Originally Posted by Tina's GEORGE on February 2, 2004

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: 34-36,000 TOTAL if paid for travel, meals,phone use, etc.
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: Constant pain in lower back. Burning sensation. Patches of numbness on left thigh since RF procedure.

PRE-OP CONDITION: 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: _5_ SATISFACTION: _5__ [6 WEEKS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: _6__ SATISFACTION: _5__ [3 MONTHS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: __6_ SATISFACTION: __5_ [6 MONTHS POST-OP]

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

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

6 WEEKS POST-OP
DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE: Started back to work nearly full-time Jan 5, 2004. Have to take a long lunch break to stretch out or I will pay for it later.

PAIN: Incision area still bothers me...burning-to-throbbing-to-numbness and back again in that cycle. No lower back or leg pain. Pain (old)at T11-12 flares up as activity increases. This pain was masked by the more severe pre-ADR pain.

MEDICATIONS: Taking Vioxx, Effexor, and an OCCASIONAL Lortab late afternoon / evening.



3 MONTHS POST-OP -
DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE: Back at work full-time and have resumed travelling by myself. I am no longer beat up at the end of the workday...only normal tiredness.

PAIN
My incision no longer bothers me. I have a small amount of inflamation-type burning in lower back. I think it's the facet joints still getting used to the new alignment. It is not a concern right now and very minor discomfort.

MEDICATIONS
Vioxx 25mg
Effexor 150mg
NO NARCOTIC PAIN MEDICINE NEEDED.

NEUROPATHIES / ETC...:
Numbness in upper-left front thigh. Not a pain issue.

6 MONTHS POST-OP -

LIFESTYLE:
Work full time, travel and can actively participate in life again.
PAIN:
ADR and disc-related pain is 100% gone. Facet joint arthritis is controlled with RF and medication.

MEDICATIONS:
Lodine 400mg x 2 per day
Lexapro 10 mg
Lortab 10/325 as needed

ETC...

Surgery was a lifesaver for me. ABSOLUTELY no regrets and would do it tomorrow!
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?]):