John Stam SB Charite at L4-L5 January 2004

[iSpine-Admin]

Originally Posted by John Stam on April 1, 2004

SURGERY DATE: Jan. 30, 2004

AGE AT SURGERY DATE: 55

SURGEON: Dr. Zeegers

SURGERY LOCATION/CLINIC: Alphaklinik, Munich Germany

DEVICE(s), LEVEL(s): SB Charite at L4-L5

COST =
AMOUNT BILLED: 16,300 euros
INSURANCE ALLOWED: 0
OUT OF POCKET: 16,300 euros
TRAVEL: $2,000
EXPLANATIONS?


ONSET OF LUMBAR PROBLEMS, DATE OF INJURY, CAUSE, ETC...: I have had low back pain ever since I was 30 years. I am 6'6" and have had a physical life. I believe all my back problems arise from the fact that I am so tall and I do not have the hips etc. to support this heighth. An "episidode" occurred in 2001 (before any surgury undertaken) and diagnosed as slipped disk L4-L5. Resulted in drop foot.

PRIOR SPINE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES (IDET, ESI, etc...): Diskectomy, laminectomy 2001
Endoscopic nucleotomy (diskectomy) 2003 at Alphaklinik
PRE-OP MEDICATIONS: aspirin during flare ups

PRE-OP DIAGNOSTICS (discogram, nerve root blocks, etc...): discogram 2003 at Alphaklinik

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

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):
Low back pain was 100% related to physical work (motion). 95% back pain, 5% leg pain. Pain centered in left hip, butt area and eventually migrating to right side as well. With inactivity, pain would greatly lessen. But the pain would always return with activity.
TIME POST-OP AT ORIGINAL POST HERE: 2 months

DESCRIBE YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE: Discogram was one year prior to ADR. At time of ADR, I did not opt for a second discogram. This may have been a mistake and I may be paying for that mistake now. Actual surgury was very easy for me. Day after surgury I was doing repeats up four levels of stairs at the Alphaklinik. Pain medication basically ended when I left Munich, one week after surgury. I have been gradually building strength with walking, stretching, and snowshoeing. However, at two months post op I was required to do some physical activity which has resulted in the return of the original back pain. Here are my questions at this time: (1) Is this present back pain simply a result of trying to do too much too soon? (2) Is this present back pain the result of the DDD at L5-S1 which looked bad but was not replaced? (3) Is this present back pain simply a result of overstressed muscles etc and has nothing to do with the disks at all?
RATE 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: _3__ SATISFACTION: __2_ [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 was feeling somewhat optimistic about this ADR right up until 2 months post op. However as discussed above, activity and motion has resulted in same pain as before. Feels like I spent $20,000 for nothing, at this time.
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?]):

Waiting for an update from John Stam.