Stenum Hospital is had wonderful success with the
Prestige Cervical ADR, and now the Kinetics Disc.
Here are some recent patients you can contact.
Kirk, Spinal Kinetics Cervical ADR at C5-6, above fusion, Jan 2007
May 2002, after 4 years of increasing pain, Kirk underwent surgery for an anterior fusion of C6-C7. Nov 2006, after seeing more doctors than he can count, Kirk has been diagnosed with DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease), the failure of discs to maintain the normal spacing between the vertebrae. Combined with a moderate level of spinal arthritis, this has put increasing pressure on the nerve roots leaving the spine, especially at C5-C6.
After much deliberation, Kirk scheduled a surgery on January 11, 2007 at Stenum Hospital in Bremen, Germany.<br>
Jan 11, The most painful part was the insertion of the first IV (which really wasn't too bad, thanks to Dr. Geller). The surgery took about an hour and a half. Next thing Kirk knew, he was in the Wakening Room, just adjacent to the surgical theatres.<br>
Jan 12, after getting off the morphine pump much earlier than normal, Kirk was walking around and generally annoying the Americans.<br>
Jan 17, Kirk is finally out of the hospital!<br>
Jan 22, Kirk's neck is doing pretty well, getting slowly better each day. The train ride wasn't as much of a problem as it might have been a few weeks prior, and the walking wasn't bad either. Each day is different, but it seems like there is some hope that the surgery had a significant positive effect. <br>
Read the full story at http://www.para-concepts.com/kirk/<br>
Call Kirk at 815-252-5515 or e-mail Kirk@Para-Concepts.COM
Chris Tammen, Prestige II Cervical ADR C3-4 & C6-7, 11/5/2005
Chris reported;
Chris had a 2 level cervical ADR at Stenum in November 2005 and
was up and out of the hospital in 3 days, he enjoyed the rest of his
stay in Bremen and returned to work at his business upon his return
home, just 2 weeks later.
Well let me start by saying that this all started about 15 years ago with
my lower back, It would just go out on me and put me on the floor or in
bed for about 1 week or so, But the older I got the worse it would be
until I was in constant pain and it left me unable to do the things that I
have done my whole life. So I just held the pain in and continued to go to
work and being a plumber/pipe fitter it was not that easy to do but never
the less life goes on and on it went right up in till the day I hurt my
neck using 2 pipe wrenches over my head and that sent unbearable pain and
numbness down my arm. I found out that my c 4/5 c 5/6 and c 6/7 were all
bad and I was told I needed a 3 level fusion, they also told me there was
nothing they could do for my lower back either and I would have to live
with that and deal with it however I could. My pain medicine, Norco 1000,
just took the edge off it and I was still not pain free. Then I found
Stenum Hospital, just in the nick of time. So I sent my MRI to them and I
found out that not only could they fix my neck without doing fusion but
with ADR they would also be able to fix my lower back L 3/4 & L 4/5 with
the Maverick ADR. They were going to do them all at the same time in one
surgery . Sounds too good to be true? Well that's what I thought. I mean I
am going to go to Germany and get 5 new discs yea right. Well let me tell
you that I did and I am sitting at home right now just 9 weeks (as of
6-15-2006) after my life changing flight to Germany and I feel great! I do
not even take one pain pill for pain anymore. All I can say is thank you
to the Doctors and all of the staff. The hospital stay was something that
I will never forget ! So if there is anyone reading this, and trying to
decide, all that I can tell you is that it is a wonderful place and they
treat you with the utmost respect. Besides, the other options here in the
U.S are just not that great!
If anyone would like to talk to me about anything feel free to e-mail me
or call 231-893-6286 (MI), and I will answer anything that I can
answer.
email at kirkandwendy@verizon.net
Cris
Cathey, Cage Fusion C6-7, Prestige ADR above and
below, March 4, 2005
I had neck
pain for four years with a range of conservative treatments from
acupuncture to facet injections. Finding the GetaDR web site changed me. I
did not want to have the typical cervical fusion so I was excited when I
found out about ADR. I had a three level surgery, two ADR's and one cage
with a plate and screws. I had no disc left at c-5-6 so a cage had to be
put in. I was immediately pain free and have never taken as much as an
aspirin since surgery. What a relief to finally be pain free and living
life again. The staff at Stenum are the best. It was the wisest decision I
ever made and was glad I waited to have ADR.
