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iSpine Discuss Thank You Mark in the Main forums forums; Mark, I've known you for over 6 years and I have to say your dedication to people in pain ...

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Old 02-09-2009, 02:49 AM
Justin's Avatar
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Default Thank You Mark

Mark,

I've known you for over 6 years and I have to say your dedication to people in pain has not once wavered. I've been having a very difficult run of things the last 10 months and you offered help with open arms.

I truly appreciate your help and all that you do for patients. At the end of day, I am blessed to call you a close friend.

Without your assistance, I'm sure I'd be shuffled around from one pain management doc to another, like I was. In all honesty, my PM doc looked at the report from my CT myelogram and said "I have no idea what this means." Great, the plan of action would have been: "Well, how are your meds... OK, see you in 4 weeks."

However, with Drs. Bertagnoli and Fenk-Mayer's help I am hopeful that my pain generator (as per my myelogram) will be "resolved" in one way or another, so I can start living my life again.

I'm hopeful, yet cautious, that we'll hear good news this week!

God bless you brotha'.
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-Justin
1994 Football Injury
1997 Snow Skiing Injury
Laminotomy L4/L5 (3.7.97--17 years old)
1999 & 2003 MVA (not at fault both times)
Grade V Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6* *lumbosacral transitional vertebra (11.15.03--23 years old)
Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli -- dr-bertagnoli.com
Pain-free for the last 4.5 yrs.
5.14.09 DSS with Dr. B.
I'm here to help. Only checking PMs currently.
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Old 02-09-2009, 04:44 AM
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I second that. I haven't 'known' Mark for long; but it is very obvious that this is his passion. I couldn't be happier that I found this site and all of you. I would be a basket case without all the help that I have received. Thanks All of You!

Justin- What is your pain generator now? Is there a plan of action to take care of it? I'm praying for you.
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34 years old-
1/06- In wreck with 18 wheeler
Numerous MRI's, PT, chiropractic, accupuncture, TENS therapy, massage therapy, facet injections, epidural injections, Nerve study, Discogram, confirms pain in L4/5, IDET, decompression, Bi-lateral neurotomy L3/4/5, denied by insurance twice, in Active L clinical trial, had surgery March 17, 2009 in Miami, FL- received Active L disc
Had Baby #3 after ADR!
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Old 02-09-2009, 05:10 AM
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Justin, it's been an amazing road that I've been down. It's been such a pleasure for me to be involved in so many people's lives. When I went to Germany for my surgery in 2002, Diane and I had to go get passports. We'd never been overseas. Meeting you in Vienna was on my second trip to Europe. On that trip, I was able to observe surgeries at 4 different spine centers. I was there for Doreen in Straubing and was fortunate enough to observe a ProDisc-C procedure in Vienna.

Having been such a homebody, I'm still quite taken by the international aspect of this. Since meeting you in Vienna, we've seen each other in Los Angeles and New York. I've met Doreen in Seattle, LA and Tahoe. Hopefully, the next time we meet... we'll be skiing too! (Unfortunately, we probably need to be on the other side of lumbar surgery for you and cervical and knee surgeries for me!)

I am the one who is blessed to have you and so many others all around the world that I consider dear friends.

I can't wait to hear what Bertagnoli says about your Myelo...

Kathy... yes, it's my curse... er... passion. This all comes from the entire community. I just looked back through the posts back around the time of Justin's surgery. It was great to read how his story unfolded. But the most amazing thing was that it was the same community. Many of the folks that were posting to Justin 6 years ago are still here. (I should resurrect some of the old threads.) I second your motion... thanks to the entire community. I credit the Braintalk Spinal Disorders forum with saving my life. I'm proud to still be participating, 9 years later.

