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Mr. Kanlibas with his wife and his surgeon Drs. Zeegers after the operation in 2006 |
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This is the story of my back-pain, the kind of pain that affected my daily life for many years: I suffered from crippling back pain for over 16 years. Everything started in 1990 when I picked up a case of soda, first it was back pain alone, later the pain radiated into my hip and legs. No improvement was achieved, despite of intense physiotherapy. I decided to go for spine surgery in 1998, hoping to finally gain some improvement, perhaps pain freedom. However, the worst complains ever have appeared a half year after the operation and lasted until my ADR surgery in March of 2006.
For 16 years I suffered from the worst pain and seizures, partially tied up to my bed for days on end and relying on strongest pain medication and cortisone injections. In this scenario it is quite obvious that anyone would be desperately searching for a solution. I kept asking myself the same questions over and over again: whom to trust with a repeat operation, would a new operation bring any pain relief, what to do? Many questions remained, many doubts grew in me, but I finally realized that I had to make a decision; there was so much life out there, so many things I would like to do and simply couldn’t. Things like waking up without pain, going for a walk without the later punishment of even stronger complains, going for a dive, skiing, being active, most of all, spending time with my 2,5 year old son, hold him in my arms…
After an extensive research and many phone calls my wife – who supported me throughout all the years of pain - and I finally travelled to the Alpha Klinik in Munich and met with Drs. Willem Zeegers. An extensive eight our examination marathon followed by a discography proved that my discs L3-4 and L5-S1 were no longer functioning and that both levels were causing my pain. On the following day two disc prostheses were implanted into my spine and – as I woke up 5 hours later – I had grown around 2.7 cm. I was released from the clinic 4 days later, with my two new, artificial discs that are supposed to stay in place as long as I live.
A year has passed since my operation. If someone would ask me today, how my back is doing, I would have to ask: DID I REALLY HAVE A BACK PROBLEM? Life has been so good lately. My wife and I took a motorcycle tour for a week in the past summer and I picked up diving just three months after my operation. Playing with my son and being pain free, however, has been the greatest gift.
I want to thank everyone who supported me on my way to my ADR surgery and who helped me imagine a life without pain. A huge thank you to Drs. Zeegers and to all physicians, nurses and staff involved in my treatment. Thank you for your friendly support, diligence, professionalism, Know-How. I will never forget you.
Hakan Kanlibas
From Izmir, Turkey
March 2007
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Alpha Klinik Homepage
Diagnosis
Therapy
Two level Artificial Disc Replacement
