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#1
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Regular Check In
Had a great talk with Dr Clavel today. Nice to know he continues to make himself available to his American patients. And when he calls, he'll literally give you as much time as you want.
He is investing in new dr personnel for follow ups which is great news. Also, he is reaching, in his opinion, a new best at recording fewer complications than ever before. Feels as if he is streamlining into a higher level of excellence due to what he has learned. I feel that this will continue as newer devices are introduced over time, a continuous evolution. Case in point. When I asked about what bone inducing material he used on my L5/S1 fusion. He told me Grafton, a deminerialized bone matrix in its putty form. He likes the putty. I asked not infuse? No. He did not trust it. The putty was interesting and we discussed it. Won't leak out. Solid. Also asked why he didn't screw through Medtronic Sovereign into bone and instead screwed around it with a plate? He said it was better that way, more solid cage. Anyway these were a few items I wasn't aware of and was grateful for the clarity. Things looked good. He asked how I was doing? Pretty good overall, I told him. Swam for half hour yesterday at a decent pace. Walked the day before for a half hour. Lift on machines 5 days a week and do core training twice a week. Still take the occasional muscle relaxer, at night, but hit or miss. Have occasional nerve flares, but they seem to be mitigating some. Little zaps at incision site still. Occasional warm feet. Could be worse. These things seem to be cooling off. Let you know more as months transpire. Hope everyone well in their respective struggle. 3.5 months.
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Weightlifter since 12 years old, now mid-40's and figuring out this wasn't such a good idea. Chronic back pain started in 2010 while shrugging weights that a 40 yr. old shouldn't even try. MRI in 2012 showing L4/L5, L5/S1 herniations and L2/L3 bulge. L5/S1 taking on new shape, chronic sciatica, etc. DEXA bone scan performed 5/7/14 showing mild osteopenia. Surgery performed July 9th, 2014, Dr Clavel, hybrid three level lumbar. |
#2
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I am so happy you were able to talk to Dr. Clavel and get all you questions answered. Sounds like you are doing great and well on the road of recovery.
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1998- Injured neck and back in USAF 2011 - Started experiencing Severe Symptoms, Migranes, numbness, spasms in legs and feet and sciatica. Feb 2014 - Received upper Lumbar Injection - Severe Allergy to injection Mar 2014 - MRI of Cervical and Lumbar, protruding disc in C3-7, Herniated Disc in L5/S1, placed on STD and FMLA ) July 2014 - Stem Cell Procedure performed Oct 20, 2014 - ADR (MOBI-C) at C5-7 and Anterior Fusion at L5/S1 by Dr. Pettine and Dr. Techy |
#3
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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.
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"Harrison" - info (at) adrsupport.org Fell on my ***winter 2003, Canceled fusion April 6 2004 Reborn June 25th, 2004, L5-S1 ADR Charite in Boston Founder & moderator of ADRSupport - 2004 Founder Arthroplasty Patient Foundation a 501(c)(3) - 2006 Creator & producer, Why Am I Still Sick? - 2012 Donate www.arthropatient.org/about/donate |
#4
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It's interesting to see the use of Grafton -- I didn't know that it's used for spinal applications. I saw the animal studies years ago:
http://www.biohorizons.com/documents/MLD207.pdf
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"Harrison" - info (at) adrsupport.org Fell on my ***winter 2003, Canceled fusion April 6 2004 Reborn June 25th, 2004, L5-S1 ADR Charite in Boston Founder & moderator of ADRSupport - 2004 Founder Arthroplasty Patient Foundation a 501(c)(3) - 2006 Creator & producer, Why Am I Still Sick? - 2012 Donate www.arthropatient.org/about/donate |
#5
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Quote:
Of the variety within the Grafton brand he prefers the putty version. It can be placed wherever there is a bony void, including spines such as inducing and promoting fusion. One of my worries was that if it was BMP2 it might leak out of the cage once dripped onto the sponge. Grafton putty is a matrix that is formable and doesn't appear to have those issues. When I mentioned HO, he laughed it off not in a bad or arrogant fashion but in a way that told me he knew much more about this subject than I ever will and to not worry about it. I think it's inevitable, we spine patients are doom prone and torture ourselves with catastrophic thinking because we know the risks and sometimes can't help releasing our fears entirely. I told Clavel this. Think he already knew. In Spain he said he suffered with illness himself. I didn't ask of what kind, but there is compassion there for patients, as well as seriousness combined with high level craft. I believe he is nearing the top of his game at what is available at his disposal.
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Weightlifter since 12 years old, now mid-40's and figuring out this wasn't such a good idea. Chronic back pain started in 2010 while shrugging weights that a 40 yr. old shouldn't even try. MRI in 2012 showing L4/L5, L5/S1 herniations and L2/L3 bulge. L5/S1 taking on new shape, chronic sciatica, etc. DEXA bone scan performed 5/7/14 showing mild osteopenia. Surgery performed July 9th, 2014, Dr Clavel, hybrid three level lumbar. |
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