Steve Cowen, Prestige II Cervical ADR C5/6
C6/7, Sept 2005
Prior to ADR at Stenum Steve reported "
Now, "I'm
doing great. Some residual numbness/stinging in my thumb, index and
middle finger on my left hand but that's just a minor annoyance and it
just comes and goes. I'm very happy with where things are at."
Jonathan is doing well in terms
of the horrible herniation pain being gone and the nerve pain in his arms
and hands has subsided. He had absolutely no complications at all and was
the first of his group to be released from the hospital and move on to the
beautiful Park Hotel which our family enjoyed immensely! He is still
having another area of pain from the damaged muscles in his neck area from
the car accidents he was in that left a lot of scar tissue in those
muscles. That may take a lot longer to heal. But if the herniation pain
was 60% of his pain and the muscle pain was 40%, then the 60% herniation
pain is gone and he is just dealing with the 40% muscle pain and tension
headaches that result from those muscles constantly knotting up.
Consequently he is on much less medication and is sleeping through the
night most nights and is not confined to his recliner in constant chronic
pain. He is up and about, functioning normally a much larger part of the
day, usually morning and afternoon. By evening, the muscles start to tense
up and the headache will start in, but he has a much more functional life
now and is using far less meds for pain.
Overall, we’re extremely happy we went to Stenum, because it was the only
option for Jonathan, already having had two fusions in his neck. We knew
we did not want to have anymore fusions no matter what and were willing to
take a leap of faith and fly to Germany for the ADR’s. We felt the
hospital was first rate and the staff was warm and compassionate and
caring. The setting was beautiful and relaxing like being at a spa for
2-1/2 weeks. We also felt God leading us to do this and felt him blessing
the entire trip as it all flowed so smoothly and everything fell into
place.
Even though I had our 11 year old son with us, I still got to relax a lot
and he and I had a great time bicycling around the German countryside
discovering little shops and bakeries and going into town shopping, while
Jonathan was recuperating. We spent about 50% of the time keeping him
company in the hospital and the rest of the time enjoying the area.
Jonathan even felt well enough to go site seeing the last couple days we
were there and we took a train to Hamburg to see some sites. It seems that
the stretching of the neck that occurs with two ADR implants put a lot of
strain on the damaged muscles in his neck and they are still adjusting to
being stretched but doctors at home assure us that will eventually calm
down and we do see that slowly subsiding a bit more each day, but Jonathan
still has to be very careful not to overdo it in terms of his activity
level.
People at home are amazed at what we did and think the whole prospect
sounds too scary. We felt that way at first but after doing a lot of
research and getting all of our questions answered and talking to former
patients, the fears begin to dissipate and confidence in going to another
country for surgery builds until it becomes the only option that makes
sense!
Cindy Hart
call 414-529-3261 WI
Patricia, Prestige Cervical ADR
C5-6 Jan 2006
My
wife Patricia suffered with severe migraines for years due to a car
accident when she was in her teens. It was found that she had bone spurs
between C-6 and C-7. She required shots at urgent care, Imatrex, etc. for
years just to function. A fusion approx. 8 years ago at those levels with
a plate gave her some relief but as we found out it usually progresses to
the next level every five years or so requiring another fusion. We tried
that approx. a year ago and the fusion failed. More pain, more medication
and the prospect of surgery again to re-do the fusion. The internet is a
wonderful thing. It allowed us to find Stenum , make contact , and
eventually talk to several patients from the U.S. that had been to the
hospital for surgery. After Pat's last surgery here she could not talk
properly, drink or eat for several days due to the swelling etc. around
the incision. It was so bad she went back to be sure nothing serious was
wrong. At Stenum she was asking for breakfast the morning after surgery!
Pretty amazing! She was walking and talking . I couldn't believe the
difference. We walked approx. 4 miles or more a day only seven days after
her surgery. I am the worlds biggest skeptic and we called LOTS of people
before we went but I must tell you. If I ever have a need for an ADR
there's no question where I would go.
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