Met Dr Pettine

[Gilbert P]

Hi

I had the pleasure to visit with Dr Pettine on Thurs 14 and am very happy, as the day after the visit I came up with many questions and concerns.

I will see if I can get some questions answered by email?

The Dr is Great has all the toys to fix many spine issues. Is a pioneer in spine surgery.

He suggested to install Coflex at L4-L5 and L5-S1 with StaXx XD expandable device at L5-S1, I am very pleased with this and now seeing if W.C. will cover this procedure?

This would address the levels giving me problems at this present time!

How Ever this does not address my other two levels above that are horrible, and will need some intervention in the future, this is some of the questions I will ask.

Gil

[Cindylou]

Hi

I had the pleasure to visit with Dr Pettine on Thurs 14 and am very happy, as the day after the visit I came up with many questions and concerns.

I will see if I can get some questions answered by email?

The Dr is Great has all the toys to fix many spine issues. Is a pioneer in spine surgery.

He suggested to install Coflex at L4-L5 and L5-S1 with StaXx XD expandable device at L5-S1, I am very pleased with this and now seeing if W.C. will cover this procedure?

This would address the levels giving me problems at this present time!

How Ever this does not address my other two levels above that are horrible, and will need some intervention in the future, this is some of the questions I will ask.

Gil

This is truly wonderful news Gil. I have to say, you have been a real trooper with all of your investigating skills. And I know W.C. is a different animal altogether. You know, some docs are on the email bandwagon, which is terrific. Others.....not so much. But absolutely give it a try. Maybe he is a supporter of email communication as well. Call his office, explain your situation, and request his professional email address. Next time, may I suggest: write all your questions and concerns down before the appointment. I know sometimes we do think of other questions after we literally walk out of their office onto the pavement. But at least write down as much as you can think of, before. Many doctors actually appreciate the patient with "the list." It shows your serious about your spinal issues and that you have come prepared. CL

[Katie]

Gil, I am so pleased for you! Not much to add, except to second CL's advice, and say that having someone accompany me to the appointment also helped a great deal. With Dr. Pimenta, we asked if we could record the visit, and he was quite happy to oblige.

My husband almost always came along to my visits and could remember questions that I forgot in the stress of the moment, and the doctors also seemed to take me more seriously when he was there...sometimes they looked more at him than me. When he described my symptoms, etc., it seemed that it validated what I was saying, that I wasn't exaggerating things.

I have all of my fingers and toes crossed for you, my friend. It has been a long time coming, but it will happen

[Justin]

Gil----this is great news! You have been waiting for so long, but now it looks like you have a way forward.

I've heard nothing but good things about Dr. Pettine. His clinical staff was extremely helpful in 2009 when I had some questions regarding my Dynamic Stabilization Device.

Hi

I had the pleasure to visit with Dr Pettine on Thurs 14 and am very happy, as the day after the visit I came up with many questions and concerns.

I will see if I can get some questions answered by email?

The Dr is Great has all the toys to fix many spine issues. Is a pioneer in spine surgery.

He suggested to install Coflex at L4-L5 and L5-S1 with StaXx XD expandable device at L5-S1, I am very pleased with this and now seeing if W.C. will cover this procedure?

This would address the levels giving me problems at this present time!

I've read good things about the Coflex and the StaXx XD expandable device looks interesting. Here's a link for those that want to see some pretty pictures and read more information about the device: StaXx® XD Expandable Device.

[KanRunMo]

Congratulations Gil! How exciting that you have found a doctor and a procedure that will work for you.
Here's hoping you'll have a fast recovery and be back doing all the activities you enjoy.

The Coflex sounds like it takes care of your spinal stenosis and the Staxx lifts up your disc or replaces it. Is that essentially what it's doing?

[trkdoc714]

Gil,

I had the same concerns with my upper level lumbar problems too. Apparently they weren't symptomatic and L4/5 and L5/S1 were the culprits of the pain.

Good luck and congratulations on finding a way to stop or lessen your pain.

Bob

[Katie]

Any more updates, my friend??