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Reply With QuoteHi Gary and welcome to the forum. Several members are form your area and I sure they will chime in soon.
Good luck on your quest.
This is a discussion on Whom do you trust with Cervical ADR surgery in Houston TX? within the Artificial Disc Replacement forums, part of the Spine Surgery Support category; I was diagnosed with central spinal stenosis @ C3-4 ~ four yrs ago. Now at age 56 symptoms are worstening ...
Whom do you trust with Cervical ADR surgery in Houston TX? I was diagnosed with central spinal stenosis @ C3-4 ~ four yrs ago. Now at age 56 symptoms are worstening and I can't wait much longer. The original neurosurgeon (Beaumont TX) recommended fusion, but instead an ADR inherantly seems better. Although the Bryan disk was approved in early 2009, I notice no one seems to talk about this disk. Has it a bad reputation or just not available?
I look forward to hearing from any and all of you
Thanks
Gary
Last edited by hollerg; 03-03-2010 at 11:06 PM. Reason: obsure title
re: Whom do you trust with Cervical ADR surgery in Houston TX? Hi Gary and welcome to the forum. Several members are form your area and I sure they will chime in soon.
Good luck on your quest.
Dave
Diagnosed with DDD in Nov, 2007. MRI, EMG
C3/4 C4/5 C5/6 C6/7
Surgery 06.04.08--C5/6 and C6/7 w/Prodisc
C4/5 deterioration progressing quickly
MRI on lumbar shows disc herniation at L5/S1, stenosis at L3/4, L4/5, spondylosis and DDD at L2 through S1 in July, 2009
Nerve Root, Facet Injections and Epidural every 3 months. Ongoing treatment for continued degeneration.
re: Whom do you trust with Cervical ADR surgery in Houston TX? Gary, I have no experience with Houston dr's, I am North of Dallas, in Denton, TX. I know that DaveInAustin had surgery with a good surgeon in Austin.... although that's not terribly close to Houston. I'm sure there are lots of good surgeons in Houston, being a big city and a medical destination.
Sorry you have to be here; but welcome.
31 years old-
1/06- In wreck with 18 wheeler at 25 years old; 6/06- Head on collision on Interstate, both wrecks other drivers fault. Numerous MRI's, PT, chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS therapy, massage therapy, facet injections, epidural injections, Nerve study, Discogram, confirms pain in L4/5, IDET, decompression, Bi-lateral neurotomy L3/4/5, denied by insurance twice, in Active L clinical trial, had surgery March 17, 2009 in Miami, FL- received Active L disc at 29 years old. Pain and medication free as of October 2010!
Mommy to Emma- 8 years, Ava- 5.5 years & had baby Eli after ADR, via c-section on March 25, 2011, completely pain free still!
Whom do you trust with Cervical ADR surgery in Houston TX? There are numerous references to surgeons in Dallas, but I find little on Houston doctors. Does anyone have experience with surgeons in Houston, such as Dr Heilman?
hollerg
Re: Whom do you trust with Cervical ADR surgery in Houston TX? Hi Gary,Originally Posted by hollerg
Welcome to the Spine Patient Society!
I'm not familiar with Dr. Heilman. However, I do know (as you mentioned) that there are many surgeons in Dallas with many years of experience with artificial disc replacement.
Traveling for surgical experience (number of cases) might be worth it.
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997, 17 years old: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003, 23 years old: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009, 29 years old: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
Re: Whom do you trust with Cervical ADR surgery in Houston TX? I second the traveling for experienced surgeon.
• January 2000 MVA passenger, used jaws of life to retrieve me, neck injury and months of PT
• June 2001 Bicycle accident, 2 compression fractures at T12/L1, Vertebroplasty Sept. 2001
• April 2006 right hip, labral tear and repair
• April 2007 3 level ProDisc @ L3/4, L4/5 & L5/6✷ ✷Lumbosacral transitional vertebra; Dr. Rudolph Bertagnoli
• July 2, 2008 ALIF & Laminectomy @ L6/S1
• July 30, 2008 re-opened 28 days later to remove bone cement that had leaked onto S1 nerve root
• August 2008 Pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, re-hospitalized 1 week
• March 10, 2009 Right SI Joint Fusion
• April 27, 2010 2nd right hip arthroscopy to remove adhesions and release psoas muscle
• September 30, 2010 lumbar facet rhizotomy
• December 9, 2010 12 bilateral lumbar trigger point and steroid injections
• December 23, 2010 12 more bilateral trigger point injections w/o steroid
• February 15, 2011 ESI bilaterally in lower lumbar...relief only for few days. Considering 1 more.
Did Spinal Cord Stimulator trial from 5/11/11-5/17/11 with excellent results; Spinal Cord Stimulator surgery is Monday,
July 18, 2011
Re: Whom do you trust with Cervical ADR surgery in Houston TX? I'd not allow my geography to dictate or limit my options. Look into the best surgeon for your specific needs according to your own criteria wherever they are. Some travel to Germany and Brazil to have their needs met. If you're in Houston, the Texas Back Institute would be a tremendous start based on the reading I've done over the last few years and my communication with them regarding the current Freedom trials.
Spine Noob
April 2007 - Injured one cervical C6/C7 and one lumber L5/S1 in same accident
No major treatments so far aside from exercising and core strengthening best I can.
Never, ever, ever, give up.
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