2 Level ADR with Dynesis

[Guest guest]

Well the journey continues...

Reputable surgeon at Wash U. wants to extend my fusion further into

lumbar region which is currently fused from T3 to L3, take out the

Harrington rod, do a refuse, and osteotomy.

I've been waiting several years for Medicare to kick in which it

recently has. Great, I can go get surgery now right?

Well during all this I researched ADR and wrote several hospitals

participating in the clinical trials. I sent my MRI and x-rays to

Stenum Hospital in Germany 2 months ago for which I received a free

eval last week. Their therapy plan is to do a 2 level disc

replacement L4/5 and L5/S1, both of which are dehydrated degenerated

discs. Due to the high probability that L3/4 will degenerate, they

also want to do Dynesys to stabilize L3/4.

Several U.S. surgeons have told me that multi-level ADR will not be

available in the U.S. for quite some time.

Costs- Wash U. wants $100K to do my revision. They accept

Medicare. The Germans do not accept Medicare and want 32,000 Euros

which with plane tickets, etc. equates to just over $40K. They will

put me up in a nice hotel for 2 weeks post surgery for continued

care. They do not accept Medicare.

Since I have been on disability for the past 3 years, I don't have

$40K to fork out up front and wouldn't even if I were working. I've

had contact with patients from Stenum Hospital whom report great

success.

My question is this. Why are we not demanding the FDA to expedite

ADR approval and also demanding our U.S. surgeons get up to speed

regarding ADR? In addition, the argument against national

healthcare that I always hear is that we have the best care in the

world. We do not! The Germans have been successfully performing ADR

for the past 15 years. If I were a German citizen, I could check

into the hospital and have it done free of charge.

I for one would rather see the fusion mills go out of business than

give them my body to cut on again and again. But then again, at

this point in time, my pain level is still tolerable enough for me

to hold out hope of ADR rather than fusion. I understand not

everyone is as fortunate.