• Upon arrival in Bremen, you are met at the airport and taken to the Hotel Backenkohler. During your stay you will always have access to English speaking staff, Malte Petersen and his team, who will assist in meeting your every need. You will also meet the other Americans there for ADR surgery that week.
• The next morning you will be picked up and brought to the hospital, you will meet with Dr. Zechel, Medical Director and senior surgeon, to review your case. If the previous diagnosis can not be confirmed based on existing information, a more detailed spinal column test program (myelography, anesthesia tests, provocation discography, as necessary) will be performed in order to be absolutely certain of the diagnosis.
• If, after a comprehensive review, we medically confirm that ADR is for you, we begin preparation for the surgery.  Dr. Zechel will meet with you and explain in detail the operation. We treat every patient as a unique individual and we strive to allay any anxieties with detailed information. When you are comfortable, we schedule your surgery. .  

• During the sixty to ninety minute operation, your surgeons:  Dr. Ritter-Lang, and  Dr. Zechel will implant your ADR Disc.  Bi-segmental operations last a little over two hours. After your operation you will be transferred to the post-op ward, where you will remain in intensive care under the observation of Senior Anesthetist: Dr Werner, for 24 hours. This is also where, overseen by our physiotherapist, you will stand up for the first time.
• Pain management: Our goal is a pain-free post-operative phase. Dosage of pain medications is determined on a patient by patient basis. Our anesthetist sets sound medical parameters and instructs each patient on personally controlling the pain. 
• Post-operative remobilization: For the next five days or so, Dr Zechel will monitor your progress– and  your physiotherapist will work with you on active back and isometric exercises, and on passive therapy including massages and packs – until you feel in top form again and Dr. Zechel approves your release from the hospital. .

• Out-patient rehabilitation: additional physiotherapy sessions will be scheduled either at the hospital or at your hotel. During this week you will have 24 hour access to hospital staff should complications arise. We want you to put your back to the test under day-to-day conditions, prior to retuning home. The accommodations are a double room at the a deluxe hotel in Bremen, breakfast included.

The time it will take to attain your optimum condition varies from person to person. If additional therapy and pain management are needed, we will work with you and your local doctors to coordinate your care. We do want to keep in touch, we are interested in your complete recovery and we encourage you to contact us with regular status reports.