Kirk, M6 Cervical Disc Replacement at C5-6, above fusion,
Jan 2007.
After 4 years of increasing pain, Kirk had a fusion of C6-C7 in 2002.
Nov 2006, after seeing more doctors than he can count, Kirk has been diagnosed with DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease), the failure of discs to maintain the normal spacing between the vertebrae. Combined with a moderate level of spinal arthritis, the fusion has put increasing pressure on the nerve roots leaving the spine, especially at C5-C6.
After much deliberation, Kirk scheduled a disc replacement surgery on January 11, 2007 at Stenum Hospital in Bremen, Germany.
Jan 11, The most painful part was the insertion of the first IV (which really wasn't too bad, thanks to Dr. Geller). The surgery took about an hour and a half. Next thing Kirk knew, he was in the wakening Room, just adjacent to the surgical theatres.
Jan 12, after getting off the morphine pump much earlier than normal, Kirk was walking around and generally annoying the other Americans.
Jan 17, Kirk is finally out of the hospital!
Jan 22, Kirk's neck is doing pretty well, getting slowly better each day. The train ride wasn't as much of a problem as it might have been a few weeks prior, and the walking wasn't bad either. Each day is different, but it seems like there is some hope that the surgery had a significant positive effect.
Update; April 2008, Work has kept Kirk quite busy, but he has managed to do some light construction projects, expanding his parachute service facility. With the weather warming up, Kirk is planning to do some jumps, as time permits. This may take a little warming up, but it is now quite reasonable to consider. It is hard to even remember that, before surgery, the pain made these activities, simply, unthinkable.
> Contact Kirk at Kirk@Para-Concepts.COM or call 815-252-5515
Read the full story at http://www.para-concepts.com/kirk/
Felicia, 3 level M6 Cervical Disc Replacement,
Sept 2008.
I have had neck pain for over 10 years. All the doctors told me that I did not want surgery. The only option in the U.S. was to fuse, and there were no guarantees I would be pain free. My surgeon in the U.S. was familiar with the M6. I had three cervical disc replacements and have had no trouble at all. The experience in Germany was great, I felt like I was on vacation. The hospital and staff were wonderful.
> Contact Felicia at dgrossfgross@aol.com or call (916) 646-0922 CA
Chuck, Disc Replacement C4-5 C6-7, November 2006.
Had previous fusion C5-6 C3-4!
In 1975 I had a cervical fusion at level C-5-6 with C-4-5 also damaged. I continued to coach wrestling and competitively water ski jump until 1990 when I ruptured another disc but this time at level C3-4. Again I received a fusion and had many problems which started to show up from 1995 on. Numbness and loss of strength in my arms. Luckily my arms slowly came back but all the doctors said I needed a multi level fusion at levels C4-5, and level C6-7. Finally I heard about Stenum. After much research by myself and my neurosurgeon in Chicago I felt confident in going with the people at Stenum. My decision was made by the number of operations performed , the openness and accessibility of the doctors and staff for evaluation and discussion of my situation and options.
I also liked the disc that they were using. I was a little apprehensive at first about receiving medical treatment abroad but a neighbor of mine in Fla. who was chief cardiovascular surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Jaxonville, Fla. told me to not worry as he had operated there with german surgeons and that in his estimation they were as good or better in neorosurgery and heart and brain surgery.
Armed with these assurances and having phoned and had conversations with Stenum patients from the US my wife and I went to Stenum on November 23, 2006, The whole experience was very well orchestrated from my arrival at the airport through my departure.
It was a great experience from the fact that we were more relaxed to see other American and foreign patients there at the same time. They schedule the foreigners on the same days.
Since I already knew the routine from two previous operations I was able to ditch the walker after about an hour. The staff and anesthesiologist came every day to regulate your pain. Great care was given to constantly monitor everything especially making sure you had heparin to prevent clots. I never had such well educated caring people as the staff at Stenum. They were always right there in a moments notice and genuinely showed their high level of expertise and desire to make me comfortable and safe.
I was supposed to spend a week there in the hospital and a week in recuperating in Bremen at a 5 star hotel (Very excellent I might add) but I was able to progress rapidly and left on Monday morning for the hotel. On Tuesday I walked with my wife around downtown Bremen
for around five hours.
I would be less and less sore each day. We stayed a week and then went back to our home in Chicago. I had pain levels of 8-10 every day for 12 years. After the operation the burning down my arm slowly went away and rarely ever is noticible. I have gained strength and sleep much better. I used to not be able to sleep for hours after getting in bed now I sleep soundly and my wife says I even snore. Most days are a 0 pain level with the worst ones being a 2!!! This is a far cry from the pain I used to have when every minute of every day used to occupy my mind with thinking of the pain.
