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#41
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What kind? I am quite the fount of knowledge on auto-immune disorders. Maybe I can help?
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Multiple traumas to spine starting age 13. 1st American to have 6 ADR's in one surgery. C3-4 - C/7, & L5-S1 - L3-4. Surgery w/ Dr. Clavel, 3/18/13, M6. Before surgery: severe spinal stenosis C5/C6 (cord "flattened" per stateside doc), + for Hoffman's & Babinsky's. At time of surgery: 5 yrs MAX before ending up in wheelchair. Clavel found L5-S1 partially fused. Had to cut it apart to put in M6. Please excuse brevity - SEVERE carpel tunnel. |
#42
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Mike,
Are you having any side affects from the Gabapentin? I was on it for several months and it had me in a fog like state. It would take an hour in the morning for me to get out of bed and get my head in gear to start the day. My Physiatrist switched me to Lyrica and Cymbalta on lower doses in combination and the foggy/zombie feeling went away. The pain control wasn't quite as good buy I can get through a day of work without feeling like I'm in lala land. Just a tip if you start feeling groggy.
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Mike 49 2006-2011 Chiro, epidural steroids, nsaids, PT for L4-5 bulge/annular tear April 25th 2012 35MPH rear end collision, blows out L4-5 and ADDS a tear in C4-5 Cancelled ADR to continue conservative therapies April 10th 2013: Insurance re-approved and I'm scheduling lumbar ADR for end of the month! *schedule* ADR Prodisc L April 29th 2013 5-2-2013 ADR using Prodisc L 7-10-2013 New MRI on neck. Surgeon DOES NOT recommend ADR for Cervical. "I'll be your Huckleberry" |
#43
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Quote:
I had to do battle with my insurance company in the past when the physiatrist prescribed Lyrica. I finally won but had to buy it through Medco. I felt that I had some weight gain so I stopped the Lyrica. I changed physiatrists as the first one was alway too hard to get an appointment with, and the new one suggested Neuronitin (Gabapentin). So I do see some improvement, maybe I have some weight gain but I stopped going to the gym when're they have a medical scale, so it is only through observation. I was thinking of a combination ADR and liposuction! Just kidding. You see, the Gabapentin make me silly. Did I answer your comments? By the way, who did your ADR at L4-5? Best regards, Mike
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Feb 2011; X-ray + diagnosis; Spinal Stenosis Physical Therapy + Oral Steroids March 2011: MRI April 2011: 2 level laminotomy; L4/L4 & L5/S1 More PT, pain meds and injections. ...and 2014, still researching ADR. February 2014: endoscopic foraminotomy, Dr Bitan Last edited by MikeC; 02-21-2013 at 12:26 AM. Reason: I forgot a word! |
#44
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I haven't had my ADR....yet.
I was scheduled on Nov. but cancelled to continue conservative therapy. I am in the process of re-scheduling for sometime late spring. Our business is very slow July-August and would be a good time for me to be out of commission. Dr. Edwin Donner in Loveland Colorado will be the surgeon.
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Mike 49 2006-2011 Chiro, epidural steroids, nsaids, PT for L4-5 bulge/annular tear April 25th 2012 35MPH rear end collision, blows out L4-5 and ADDS a tear in C4-5 Cancelled ADR to continue conservative therapies April 10th 2013: Insurance re-approved and I'm scheduling lumbar ADR for end of the month! *schedule* ADR Prodisc L April 29th 2013 5-2-2013 ADR using Prodisc L 7-10-2013 New MRI on neck. Surgeon DOES NOT recommend ADR for Cervical. "I'll be your Huckleberry" |
#45
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He doesn't know what it is he got tested for Lyme and it was positive but he had another test and it was negative. He does have collitis and he is really tired all the time and other assorted symptoms.
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Lifelong history of back issues from a young age, spasms etc. 1995 - Weightlifting injury 1997 - Hip Injury 2009 - Trampoline injury (just bounced down on my butt) 2009-2011 Physiotherapy and medication, progress but no lasting pain relief 2010 - X-Ray DDD L5-S1, L4-L5, L4-L3 2010 - MRI Herniation L5-S1, Bulges L4-L5, L4-L3 2011 - Epidurals - No relief 2012 - Facet Injections - No relief 2012 - Discogram TBI - positive L3-S1 L3-S1 ADR M6-L w Clavel 11/28/2012 |
#46
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For what it's worth, Lyme disease testing is tricky. One of the better labs that regionalizes their test assays (for different microbial strains) is:
Welcome to IGeneX, Inc. They also test for many other kinds of bacteria that can be carried by the ticks (bartonella, babesia, etc.). Those co-infection by themselves can cause DDD and have been found in spinal discs. I don't think they test for protozoa and other tiny creatures that have been found in many patients with DDD. A potentially flawed blood test (or truly negative test result) is only one data point for a doctor -- a trained professional that understands Lyme disease uses a thorough patient evaluation to come up with a clinical diagnosis. It's not just a blood test. See: http://www.ilads.org/ Once bugs get into the blood, they don't just sit around and wait to be gobbled up by the immune response. Many gram negative bugs actually "feed" off the immune response! They have thousands of defensive and offensive survival mechanisms, which is why blood tests don't always hold the answer -- especially if they are based on culturing. Thankfully, newer molecular diagnostics are getting better every day and telling us stories we never thought imaginable.
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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 |
#47
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Quote:
Colitis and the exhaustion can both be indicative of celiac, and in fact, often are. Depending on the other symptoms, it could also be Lupus, or any number of things. I'm going to pm you my personal email address, that way you can pass it along to your friend. I am happy to help him if I can, or if I can't, I will find someone in my myriad of friends who can. I think between me and my facebook friends we have every single auto immune disease on the planet!
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Multiple traumas to spine starting age 13. 1st American to have 6 ADR's in one surgery. C3-4 - C/7, & L5-S1 - L3-4. Surgery w/ Dr. Clavel, 3/18/13, M6. Before surgery: severe spinal stenosis C5/C6 (cord "flattened" per stateside doc), + for Hoffman's & Babinsky's. At time of surgery: 5 yrs MAX before ending up in wheelchair. Clavel found L5-S1 partially fused. Had to cut it apart to put in M6. Please excuse brevity - SEVERE carpel tunnel. |
#48
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Thanks for the update on Dr Zeegers. I am curious to know how detailed is the diagnosis. e quote me €620 as I recall (620 euros) which is a bit pricey as you say, but might be well worth it. I am seeing physiatrist again this morning, the advantage is that ships is lass than one mile from my home and keeps me going for the moment with 2,499 mg of Neurontin a day. To be continued...
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Feb 2011; X-ray + diagnosis; Spinal Stenosis Physical Therapy + Oral Steroids March 2011: MRI April 2011: 2 level laminotomy; L4/L4 & L5/S1 More PT, pain meds and injections. ...and 2014, still researching ADR. February 2014: endoscopic foraminotomy, Dr Bitan |
#49
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Quote:
That being said, there are overseas ADR surgeons that offer free MRI reviews. 620 euros for a consult can really add up. I'd be happy to tell you more about my ADR experience if you'd like. Feel free to drop me a PM.
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02/2010- Car accident resulting in C4/C5 & L5/S1 bulging and extruding discs. 06/2012- Successful ADR surgery for C4/C5 disc in Cyprus using PCM by NuVasive. Performed by Dr. Mark Peterson through the help of AIMIS. 09/2012- Successful Disctectomy of L5/S1also performed by Dr. Mark Peterson. |
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