Jim M2 Charite, L5S1 August 2003

[iSpine-Admin]

Originally Posted by Jim M2 on November 08, 2003

SURGERY DATE: 22-Aug-2003

AGE AT SURGERY DATE: 49

SURGEON: Zeegers

SURGERY LOCATION/CLINIC: Alpha Klinik, Munich, DE

DEVICE(s), LEVEL(s): Charite, L5S1

COST = 18,131 EURO, 20,425 USD
AMOUNT BILLED: 18,131 EURO
INSURANCE ALLOWED: After appeal insurance reimbursed 88% of $20,425
OUT OF POCKET: $26,425
TRAVEL: $6,000
EXPLANATIONS?

ONSET OF LUMBAR PROBLEMS, DATE OF INJURY, CAUSE, ETC...: Onset of chronic pain in May 2002.

PRIOR SPINE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES (IDET, ESI, etc...): Hemilamenectomy, 50% disc removal at L5S1, 1981

PRE-OP MEDICATIONS: feldene

PRE-OP DIAGNOSTICS (discogram, nerve root blocks, etc...): X-ray, MRI, ESI (only 1), CAT-Myelo, discogram

PRE-OP NEUROPATHIES (what, where, & degree of pain, numbness, tingling, sexual/bladder/bowel symptoms, etc.): LBP 3-7, right hip-leg-foot 2-4, left 0-3.

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): Initially LBP 5-7 and leg pain/numbness 2-4 when attempting to work desk job. After feldene returned to work with pain 2-6. Excersize, frequent bed rest, very restricted life, habits (Constant use of arms and unusual posture to unload weight, very slow walking...).

TIME POST-OP AT ORIGINAL POST HERE: 11 weeks

DESCRIBE YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE: As good as could be had for surgery.

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: _3_ SATISFACTION: _3_ [6 WEEKS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: _3_ SATISFACTION: _3_ [3 MONTHS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: _3_ SATISFACTION: _3_ [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?]): Not working, more restriction than before surgery/ Pain 4-6 (70%) or 2-3 (30%)/ daily 50mg vioxx; also take ultracet and skelaxin as needed/ Dull achy LBP plus sharp pain in lower back and hip on right side.

3 MONTHS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): Not working, more restriction than before surgery/ Pain 4-6 (70%) or 2-3 (30%)/ facet injection; daily feldene; occasional ultracet,tylenol3, skelaxin/ Dull achy LBP, gnawing LBP, occasional pain in extremities.

6 MONTHS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): Working, restriction similar to pre-surgery/ Pain 4-6 (30%) or 1-3 (70%)/ another facet injection; daily feldene; occasional ultracet,tylenol3/ Dull achy LBP, gnawing LBP, occasional pain in extremities.

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?]):

Waiting for an update from Jim M2.

[Jim M2]

5 YEAR POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): Various types of pain at L5S1. There is a sharp, bilateral component that is motion-dependent. There is a chronic component in the general L5S1 area. There is a sacral component that is mostly bi-lateral. Still have episodes of radiating pain (occasionally quite high) and numbness although it's infrequent so it's not a major complaint (knock on wood). My lifestyle remains very restricted. I can't handle noise and lights. I walk on the slow side. I want the lumbar to be flexed as much as possible such as when you curl up in a ball. I get break-through pain from twisting, taking a large step or other motions that are departures from being flexed. I can only sit on low, flat and hard-to-firm surfaces otherwise I get break-through pain. This is weird--I have a strong preference to sit tilted so that my weight is carried by the left side of my butt-bone. As a result the muscles on the left side of my spine seem to be larger. I take Neurontin, as much tramadol or oxycodone as they'll give me, which is not a lot. I don't know why but NSAIDs don't seem to help much anymore.