I can't tell people enough about the level of care I recived at Stenum, I have golfed a little with no soreness. Can ride my motorcycles again with no numbness in my arms which used to occur after 10 minutes!! I have started to water ski again(no jumping ever again) and look forward to snow skiing again. My general condition and strength have improved without ever having to exercise. If any one is contemplating surgery I would highly recommend Stenum. I would not even consider having another spinal operation anywhere but there. I believe they are 5-10 years ahead of the U.S. doctors. I have no pain at all from the discs and everyone who knows me tells me they can't believe how much more mobility I have gained.
I would again like to thank everyone at Stenum for giving me my life back. If any prospective patients would care to call I would be happy to share my experiences with them.
Contact Chuck at (815) 482-8384 cell
Steve, Disc Replacement C4-5 C5-6 fusion C3-4,
Dec 2006.
My trip to Stenum started New Years eve 1980 when I was hit by a drunk driver. I planted my head into a windshield twice and suffered a moderate to severe “whiplash” and compression. At this point the process of degenerative disc disease began. If I had not been a young athlete, I would likely have broken my neck. Being physically fit allowed me to survive the violence of this accident.
I spent the next 26 years suffering from moderate to severe neck pain. Towards the end (last 6 years) I had severe episodes of pain and began losing the use of my hands. I ended up on disability and it was at that time I made the decision to go to Stenum. Please note that I did a lot of research prior to making the commitment. It was not a decision made lightly. I made sure I had the support of my wife and we both realized this was my best chance to get back to a normal life.
Through the years, I had spent a small fortune on physical therapy, epidural injections and pain management consultants. I had tried many different combinations of pain blockers and pain killers, yoga, physical therapy and denial. At the end: if I was comfortable, I was too impaired to work. If I did not manage the pain I was too uncomfortable to work. Looking up (while shaving for example) sent shooting pains down my arms. A car ride on a bumpy road was agonizing. I was no longer able to do anything physical, my weight started to increase. I was becoming increasingly irritable and depressed.
Although it was discussed in many consultations, I never wanted to have a three level fusion - Fusion was the only option the US doctors offered. I believed then and still believe today that a three level fusion would have inhibited my ability to safely do many of things I considered part of a life lived well. I did not qualify for studies in the US at the time and I was not willing to be in a blind study where I might be fused at all levels.
I had three discs removed, two replaced with ADR(C4-5 and C5-6) and one Scient-X cage fusion at C3-4.
Surgery is never fun, but I never had to wear a collar, I started physical therapy the day after surgery and I was off painkillers (except for Tylenol) 2 days after surgery.
I was very conservative. I stayed off work for two months post surgery. By the end of two months, I started riding my horses again; another eight weeks I was weight training, scuba diving and trophy fishing. I was even able to go back to acrobatic flying (all are things I had not done for years.)
Now I am 2 years out and I am doing virtually anything I want to do. I ride my horses, work around my house, weight train, road race, fly, sail, fish, golf… I lead as full a life as any one I know and I am only looking for more!
I must stress that I do my exercises religiously and that does make a difference. You will absolutely get out of the experience what you put into the experience. It takes work.
There is no question that my decision to go to Stenum was the right one. I only wish that I had made the decision earlier.
> Contact Steve at steveng@dprinc.com
Chris, Disc Replacement C3-4 C6-7, Nov 2005
Previous fusion C5-6
Chris reported; "Pain includes both shoulders and biceps in addition to numbness in fingers, hands, and arms. Also experience numbness from neck down when head is moved back. MRI and C-Scan reveal existing fusion at C5-C6. Recent injury at C3-C4 (herniation) and C4-C5 (herniation/bulge). Spinal narrowing and compression evident with malaisia present at C3-C4 herniation. Patient is a 44 year old male and in very good condition. Height 5,10" and Weight is 192lbs".
Chris had a 2 level cervical disc replacement at Stenum in November 2005 and was up and out of the hospital in 3 days, he enjoyed the rest of his stay in Bremen and returned to work at his business upon his return home, just 2 weeks later.
