Donald Corenman MD DC | Spine Surgeon Colorado

Forum Replies Created

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 16 total)

1 2 3 Next

Author

Posts
Susan117
Member

December 30, 2014 at 10:26 pm

Post count: 18

in reply to: New Symptoms … Hoping for some guidance #11929

Dr. Corenman,
I wanted to update you with the latest findings. I had a CT Myelogram on the 18th which showed nothing…the nurse told me that the Dr couldn’t figure out what is causing my symptoms and has now placed me PRN because the Myelogram was “normal”. I know that my symptoms are from my TLIF surgery in November 2013 but I cannot find a doctor to even consider that it could be that. Recent CT and Myelogram reports show a fusion at L4-L5 (2 different reports show that) but my surgery was done at L5-S1, so I thought! Anyway, now over the past few days, I have developed severe pain in my left ankle and my heel has been completely numb for days. I also have swelling and fluid retention in both ankles and feet and I’m still having burning pain in the right big toe and top of that foot, along with leg weakness and pain in my extreme lower back and hips. I have found a revision surgeon in Nashville and I have made an appointment. Is there anything you can suggest I talk to him about that will help me figure out what is going on? I have been dealing with these progressing symptoms, which are now getting so bad I am missing work on a regular basis, for over a year now. Thank you for your help, as always.

Susan117
Member

December 8, 2014 at 9:06 pm

Post count: 18

in reply to: New Symptoms … Hoping for some guidance #11830

I have C-D (Cotrel Dubousset, I believe is the name) rods which were implanted for scoliosis in 1985 which extend from T1 to L2 and screws and rods for a fusion in L5-S1. I have had successful MRI”s before but this doctor doesn’t seem to be able to get a good read. He is ordering a CT Myelogram now and I’m not too sure this wil work either. I just need to know what’s going on and for a year now, I have been going for test after test with no real answers. It’s frustrating to say the least! Is there any type of test that will show my problems…failed fusion at L5-S1, etc…that you can recommend? Apparently, he will not attempt to get a good MRI at another facility :( I feel so stuck!

Susan117
Member

December 5, 2014 at 2:00 am

Post count: 18

in reply to: New Symptoms … Hoping for some guidance #11821

Update: Had the MRI and 10 minutes into it, the technician pulled me out and said there was too much artifact. The dr sent me for a CT the next day…..same thing. Next step was an EMG/NCS which came back normal but during the test, when the needle was stuck into my right outside hip area I could not feel a thing….not even the electrical part. Afterwards, he tested my strength and determined that there was still significant weakness. He has now ordered a CT myelogram hoping it will show something. I am most concerned that all of this is due to my L5/S1 TLIF surgery in November 2013. I have had a funny feeling with movement, walking since surgery and still do…now along with a strange pinching feeling in that area with normal walking and even when I’m sitting or lying down…it shoots really sharp sometimes. I wonder if the CT Myelogram will show if I have a failed fusion or other problems in the fusion area? If not, what tests will show what is going on (given the fact that standard tests…MRI, CT….do not work for me due to all the hardware I have!). Thank you!

Susan117
Member

November 7, 2014 at 8:15 pm

Post count: 18

in reply to: New Symptoms … Hoping for some guidance #11690

Thank you for your answer. I have an MEI scheduled for Tuesday with results appt on the 17th. Weakness is getting worse….I have missed two days of work already :( I will let the forum know what the MRI says as soon as I know!

Susan117
Member

November 6, 2014 at 9:37 pm

Post count: 18

in reply to: New Symptoms … Hoping for some guidance #11680

Went to the dr and he believes my foot pain, toe burning and the feeling of shin splints are all a symptom of a possible L4 herniation with nerve impingement. He has ordered an MRI. If it turns out to be this, will it require surgery? He also out me on a 5 day dose of oral steroids, rest.

Susan117
Member

October 27, 2014 at 7:18 pm

Post count: 18

in reply to: Help needed to understand my situation #11611

Sounds like you do it right to protect the patient from future nerve problems…..not sure mine was done that way (my own bone was not used, only bmp and operative notes do not mention any kind of sealer being applied). Thanks for the response….I am calling my family doctor today to see if he knows a different doctor that will work wirh him to do a CT.
Woke up a few minutes ago and almost collapsed…my legs are aching and feel extremely week this morning :( thanks again for all of your responses. I really appreciate it…wish you were closer to Alabama….I would definitely try to get in to see you…you seem like a great, compassionate doctor who does whatever it takes to help your patients! We just don’t have that where I live :(
Author

Posts

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 16 total)

1 2 3 Next

Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Average rating:

81 reviews

Eric S

Sep 26, 2021

by Eric S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Successful pars repair at 46 years old

Back in November of 2018 (at 46 years old) I came from Vancouver BC to have a pars repair done with Dr. Donald Corenman at the Steadman Clinic in Vail Colorado. I'm finally posting this review nearly three years later in late 2021. The reason I waited so long was I wanted to know the final result before I posted my review. Unfortunately in that time Dr. Corenman has retired. Nevertheless, I want to post this review of Dr. Corenman and his staff at the Steadman Clinic in their excellent treatment of my L5 pars interarticularis.

