Dynamic Stabilization System: DSS™--motion (non-fusion, 5/14/09, Dr. Bertagnoli)

**treefrog** · 05-11-2009, 01:25 PM

What great pictures, it looks beautiful. How's the weather?

How are you able to drink beer, while taking pain meds? I have given up drinking any alcohol with the meds I'm taking. But it seems like a lot of people who go to Germany talk of drinking beer while they are there. I'm not much of a beer drinker anyway, wine is more my style. Well, I'm really not much of a drinker period, which makes it easy to do without.

I'll take pictures of my boyfriend drinking beer.

I'll stick to coffee. I've seen the Iced Cafe some other people have mentioned, that's what I'll have. I hope I can get coffee while in the hospital, if not, my boyfriend is going to have to sneak them in.

Thanks for checking in.

**Alastair** · 05-11-2009, 01:37 PM

I absolutely love the photo Justin,I have saved it in my picture portfolio on my computer. I'm thinking of you and wishing you all the very best for your surgery and its outcome.I remember Munich well and it looks good to me still. I bet the beer has not got any worse -- -- -- lol

Everything is fine here
Cheers,
Alastair :-)

**Terry Newton** · 05-11-2009, 06:56 PM

The pictures are awesome Justin. You guys look like a great couple. Relax and enjoy the weather over there. I hope the entire journey is healing. Hang in there.

Terry Newton

**KBear** · 05-11-2009, 08:35 PM

Justin, the pictures are great, you have a beautiful wife, and Germany looks awesome. I hope to go one day, as that is where my family is from. I will be praying for your surgery and your nerves. I know it didn't hit me that this was really happening, until we arrived in Florida. I was only having a one level straight forward ADR and was a ball of nerves, so I can't imagine. That is great that your brother is going to be there during surgery, had no idea you were a twin- I have always been fascinated by multiples. You have a great surgeon and great support system, you are going to have an awesome recovery. "You", as in your images, could even be the next to be presented at a spine conference as a great success!
God Bless,
Kathy

**Gilbert P** · 05-11-2009, 09:33 PM

Hi Justin

Good looking Beer and Tiff, good luck on everything

All the best

Gilbert P

**Fuzzy** · 05-12-2009, 03:30 AM

Great to see you have some fun in downtown Munich. I did it too and it was quite a struggle. both before and after surgery. I was not doing so good with bier. Couldn't handle it with all the pain and that. I know that place will see me again also.

**Justin** · 05-12-2009, 10:34 AM

Thanks Gil, Kathy, Fuzzy, Alastair, Terry, Bob, Katie, Cathy, Lynda and anyone else I'm forgetting (Liz, runagain, Linda, etc....).

Well today I had my bone density testing with Dr. Ingrid Kölnberger. She was very sweet and said I had "outstanding bone density" (T= -0.4 and Z= -0.2).

Forearm bone density

Then, we headed to ProSpine to meet Mrs. Mündel. She was very sweet and oversees that all of our needs are being met while we are here. She even inquired about having my brother stay in my hospital room with Tiff and me. She was able to get us another bed for Jesse to stay with us and showed us around the Hospital including my room for recovery. The surroundings of Kreiskrankenhaus Bogen (Klinik Bogen) are absolutely beautiful. I'll have to take some more pictures tomorrow.

Here are some picture of ProSpine, the surrounding area and Dr. Bertagnoli:

The entrance to ProSpine and a huge ProDisc made of plaster.

...

**Justin** · 05-12-2009, 10:39 AM

Dr. Bertagnoli in 2-D. He was in a surgery that came in as an emergency when we stopped by.

ProSpine door logo.

The view from Dr. Bertagnoli's office.

Directory outside of ProSpine.

Hey...I'm bored before surgery.

...

**Justin** · 05-12-2009, 10:42 AM

On the way to ProSpine.

ProSpine building.

A very dark picture of my bro, Jesse, at ProSpine.

**treefrog** · 05-12-2009, 11:59 AM

Glad to hear that you are being treated well. And I guess it's kind of good that you are bored. Better than being frenzied before surgery.

So tomorrow you are admitted. Hope the bathroom is nice

.

Thanks for all the pictures. Not that I will be going to Bogen (at least that's not the plan), but for others it's nice to have some images of where you will be going. At least I always like seeing pictures of where people are, so I can imagine them there.

What time is your surgery on Thursday? I will be sending good wishes to you and Dr. Bertagnoli.