Originally Posted by kalo on September 2, 2004

SURGERY DATE:July 1, 2004

AGE AT SURGERY DATE:54

SURGEON: Dr. Zeckel & Dr. Ritter-Lang

SURGERY LOCATION/CLINIC:Stenum Bremen Germany

DEVICE(s), LEVEL(s):charite L5-S1

COST =$25,350.00
AMOUNT BILLED:25,350.00
INSURANCE ALLOWED:0
OUT OF POCKET:25,350.00
TRAVEL:4500.00
EXPLANATIONS?My wife accompanied me on trip, airline cost, hotel, food, and shopping.


ONSET OF LUMBAR PROBLEMS, DATE OF INJURY, CAUSE, ETC...:ddd started in 1995

PRIOR SPINE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES (IDET, ESI, etc...):none

PRE-OP MEDICATIONS:flexeril, advil, 3 spinal epidural shots

PRE-OP DIAGNOSTICS (discogram, nerve root blocks, etc...):severe degeration of L5-S1
PRE-OP NEUROPATHIES (what, where, & degree of pain, numbness, tingling, sexual/bladder/bowel symptoms, etc.):severe lower back pain when standing and sitting.

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):I had mostly lower back pain, at times after standing for only a few minutes I could bearly walk. I continued to work because I have my own business. The last year I did very little lifting and had to lay down in the middle of the day for relief.

TIME POST-OP AT ORIGINAL POST HERE:9 weeks

DESCRIBE YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE:I was very pleased with my whole experience at stenum. Dr. Zeckel was great meeting with him prior to the surgery made me feel confident that I had made the right decision in going to Germany. The anithesiologis was very thorough and explained how he was going to put me to sleep etc.The nurses were very nice I had a great roommate from Maryland. My surgery only lasted 45 minutes and my wife said I was talking as they wheeled me into intensive care.

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: ___ 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?]):I stopped taking pain med and most surgical pain has gone. I am getting stronger and doing more each day. I have no back pain, some hip and buttocks pain. There is no pain in my legs.

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?]):