I fractured my pars at age 42 back in 2014 when rolling on the gym floor, and was denied treatment by the Canadian healthcare system, probably due to my age. First my GP told me there was no surgical option for a pars defect, which was quite incorrect! I tried to live with it, but the symptoms worsened (periodic random spine slippage and weeks of resultant pain after just bending over to tie my shoe, so I eventually learned to mostly squat and hardly bend). When I finally consulted with Canadian spine surgeons, I was told they believed my pars defect had been congenital (since birth). This was absurd, considering I had done extreme martial arts (including jiu jitsu) for years prior, as well as 5 years of reinforcing steel full time in my 20s, probably the hardest job on the back you can find. No pars defect like mine would possibly have allowed this--ergo it was impossible that I had had the defect since birth. I did however have an asymptomatic congenital spina bifida occulta that made me more susceptible to a pars fracture. In 2014 in one instant, I went from having the strongest back people I knew said they'd ever seen, to being unable to safely bend over and tie my shoe without a non-negligible risk of my spine slipping randomly (which would lead to weeks of pain after each occurrence). This was due to the unilateral L5 pars defect, otherwise known as spondylolysis. It was when lying in pain on the floor 4 years later after maybe the 6th spine slippage event post injury, that I had had enough, and resolved to have surgery. If Canada's "universal health care" said no, I would make lemonade from lemons, and find the very best surgeon in the world at pars repairs. That was Dr. Donald Corenman. Dr. Corenman back in 2018 ran a website https://neckandback.com/ that dedicated many pages to the science of every aspect of pars repairs, from eligibility (good discs on MRI), to best surgical techniques (minimal open compared to minimally invasive), best imaging to use (i.e., O-Arm with Stealth imaging vs. older fluoroscopy), the ideal amount of BMP to use and why not use too much or too little, and much more, all to do with pars repairs, pages upon pages of his site just on the pars, with scientific references and his own extensive expert opinion. As a health research statistician, I was very impressed with this. It was in stark contrast to the websites of other spine surgeons which barely gave the pars a word or two, focusing almost exclusively on fusions. I had found the best surgeon in the world for pars repairs, and so after Dr. Corenman personally screened my MRI to ensure my discs were healthy, I booked the surgery.

Being 46 years old at the time of surgery in 2018, with a 4-year-old pars fracture from 2014 combined with a congenital SBO meant my pars fragment was somewhat atrophied, but it was "very solid", said Dr. Corenman in the operative report. Nevertheless, it was challenging with two things to fix, the pars and SBO, and OR time was around 4 hours. Recovery over the following months was guided by a very clear "Spine binder" from the Steadman Clinic with strict rules of "no BLT" (no bending, lifting or twisting), and illustrated physiotherapy guidelines. They even warned patients to avoid fish oil supplements, which could excessively dampen inflammation and hence slow bone healing. They answered many questions I had during months of recovery, with responses coming from the very supportive Lori Fugate (then director of Dr. Corenman's practice), and Ehrich Bean (then physician's assistant at the practice), as well as a couple calls with Dr. Corenman himself after two of the CT scans. Ehrich Bean offered great advice for taking the spine binder conservatively due to the nature of pars repairs vs. fusions. The final post-op CT scan I had was a couple weeks ago at 34 months post-op, and Dr. Corenman had retired, but I got a very positive and informative call from Eric Strauch (current PA at the Steadman Clinic under Dr. Corenman's replacement there, and who had also worked with Dr. Corenman previously). The staff at the Steadman Clinic were extremely supportive all the way through the process. I should mention, the local Canadian spine surgeon did offer me very good post-operative support including antibiotics as needed to deal with a mild surface incision-site infection early on, booking numerous x-rays when I felt something was amiss, as well as booking all four of my post-op CT scans. I am very grateful for that support also.

My final result shows plenty of solid bone across the pars and a healed SBO, with my vertebral body now a solid bone ring instead of being broken at two places as it was pre-op. Does my spine hold up in the real world? You bet! I have recently dug and moved several yards of dirt and sand and gravel by myself (shovel and wheelbarrow!) to fix our water main, pulled roots from the yard, moved several "portable" (these are HUGE) air conditioners up several flights of stairs my myself, and lifted weights. I now run 2 miles (3.2 KM) several times weekly with a hard 100 meter dash in the middle. I bend deeply before each run I go on, with no spine slippage. My spine feels amazing. I can bend over to do exercise, or real word tasks, with no risk of spine slippage.

My sincere thanks to God, Dr. Donald Corenman, Lori Fugate, Ehrich Bean, Eric Strauch, and the Steadman Clinic, as well as the Canadian spine surgeon who offered me excellent post-operative care back in Canada. You have all given me a new lease on life.

Sincerely,
Eric S

Robert S

May 11, 2021

by Robert S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Back Fusion Surgery

I had my entire lumbar spine fused in November of 2018. I had scoliosis , with pinched nerves that were so painful I could hardly walk - and standing for more than a few minutes was impossible. