5 1/2 Months Update: Follow-Up X-Rays!

In This Issue:

• 5 1/2 Months Follow-Up and X-rays
• Physical therapy
• (Attempted) bike outing to Charles Bronson Wildlife Area
• Insurance battle update

5 1/2 Months Update:

I made it! I am almost six-month post-op from my L5/S1 artificial disc replacement (LP-ESP)! I just had my x-rays taken and mailed the CD off to Dr. Desai to make sure he has them in time, but I think the images look good! In fact, the disc looks just like it did on the x-ray that I had the day after surgery. I was laughing a little when looking at the report from the radiology center because the radiologist called my ADR an “intervertebral disc spacer”. But he also noted that there is no bone loss, that I have good bone density, no erosion or hardware complications. Also, the report states “no facet osteoarthropathy”, nor did he find any other issues with my spine. I don’t know about you, but I think I have a pretty spine (including my shiny “disc spacer”, lol).

LATERAL

ANTERIOR

OBLIQUE LEFT

OBLIQUE RIGHT

Even though I have been feeling great overall, I am relieved to see/read the confirmation that everything is alright in black and white (literally). I do have minor aches and pains here and there, but I realized that this is most often the case after long periods of inactivity. I really need to keep that in mind while going through graduate school because I have the tendency to work on assignments for hours on end without realizing it.

At this point in my recovery, I am thrilled to wake up in the morning without that pain. I still remember the pain pretty well… Sometimes, I think about a movement that would have hurt me tremendously prior to surgery, and then I just do it (like bending) pain free – leaving me in awe every time!

Physical Therapy:

With that being said, I finally made it to PT with Bill, and I was SORE the day after! Not in my back but my abs and thighs! He had me do side-planks, monster-walks with squats, weighted lunges, and crunches over a medicine ball. That’s what I get for not working out in the gym enough, but I was asking Bill to put together a workout routine that I can do on my own and hopefully stick to it.

(Attempted) Mountain Bike Outing to Charles Bronson Wildlife Management Area:

This was, hands down, the hardest and shortest mountain bike outing I have been on to date. We picked this wildlife preserve, which neither one of us has ever been to before. It started out very innocently, with old roadways that were overgrown but ridable. Then the trails got somewhat muddy, which makes it harder to pedal because the tires are more “glued” to the ground. It’s a little like riding on chewing gum, actually. Then there came the first puddles, and then they turned into longer stretches of flooded, overgrown, messy trails that took everything out of me.

It felt like forever when I finally waived the white flag and surrendered! I made it an unbelievable distance of 1.6 miles before I had to admit that I won’t be able to complete this loop of 20 miles like this… Ralf captured my confession on his GoPro camera….

Of course, I now had to back-track those agonizing 1.6 miles back to the parking lot! There were actually vultures circling above, just waiting for me to collapse and become dinner. Ha, eat my titanium spine, suckers!

Once back in the parking lot, I recovered enough to go with Plan B: a hike down the Florida trail. Meh, that was not the same, but I did get to spend some more time in nature. Speaking of which, I almost walked right into a spider web with a giant (to me anyways) spider just waving at me! In case you didn’t know, I don’t do spiders! That’s when you let your 6 foot better-half walk in front of you, hehehe…

Insurance-Battle Update:

There is also news regarding my battle with BCBS: so, after my claim for reimbursement got denied (on grounds of not being ‘medically necessary’), I put together an appeals package that included a letter of medical necessity from Dr. Desai, a personal statement, and several research articles. I also pointed out that BCBS reimbursed other patients in the past (including one from Florida) who had the same surgery overseas.

A few days ago, I got a written reply from BCBS in the mail: they need more information???!!!??? They actually want my medical records from my pain specialist (Dr. Gayles), my current Primary Care Physician, and my Physical Therapist (Bill). Ok, no problem. BUT: BCBS also want my medical record from DR GARCIA, the very first surgeon I ever consulted with regarding ADR surgery. Yes, that is the same surgeon, who ruled me a perfect candidate for ADR but dropped me like a hot potato after BCBS DENIED my surgery with him. Hmmm, I really don’t see the point here, especially since he never even provided actual care to me. The other medical record BCBS wants to get is from a spinal fusion surgeon I consulted for about 5 minutes and who didn’t really answer any of my questions. Oh, well, I did send back yet another letter stating the same, so the ball is back in their court. To be continued…