> Contact Chris at ctammen@rayliteglass.com
Cris Cathey, Disc Replacement C4-5 C6-7 Fusion C5-6,
March 2005
I had neck pain for four years with a range on conservative treatments from acupuncture to facet injections. Finding the GetADR web site changed my life. I did not want to have the typical cervical fusion so I was excited when I found out about disc replacement. I had a three level surgery, two disc replacements and one cage with a plate and screws. I had no disc left at C5-6 so a cage had to be put in. I was immediately pain free and have never taken as much as an aspirin since surgery. What a relief to finally be pain free and living life again. The staff at Stenum are the best. It was the wisest decision I ever made and was glad I waited to have disc replacement.
> Contact Cris at CrisCathey@msn.com
Steve Cowen, Disc Replacement C5-6 C6-7,
Sept 2005
Prior to disc replacement at Stenum, Steve reported "Consistent, severe pain in left shoulder and down left arm. Now, I'm doing great. Some residual numbness/stinging in my thumb, index and middle finger on my left hand but that's just a minor annoyance and it just comes and goes. I'm very happy with where things are at.
> Contact Steve at steve@gageteeple.com
Jonathan Hart, Disc Replacement C3/4 C4/5,
June 2005
Jonathan is doing well in terms of the horrible herniation pain being gone and the nerve pain in his arms and hands has subsided. He had absolutely no complications at all and was the first of his group to be released from the hospital and move on to the beautiful Park Hotel which our family enjoyed immensely! He is still having another area of pain from the damaged muscles in his neck area from the car accidents he was in that left a lot of scar tissue in those muscles. That may take a lot longer to heal. But if the herniation pain was 60% of his pain and the muscle pain was 40%, then the 60% herniation pain is gone and he is just dealing with the 40% muscle pain and tension headaches that result from those muscles constantly knotting up. Consequently he is on much less medication and is sleeping through the night most nights and is not confined to his recliner in constant chronic pain. He is up and about, functioning normally a much larger part of the day, usually morning and afternoon. By evening, the muscles start to tense up and the headache will start in, but he has a much more functional life now and is using far less meds for pain.
Overall, we're extremely happy we went to Stenum, because it was the only option for Jonathan, already having had two fusions in his neck. We knew we did not want to have anymore fusions no matter what and were willing to take a leap of faith and fly to Germany for disc replacement. We felt the hospital was first rate and the staff was warm and compassionate and caring. The setting was beautiful and relaxing like being at a spa for 2-1/2 weeks. We also felt God leading us to do this and felt him blessing the entire trip as it all flowed so smoothly and everything fell into place.
Even though I had our 11 year old son with us, I still got to relax a lot and he and I had a great time bicycling around the German countryside discovering little shops and bakeries and going into town shopping, while Jonathan was recuperating. We spent about 50% of the time keeping him company in the hospital and the rest of the time enjoying the area. Jonathan even felt well enough to go site seeing the last couple days we were there and we took a train to Hamburg to see some sites. It seems that the stretching of the neck that occurs with two ADR implants put a lot of strain on the damaged muscles in his neck and they are still adjusting to being stretched but doctors at home assure us that will eventually calm down and we do see that slowly subsiding a bit more each day, but Jonathan still has to be very careful not to overdo it in terms of his activity level.
People at home are amazed at what we did and think the whole prospect sounds too scary. We felt that way at first but after doing a lot of research and getting all of our questions answered and talking to former patients, the fears begin to dissipate and confidence in going to another country for surgery builds until it becomes the only option that makes sense!
Call Jonathan at 414-529-3261 WI
Patricia, Disc Replacement C5-6,
Jan 2006
My wife Patricia suffered with severe migraines for years due to a car
accident when she was in her teens. It was found that she had bone spurs
between C-6 and C-7. She required shots at urgent care, Imatrex, etc. for
years just to function. A fusion approx. 8 years ago at those levels with
a plate gave her some relief but as we found out it usually progresses to
the next level every five years or so requiring another fusion. We tried
that approx. a year ago and the fusion failed. More pain, more medication
and the prospect of surgery again to re-do the fusion. The internet is a
wonderful thing. It allowed us to find Stenum , make contact , and
eventually talk to several patients from the U.S. that had been to the
hospital for surgery. After Pat's last surgery here she could not talk
properly, drink or eat for several days due to the swelling etc. around
the incision. It was so bad she went back to be sure nothing serious was
wrong. At Stenum she was asking for breakfast the morning after surgery!
Pretty amazing! She was walking and talking . I couldn't believe the
difference. We walked approx. 4 miles or more a day only seven days after
her surgery. I am the worlds biggest skeptic and we called LOTS of people
before we went but I must tell you. If I ever have a need for a disc replacement
there's no question where I would go.
> Contact Patricia at britpg@aol.com
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