[Artificial Disc Replacement / Lumbar] Stenum Experience - Live From Bremen (Two Level Prestige LP Artificial Disc Replacement)

[melduforx]

So this is my experience as it goes for having a 2 level cervical ADR using the prestige LP. So far I have to say I'm VERY impressed with everyone here at Stenum Hospital and at the Backenköhler Hotel.

Day 1 - Arrived Tuesday night from Frankfurt at the hotel across the street from Stenum Hospital. Stenum is about 30 minutes from Bremen city center by taxi. The rooms are nice and comfortable and extremely close to the hospital. All the staff are awesome and incredibly helpful.

Day 2 - Went to the hospital at 8:30 in the morning to meet with the staff and the doctors. Got a whole range of tests and X-Rays, spoke with the anesthesiologist, Malte Petersen and Melinda (filling in for Ilka) as the patient coordinators, and one of the surgeons. Everybody took a LOT of time explaining everything to us and asking if we had any questions. I finished around 12:30 and headed to the city center to do some exploring.

Day 3 - Arrived at the hospital at 9 to talk to the head surgeon, Dr. Zecher, about the operation. Again, he explained everything in detail and took probably about half an hour talking to me. After that I was done, so I headed back to city center for another walk around. Since I'm the first patient in the morning, they admitted me for the night, which is where I'm writing this from. I'm sharing a hospital room with two other Americans: Lance, who's having a 3 level lumbar ADR using the M6 and Jim, who's having a 1 level lumbar ADR using the M6.

I'll give everyone an update on how it went when I'm able to get back on the computer. I'm supposed to spend one day in the ICU, then I'll move back to my room.

Hopefully I'll be feeling better when I write next...

[Justin]

melduforx,

It sounds like things are off to a great start and that you are ready to go. Please keep us posted. Give Lance and Jim our very best from the Spine Patient Society--we're excited to hear about all of your successful surgeries!

See you on the other side.

[ajj1001]

I'm sharing a hospital room with two other Americans: Lance, who's having a 3 level lumbar ADR using the M6 and Jim, who's having a 1 level lumbar ADR using the M6.

Hi to all three of you. Looking forward to hearing your outcomes (tell Lance and Jim that they'll have to post as well!) Hope it goes to plan.

[melduforx]

Day 4 - Surgery. I was the first one in. They gave me a pill that was supposed to help me calm down, but I don't think it did much. When I got up to the staging room for the OR, they gave me a shot that DID work. I was out shortly after that.

When I got out of surgery they wheeled me into the ICU and I was in a LOT of pain. They started me on a morphine drip (I think) and that really helped. My two other cohorts were moved in after their surgeries. Lance was in worse pain than I was, but Jim was having a much better time of it. All of us were kept in the ICU for an entire day, which I thought was pretty amazing.

Dr. Zecher came around to all of us and showed us the fluoroscope pictures of our implants. When he showed me mine he made the "perfect" handsignal and said, "very, very good", which is exactly what I wanted to hear. The anesthesiologist was around as well and checked on us a couple of times.

Day 5 - Back to the room around 6:30 AM today. They gave us sponge baths in the ICU and made sure we were all feeling OK. Downstairs in our rooms they wanted us all to walk ASAP. Lance walked first, then Jim, then I did. I was a lot more lightheaded than everyone else.

We got our first meal which for me was toast and jam with hot chocolate. I ate a bit of that and the lunch that came later, but I haven't fully recovered my appetite. I did eat more of dinner, and by that time I was able to get up and walk around on my own.

The nurses have been great here and are amazingly helpful.

I'll post more later this week, but so far (knock on wood) everyone is doing very well!

[Justin]

Dr. Zecher came around to all of us and showed us the fluoroscope pictures of our implants. When he showed me mine he made the "perfect" handsignal and said, "very, very good", which is exactly what I wanted to hear. The anesthesiologist was around as well and checked on us a couple of times.

Great news!

