Glad you are well and thanks for sharing.
Just a reminder for patients considering Clavel: there have many been complications with him -- as there have been with any other doctors. If you have surgery in Germany, and complications, you have NO options. German law to protect doctors is the MOST severe of any OUS countries.
A patient recently emailed me to ask me if I knew of a recent patient death with a German spine doctor. Yes, it happens. But I would be the last to know.
My bias since 2004 is to have surgery in the U.S., if you can. Since 2010, my bias is to avoid surgery at all costs; especially if you can change your diet, life and regime to detox your body and make drastic naturopathic changes that will improve your health. Many people have done this!
Sorry for the rant. It's based on many emails and PMs that I've not had time to carefully review and share in a way that is respectful and still preserving the anonymity of the writers.