Originally Posted by PStewart on March 28, 2004

SURGERY DATE: 3/16/04

AGE AT SURGERY DATE: 34

SURGEON: Dr. Bertagnoli

SURGERY LOCATION/CLINIC: Straubing, Germany

DEVICE(s), LEVEL(s): PRODISC L5/S1

COST = 17,000 Euros ($21,000 US DOLLARS)
AMOUNT BILLED: $21,000
INSURANCE ALLOWED: N/A
OUT OF POCKET: ALL ($21,000)
TRAVEL: 2 tickets X $800 each = $1600
EXPLANATIONS?

ONSET OF LUMBAR PROBLEMS, DATE OF INJURY, CAUSE, ETC...: 1/1/2000 Severe leg and back pain

PRIOR SPINE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES (IDET, ESI, etc...): Endoscopic microdiscectomy at L5/S1 by Dr. Anthony Yeung on 1/9/2001. Rehernation = repeat procedure 10/9/20001

PRE-OP MEDICATIONS: Neurontin and Ultram

PRE-OP DIAGNOSTICS (discogram, nerve root blocks, etc...): L5/S1 prolapse, degeneration, bulging into formans

PRE-OP NEUROPATHIES (what, where, & degree of pain, numbness, tingling, sexual/bladder/bowel symptoms, etc.):

Back pain minimal. Bad right legy pain in L5/S1 distribution. Some bizzarre bladder and intestinal symptoms.

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):

90% leg, 10% back. Sitting was too painful to put up with. Dr. Yeung got rid of the back pain but leg pain returned upon rehernation. I worked full time at the University but was able to work from home a lot because I can use the computer at home. However, I was much less of a presence at work than I used to be.

TIME POST-OP AT ORIGINAL POST HERE: posting here for almost 1 year before ADR operation.

DESCRIBE YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE:

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 improvement, 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: _2_ SATISFACTION: _3_ [3 MONTHS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: _2_ SATISFACTION: _2_ [6 MONTHS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: _2_ SATISFACTION: _1_ [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?]):

I have much improved leg pain (it was pretty bad pre-op). I had little or no back pain pre-op, but now have slightly elevated back pain post op. Its not bad (level 1-2, intermittent) but I assume it relates to my back having to deal with new physics. The pain is brought on by stretching. It may be too early to stretch. I look forward to further improvements.

3 MONTHS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): It is hard to believe how everything has gone downhill. At 7-8 weeks post op I started getting nasty pain in my legs when wirking at a computer...in completely new areas (l4 and l5 areas). Plus, I now have back pain which can make me feel like I want to just lay down and makes driving very uncomfortable. I had little to no back pain before the surgery. My old leg symptoms are GONE. But these new anterior leg symptoms are much worse. All in all, if I remain this way then the surgery made me much worse.

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

The description at the 3 months mark remains. I still remain in far more pain post op than pre-op...although the pain is entirely different. In fact, I can almost feel the inflammation in my nerves in my lower back. WHat started as mostly mono-radicular l4/5-ish leg and back pain now seems to be in l4, l5 and (rarely) S1. Here's to hoping its another disk. Id rather it be something replaceable than be something about the ADR itself that is plaguing my lower back. Bummer.

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

Can you say "bowel and bladder symptoms...?"

This is just great. At 1 year this is what its about for a "perfect candidate" by the best prodisc surgeon in the world. Taking lamictal for nerve pain. Wish I didnt have the surgery or had fused. Very sorry I had the surgery.

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