CT-Scan Review from Mr. Boeree
So I sent over the CT-Scan images and the youtube video over to Mr. Boeree a few weeks ago. There was a slight mishap on the outbox front, and apparently his response never reached my inbox, so I messaged him again today and got a response a few hours later.
His response:
"I guess you didn’t get my earlier reply, but I was really impressed with the CT scans which I looked at both from your images and the YouTube posting. Your radiology friend clearly has a great set up, providing 3D images of that quality, with artefact suppression that is so good! Maybe part of that is the fact that the metal parts of the implant are titanium, which gives less artefact, at least on MRI. I’m not sure it makes any difference on CT, which makes the quality of the images all the more impressive."
I guess he likes the images! Nonetheless, he requested a "check x-ray (15° up angled AP and lateral flexion and extension views centred on L4/5) at about six months post surgery. The flexion and extension radiographs show us that the implant is moving as we would expect. The amount of movement is normally only about four or 5° in most adult males."
On another note, I went to Dallas last Thursday January 13th for a follow-up appointment with Dr. Zigler at the Texas Back Institute. The appointment was scheduled for 9:45AM. I was heading out the door when at 9:15AM I get a call from the hospital telling me my appointment had been cancelled. I wasn't given a reason except a few comments on how he never referred me to Mr. Boeree, and that I could see Dr. Blumenthal on Monday instead, and how Dr. Blumenthal had been an ADR pioneer and what not. I was in Dallas for that day only so I couldn't have my follow-up appointment on Monday, which left me out on the blue and on my own regarding my condition. The good thing is that I feel really well so i'm not too worried, but I could use some reassurance from an experienced surgeon, which I finally got with the response from Mr. Boeree, especially when he mentioned: "You are clearly a very motivated young man and I was sure from the outset that you would do well. The CT scan shows the implant is in a very good position and at this stage it is good to know that that is very unlikely to change now" and that "The implant position looks really good from the CT. You can see that it is not protruding at all into the spinal canal or the neural foramina. A little sciatica is common after disc replacement. I think it is usually because the nerve roots have to get used to the new way the segment is moving, and they may also have got a little stretched as a result of the surgery."
As for my condition, I've been carrying suitcases off of the conveyor belt at the airport. I've been packing and loading boxes on my car for my move to Miami. I've been driving around for hours and hours. I think i'm doing pretty darn well!
As for my sciatica on my left leg, it's barely happening anymore. But Mr. Boeree said that if it gets troublesome then I should contact him.
His response:
"I guess you didn’t get my earlier reply, but I was really impressed with the CT scans which I looked at both from your images and the YouTube posting. Your radiology friend clearly has a great set up, providing 3D images of that quality, with artefact suppression that is so good! Maybe part of that is the fact that the metal parts of the implant are titanium, which gives less artefact, at least on MRI. I’m not sure it makes any difference on CT, which makes the quality of the images all the more impressive."
I guess he likes the images! Nonetheless, he requested a "check x-ray (15° up angled AP and lateral flexion and extension views centred on L4/5) at about six months post surgery. The flexion and extension radiographs show us that the implant is moving as we would expect. The amount of movement is normally only about four or 5° in most adult males."
On another note, I went to Dallas last Thursday January 13th for a follow-up appointment with Dr. Zigler at the Texas Back Institute. The appointment was scheduled for 9:45AM. I was heading out the door when at 9:15AM I get a call from the hospital telling me my appointment had been cancelled. I wasn't given a reason except a few comments on how he never referred me to Mr. Boeree, and that I could see Dr. Blumenthal on Monday instead, and how Dr. Blumenthal had been an ADR pioneer and what not. I was in Dallas for that day only so I couldn't have my follow-up appointment on Monday, which left me out on the blue and on my own regarding my condition. The good thing is that I feel really well so i'm not too worried, but I could use some reassurance from an experienced surgeon, which I finally got with the response from Mr. Boeree, especially when he mentioned: "You are clearly a very motivated young man and I was sure from the outset that you would do well. The CT scan shows the implant is in a very good position and at this stage it is good to know that that is very unlikely to change now" and that "The implant position looks really good from the CT. You can see that it is not protruding at all into the spinal canal or the neural foramina. A little sciatica is common after disc replacement. I think it is usually because the nerve roots have to get used to the new way the segment is moving, and they may also have got a little stretched as a result of the surgery."
As for my condition, I've been carrying suitcases off of the conveyor belt at the airport. I've been packing and loading boxes on my car for my move to Miami. I've been driving around for hours and hours. I think i'm doing pretty darn well!
As for my sciatica on my left leg, it's barely happening anymore. But Mr. Boeree said that if it gets troublesome then I should contact him.