Day 5 - Back to the room around 6:30 AM today. They gave us sponge baths in the ICU and made sure we were all feeling OK. Downstairs in our rooms they wanted us all to walk ASAP. Lance walked first, then Jim, then I did. I was a lot more lightheaded than everyone else.

Walking after my two level lumbar artificial disc replacement was surreal. I felt like I was learning to walk for the first time. How does your neck feel when you are up and around?

The nurses have been great here and are amazingly helpful.

I'll post more later this week, but so far (knock on wood) everyone is doing very well!

Nurses are absolute life savers. Please give Lance and Jim our well wishes. Here's a speedy recovery to all of you--welcome to the other side.

[melduforx]

Day 6 - Did not sleep well at all last night due to pain around my throat. It felt very swollen, which I think it is, and it was all I could concentrate on. Used the morphine pump a few times, which I think made me a bit groggy in the morning.

Breakfast was OK, and lunch was near un-eatable, but I got a good amount of sleep in after lunch. I woke up and got them to take me off the morphine pump, which makes getting around a lot easier.

I've taken a few trips around the hospital now, including one to the vending machine to get a coke! I think that will help tremendously in my recovery.

I feel great tonight and got down a good portion of my dinner. I am down to three percoset a day, which is the least amount of pain pills I have taken in the past two years. I am still on my (high) dose of Neurontin (2700 mg a day), but my pain doc wants me to stay on that until I am back home to get weaned off.

The other two guys (Lance and Jim) are doing great as well. Lance is especially happy as he is taking far fewer pain meds than in the last three years.

Thanks for all the good wishes!

[New-disc]

Thank you for your live updates from Stenum!!

Please say hello to Sue Hart for me.

Is Hans still helping with the patients?

Pictures?

Take things slow for a bit...

Todd

[Terry Newton]

Great to hear from Stenum Hospital surgeries. If you do get the full experience of a spa like experience after you stay at the hospital I suggest the Park Hotel. Even though it is Winter there as well you should be able to do some walking in the park behind the hotel. The breakfast there is amazing on a daily basis, the spa is wonderful (Betsy and I did the Jacuzzi even though I wasn't supposed to), the room was fabulous, the free taxi service to and from the hotel is awesome. You just ask for vouchers at the front desk and you can get around for free. Please say hi to Sue Hart, Dr. Zechel, Hans and Malte for me. I was there in November 2006 for my surgery and have been a staunch advocate for Stenum ever since. My recovery has been awesome from a four level operation; 2 lumbar, 2 cervical.

Please keep us informed as we will help you in your recovery.

Enjoy your stay there. The food could be improved but helps the ambiance of the place. HaHa. You could look in the lobby and find our pictures as well so you can see who you are conversing with now.

Hang in there.

[melduforx]

Day 7 - Woke up and had them take out the IV line for the morphine pump, which meant I got to take a shower! It felt wonderful. I shaved as well, so that I looked less like a homeless man.

The Dr. came by to assess our surgery and added a light muscle relaxant to my dose of drugs, which definitely made me a bit sleepy.

Hans came by to give us our massages and Anja started our PT. All three of us felt great after the massages, and agreed that it was simply amazing.

All the rest of the day I spent either walking around the hospital or surfing the internet.

I managed to sleep the whole night through after I learned that it was ok for me to sleep on my side. I had been terrified that I would somehow break something if I slept on my side.

Day 8 - Woke up very refreshed, but with a decent amount of pain between my shoulder blades. The doc said this was normal. I had little to no pain anywhere else.

Jim suffered a bit through the night with some burning pain in his legs. It wasn't too bad, but it was enough to keep him from sleeping.

The three of us decided to go off the meal plan served to our rooms so that we could eat in the cafeteria. If you are not used to German food, this probably isn't a good idea, but I was fine with it. The cafeteria is only open three times a day for less than an hour each time, so you have to be prompt!

Hans has already made his rounds, and Anja has gone through our PT for the day, so right now we are all being lazy and sitting in bed.

I think we'll all be off to lunch soon, and I'm going to take a nice hot shower!

[Dave]

Good to hear that you and the others are progressing well. Your updates will be helpful to many for years to come. Thanks.