Hi,
My name is Christopher Card and I want to share my
experience of recently having two cervical disc replacements
using the M6 -
Cervical Implant (by Spinal Kinetics) replacements on
both C5/6 & C6/7 by anterior approach.
I tried conservative nerve block therapy via epidural
injection which offered temporary relief from the pain I was experiencing in
the right forearm and hand. I had been living with this discomfort for a number
of years and the relief was a blessing. The downside is that the pain returned
with a vengeance and with different symptoms after 3 months, which included
severe weakening of my right arm and total numbness in my right hand forefinger.
It was time to look at a long term solution. I started
researching alternatives to fusion as this was not an option for me and my
lifestyle, plus this solution transpired to be a dead end!, If the pain
remained I would have to live with it. I looked into various sites on the
internet and comments from patients just like me which had had a disc
replacement.. I still did not feel happy with what was on offer. I was looking
for the Rolls Royce solution [I am a perfectionist].
I arrived home one evening in early February 2013, and my
lovely wife advised me she had found the perfect solution for me. She sat me
down and told me to read what she had found. Not only had she found the best
surgeon but the place and technology is where I knew I wanted to be treated. http://www.germanspinespecialists.com/best_spine_surgen.html. The surgeon of Dr. Thomas Bierstedt really fitted
my bill of prerequisites. I have a phobia of my throat area and after reading
how pedantic Dr. Bierstedt is I knew in myself he was the person I wanted to
perform the operation.
I work for an international company and have been involved
in customer liaisons for the past 20 years, and I was extremely impressed with
the communication I received to my online query. If I could have a person like Mr. Malte Petersen on my team we
would be world class, which is where I rate him as a person and in his
professional position, a real compliment to Dr. Bierstedt’s team. The
communication and information transfer from Thailand to Germany under the care
of Malte was phenomenal to say the least. It really supported my decision 100
fold that my wife had found the “Best in the West”.
I was scheduled in for surgery on the 26th
February 2013, and for serious surgery I was completely relaxed, and I
attribute this to the communication; the immediate review of my MRI by Dr. Bierstedt
and his team and the feedback of the plan. I would be lying if I was not a
little anxious as every surgical procedure carries its own risks.
Arrival in Dusseldorf Germany was hassel free. The
transportation was waiting for my wife and I and we arrived some 35 minutes
later at the hotel Avantgarde in Hattingen. Monday a taxi collected us from the
hotel and drove us to our planned consultation with Dr. Bierstedt. The
appointment went very well and again I was really impressed with the
professional approach, the detail of the explanation of the procedure, the risks
etc, etc. I walked out of Dr. Bierstedt’s office knowing I had made the right
choice. His demeanor just further endorsed that I had made the right choice.
From the meeting it was directly to the EV Krankenhaus to
check into my place of rest for the upcoming days. My experience was getting
better at every turn. The hospital staff were really friendly and helpful and
really made you feel at home.[To me it was more like a 5 star hotel than a
hospital]. Choice of menu for the week that I was booked in for and beverages
on tap with snacks 24/7. Later in the afternoon after the hospitals protocol of
pre-surgery checks and tests, I was taken to meet another fine gentleman that
was going to look after me during the procedure Dr
schlosser anesthetist . I could
not fault any person that was going to be involved in my procedure. I was
actually beginning to look forward to the surgery knowing I was in such
competent hands along with being pain free and being able to live again.
Tuesday 26th day of
surgery, I knew I was not going to get past the premed [Experience from a past
surgery], well as anticipated I recall the bed moving and my wife giving me a
peck on the forehead and lights out. I woke in recovery. Time to do personal
flight check, 1) Swallow, yes I can, 2) Talk, asked the nurse on duty to take
off the blood pressure monitor as it was uncomfortable, yes I can talk. Guess I
was still groggy but I arranged my drip pipe into a tidy coil and with that I
was advised I could return to my room.
When I arrived I felt really
good and wanted to get out of bed to see my new Friend Greg who had had Lumbar
surgery and flown all the way from the USA to have it done on Dr. Bierstedt’s
watch. No, not allowed until the drip was finished. I remember counting the
drops and when the last one made it down the tube I was on the buzzer to summon
help to have the drip removed. Drip was removed, followed by me out of bed and
on the move.
I still had company in the form
of the wound drain that I carried in my hand and had no problems walking to
Greg’s room, [next door] and seeing if all had gone well for him. He was
somewhat surprised to see me up and about so soon. Well I never stopped,
walking around that is. My wife was somewhat taken back that I was up and
about. I really felt good; no pain in my arm, feeling back in my finger and the
only discomfort was the wound drain that impeded swallowing solids. The soup
was great!!
Dr. Bierstedt and Dr. Schlosser
came in the next day to advise that all had gone to plan and that they were
satisfied with the placement of the discs. Dr. Schlosser to advise I had
behaved well and the tube delivering the anesthetic was removed before I woke
up [This was my only stipulation/prerequisite, I had asked for during our
earlier interview]
Malte came in on the Thursday to
ensure all was still on plan, which it was and as I was up and about I was
allowed to leave my residence at the hospital and spend the remainder of our
time in Germany at the hotel with my best friend.
I am now 4 weeks post Op and
feel 100%, still a little muscle stiffness in the neck area, I however
attribute this to me being over cautious in how I move. In all a really great
experience, which would not have been so without the professionalism; care and
world class communication shown throughout the duration.
Dr.
Bierstedt; Dr. Schlosser; Malte and all the
staff at the EV Krankenhaus and my new friends Greg ; Lucy and Katie, thank you
so much for a new lease on life, it was truly an experience I will not forget
and the results to date are flawless.
To the most important person that made this all happen
and supported and cared for me and still does today, my soul mate and wife
Samantha. Thank you my darling for everything!
For all those that are
suffering, don’t wait the link is there, and if my experience helps or I can
assist feel free to email me at chriscard23@gmail.com.
Christopher Card
The intent of anything to do with the Central Nervous System is to restore the bodies ability to self-regulate. The vertebra move in 14 different directions with around 300,000 nerve fibers and 31 pairs of spinal nerves. When there is a block anywhere within that system what happens is "deregulation".
