[TPatti]

NY Gene: The M6 cannot be implanted in this country even "off label" unless it was part of a trial. Dr. Lauryssen has been trying to obtain rights at an overseas hospital so he could perform surgeries on them there. To the best of my knowledge he has not yet obtained rights yet and you should also ask your self the question of choosing a doctor that has implanted close to 2000 M6's or his first few. I am now starting my 9th day post-op from a three level lumbar and cannot believe how good I feel, 3 level cervical is supposedly a much easier recovery that lumbar. It is only my opinion, but I would highly recommend considering Dr. Bierstedt. Hopefully I will find time to do a full update on my recovery later today or tomorrow, I have not updated because of pain issues but rather the fact that it is hard to find time when you are in the rehab center for 6 hours a day performing activities that you never thought you would be doing so soon after such a huge surgery. I am now only taking 1000mg of a drug simular to Alieve 4 time a day and 5mg of oxycodone for breakthru pain which I have only taken one tablet in the last 2 days, and Lyrica for post-op nerve pain from the mobilization of nerves at L4/L5 level in order to implant the disc. Again, IMHO ,the American doctors that are more forward thinking still lack the experience and knowledge base on multi-level procedures. I think our system has so ingrained in them that it cannot be done that they still struggle with letting go.