / DESCRIBE CONDITION 1 MONTH POST-OP :
Rated at #4 (Fair)but at least no leg pain. Back pain much improved when sitting but not much improvement when standing/walking. Still on anti-inflams and at least 1 Percocet/day. I can see on xray that Charite is implanted correctly so I'm hoping I'm having surgical pain and not another issue. Time will tell!

RATE SUCCESS / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / DESCRIBE CONDITION 3 MONTHS POST-OP (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):I'm actually at 4 months as of this writing. I'm doing great! Rate Functionality at 5 and satisfaction at 6. There are times when I don't even think about my back for over an hour at a time. I've been off Percocet for over 2 months, still take Motrin once or 2ce a day. Having some Periformas and hip pain when sitting, but that too is getting better. I'm not 100%, but I'd guess around 70%.

RATE SUCCESS / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / DESCRIBE CONDITION 6 MONTHS POST-OP (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): Life is great. Still not 100%, but better than I ever hoped. Still numbness when sitting for too long in leg, butt and sometimes foot (right side only), but it's now more annoying than painful.

RATE SUCCESS / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / DESCRIBE CONDITION 1 YEAR POST-OP (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

RATE SUCCESS / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / DESCRIBE CONDITION 2 YEARS POST-OP (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):