Originally Posted by tsoglesby on December 15, 2003

SURGERY DATE:Nov. 28

AGE AT SURGERY DATE: 33

SURGEON: Ritter-Lang/Zechel

SURGERY LOCATION/CLINIC:Stenum Hospital, Germany

DEVICE(s), LEVEL(s):SB ChariteIII, L4-L5, L5-S1
COST = 24,000 Euros/ 29,000 dollars
AMOUNT BILLED:
INSURANCE ALLOWED:
OUT OF POCKET: complete amt.
TRAVEL: used miles for business class flight
EXPLANATIONS? Tina (my wife)hotel bill/ restaurant in Stenum approx. 900 dollars


ONSET OF LUMBAR PROBLEMS, DATE OF INJURY, CAUSE, ETC...:July 3, 2002 sudden no reasonable explanation.

PRIOR SPINE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES (IDET, ESI, etc...): During 2003: Discogram Feb 28, IDET April 7, 2 facet blocks June 13/June 26, medial branch nerve block July 10, RF nerve ablasion July 28

PRE-OP MEDICATIONS: Durogesic 75 mcg patch, Percocet 10/325 x's 4 per day , Effexor 150 mg, Ambien , Vioxx 25 mg.

PRE-OP DIAGNOSTICS (discogram, nerve root blocks, etc...): see above

PRE-OP NEUROPATHIES (what, where, & degree of pain, numbness, tingling, sexual/bladder/bowel symptoms, etc.):Constant pain in lower back. Burning sensation. Patches of numbness on left thigh since RF procedure.

PRE-OP CONDITION (Please include %leg pain/% back pain, pain levels, type of pain, ability to work and function, disability status, etc.... be direct, but be as verbose as you need to): 100% back pain. Pain level stayed at a constant 6-8 range and there was no position where I could get relief. That was main reason surgeon in Atlanta would not recommend a fusion. (Thank God!) I could not sit or drive. I could not work but a few hours at time while standing up.

TIME POST-OP AT ORIGINAL POST HERE: Day 17

DESCRIBE YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE: Excellent. Immediate pain relief in back. Some muscle soreness in back for 10 days from spreading vertebrae, which is now gone. On day 4, I came off morphine epidural. Doctors offered to help me stay off pre-op medicines, which I accepted. By day 7, I was on Vioxx only for pain...no narcotics. Tylenol now for abdominal soreness from incision.

RATE FUNCTIONALITY / SATISFACTION AT INTERVALS BELOW:

FUNCTIONALITY:
1. Very poor: much worse... disabled after surgery.
2. Poor: worse after surgery.
3. Neutral: No improvement, or improvements offset by new problems.
4. Fair, some improvment, limitations are still serious.
5. Good, substantial improvement, some limitations.
6. Excellent: no limitations.

SATISFACTION:
1. Very sorry I had the surgery.
2. Somewhat sorry I had the surgery.
3. Too soon to tell, or I'm ambivalent about the surgery.
4. I'm somewhat glad I did my surgery.
5. I'm very glad I did my surgery.

FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [6 WEEKS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [3 MONTHS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [6 MONTHS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [1 YEAR POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [2 YEARS POST-OP]

6 WEEKS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ECT... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

3 MONTHS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

6 MONTHS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

1 YEAR POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

2 YEARS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):