Stenum Hospital and Dr. Ritter-Lang

[WPKat]

I have recently been approved for a double ADR (L3/L4 and L4/L5) at Stenum Hospital in Germany. Dr. Karsten Ritter-Lang would be performing the ADR.

Anyone having personal experience with Stenum Hospital or Dr. Ritter-Lang, please take a minute to reply to my post. I would like to review your input before making the final decision to commit to the procedure.

Thanks!

Kathleen

[New-disc]

Kathleen,

I had my disc replacement surgery at Stenum in 07 ... seems to be holding up well.

If you click on this link ---> www.youtube.com/ and print ADR spine surgery into the space bar you can follow my post-op recovery videos.

My user name is newdisc

Todd

[Justin]

I have recently been approved for a double ADR (L3/L4 and L4/L5) at Stenum Hospital in Germany. Dr. Karsten Ritter-Lang would be performing the ADR.

Anyone having personal experience with Stenum Hospital or Dr. Ritter-Lang, please take a minute to reply to my post. I would like to review your input before making the final decision to commit to the procedure.

Thanks!

Kathleen

Hi Kathleen,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society! If you do a search for "Stenum" in the upper right-hand corner of the Forum, it will find a lot of relevant topics / SPS Members that have ventured over to Stenum for care. Feel free to private message / email SPS Members as well -- there are so many helpful Spine Patients here that are willing to help.

I wish you the very best.

[rhatzy]

Kathleen,

Dr. Ritter-Lang is one of many excellent surgeons when it comes to ADR. I had a 2 level L3-4 L4-5 done two years ago tomorrow(January 29, 2008). I am now pain free and doing what I want. They are very good people and the experience was great. Ritter-Lang did my surgery.

However, I didn't really have any other problems except for the bad discs. In my group of nine, 4 of us have no problems at all, One I just heard from had three in his neck and was doing well until he found out that a piece of bone was somehow interfering with one of the discs. He went back to Stenum and they removed the disc, cleaned out the space and gave him a new one at no cost. He is now loads better and doing what he wants. Another guy's wife started having problems with her back and she went to Stenum to get an ADR and she is doing fine.

2 are not doing any better but are no worse, They had alot more problems. The rest I haven't heard from.

Again, Stenum is a great place with great people and will do everything to help you. I wish you the best and God speed in your recovery.

Mark

[mike86]

klawyer, will you be getting the spinal kinetics M6 artificial disc? Are you ok with the design and technology of the disc?

[Katie]

While I don't personally have experience with Stenum, I have at least four good friends who have had various levels of surgery over there with Dr. R-L.

All have had wonderful results, with no problems whatsoever after their surgeries, all were successful.

I can put you in touch with them if you like.

[Terry Newton]

I had four level ADR surgery at Stenum Hospital in November 2006. I highly recommend the place and believe the care I received there was second to none. If you would like to speak to me personally about my experience please let me know and I will give you my phone number for a personal response.

Great place with very caring professionals.

[WPKat]

klawyer, will you be getting the spinal kinetics M6 artificial disc? Are you ok with the design and technology of the disc?

Yes, I would receive Spinal Kinetics' M6-L replacements at L3/L4 and L4/L5. I have to admit that I am not mechanically inclined, that said, I looked at the design and it seems solid. My husband, who is mechanically gifted, was impressed with the design.

Do you have reservations regarding the design of the M6-L?

[WPKat]

While I don't personally have experience with Stenum, I have at least four good friends who have had various levels of surgery over there with Dr. R-L.

All have had wonderful results, with no problems whatsoever after their surgeries, all were successful.

I can put you in touch with them if you like.

Thank you, and yes, I would like to talk to them regarding their experience. I already have several positive replies from the list of former patients provided by Stenum Hospital, however, I would like to hear from other former patients who are not on the list. I would like as much input as possible before I commit to the surgery.

As I'm sure most of you can appreciate, I am in constant pain and have found NO relief from the back surgery or the procedures listed below. One of the pain specialists I saw informed me that "...it will not get better, only worse. You have a fusion in your future." and that my "...ONLY option was a spinal cord stimulator." I know that the device would only mask the pain and would not address the underlying problem. At best, it would simply postpone the fusion. Even still, my insurance company has denied it three times already.

I found Stenum Hospital during a google search. I submitted my MRIs, x-rays and medical information, but honestly, I did not expect that they would respond in the positive. My experience with them so far is in sharp contrast to what I have experienced here - they have been extraordinarily responsive, patient and friendly.

I recognize, however, that the pain I am in every day could cloud my judgment. I want to believe that there is a very real possibility that this will allow me to regain my once independent, active lifestyle and more importantly, that I would be able to live a pain free life.

I am leaning heavily towards commiting to the surgery. My family and I submitted our passport applications Friday. Since they will take several weeks to process, I have plenty time to do more research and to talk to former patients.

I have asked several questions already, however, if anyone here can think of any I should ask - please, share them with me.

Thank you for your input and help.

Kathleen

[scduggan]

Dear Kathleen,
Just wanted to check in and say good luck. You are being very wise in your approach to ADR. I know it is easy to be afraid of your judgement while in constant pain, but sometimes that pain can give you clarity. This clarity will help you especially when dealing with your insurance company. Just like Katie, I have not been to Stenum. I have heard so many positive things about their skill and treatment of spine patients. You will know what is right. I only have one level that is degenerated, and I am about one step ahead of you in the decision process. You are doing great! There is something about making the commitment and getting a surgery date that will give you a LOT of much needed peace and hope.
CD