Mark
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1997 MVA
2000 L4-5 Microdiscectomy/laminotomy
2001 L5-S1 Micro-d/lami
2002 L4-S1 Charite' ADR - SUCCESS!
2009 C3-C4, C5-C6-C7, T1-T2 ProDisc-C Nova
Summer 2009, more bad thoracic discs!
Life After Surgery Website
President: Global Patient Network, Inc.
Founder: www.iSpine.org
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Old 02-09-2009, 06:15 AM
ans ans is offline
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Thank you too Mark. For the advice and help but mostly, to you and your wife for the free sandwiches at the get-togethers.

Wishing you and Justin my best.

Allan
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Old 02-09-2009, 02:31 PM
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Thumbs up

Mark,

Keep up the great work you do....

Helping someone is the greatest gift one can give.

Todd
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Surgery 10-19-07 ( L4-L5 Maverick disc )

For my true life story ...

go to -----> www.youtube.com

print -----> ADR surgery into the space bar

or ... http://www.maverick-disc.blogspot.com (my picture & movie updates)
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Old 02-09-2009, 07:12 PM
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Thumbs up

keep up the great work mark!!!!
chuck
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ddd 1990
2003 mri,xrays,shots,emg
2004 discogram ouch pos l4 l5
facet block neg
lost all appeals BCBS 5 months of that
3 surgeons later
surgery with dr. bertagnoli aug 2nd 2006 in Bogen Germany Successfully ProDisc-L L-4 L-5
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Old 02-09-2009, 08:16 PM
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Mark, it's been about nine or ten years since we first met. Thanks for all your help over the years.
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Old 02-18-2009, 12:18 AM
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Five years for me. Mark is my lifeline. I'm delighted to have met him personally. Don't know where I'd be without him and GPS and iSpine.
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Old 02-18-2009, 09:11 AM
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Mark and I in December 07, 4 weeks after my surgery.

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Nov 07: STALIF Fusion L5/S1 ACTIV-L ADR L4/L5
Nov 09: Prodisc-C ADR 2 level C 4/5/6
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Old 02-18-2009, 05:26 PM
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And I am looking forward to meeting Mark in person, sometime in the coming months.

iSpine and the support here, has given me the knowledge that lets me have confidence that I can make the best decision for my well being. Thanks Mark, for starting this forum. And for you and everyone here for sharing the knowledge you have acquired with all of us.
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Cathy

46 years old. 12-15 years of intermittent pain, 2 years with constant pain.

DDD, L4-5 and L5-S1, pain confirmed by discogram.
PT, ESI's, Facet injection and block, Acupuncture - all no help.

2-level (Prodisc-L) ADR surgery with Dr. Bertagnoli, May 26, 2009.

Currently taking Opana-ER (tapering off) and oxycodone
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Old 02-19-2009, 03:35 AM
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HI Justin ( I mean Dr. J now)

I was able to break away from stuff from work and finally surf this site for a change.

It is good to see you posting - yet - I hate seeing that you are having symptoms again.

I certainly hope that they can find where the pain is coming from and treat it accordingly.

Yes - Mark has been instrumental in helping so many people on here. I have my life now because of him. - (and of course Dr. B)

Please keep us posted on what they find.

Sincerely,
Sue
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Old 02-20-2009, 09:41 PM
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Holy Cow! It is great to "see" you Sue!! It's been a while...I replied to your PM.

I hope you are well.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Poncho View Post
HI Justin ( I mean Dr. J now)

I was able to break away from stuff from work and finally surf this site for a change.

It is good to see you posting - yet - I hate seeing that you are having symptoms again.

I certainly hope that they can find where the pain is coming from and treat it accordingly.

Yes - Mark has been instrumental in helping so many people on here. I have my life now because of him. - (and of course Dr. B)

Please keep us posted on what they find.

Sincerely,
Sue
__________________
-Justin
1994 Football Injury
1997 Snow Skiing Injury
Laminotomy L4/L5 (3.7.97--17 years old)
1999 & 2003 MVA (not at fault both times)
Grade V Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6* *lumbosacral transitional vertebra (11.15.03--23 years old)
Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli -- dr-bertagnoli.com
Pain-free for the last 4.5 yrs.
5.14.09 DSS with Dr. B.
I'm here to help. Only checking PMs currently.
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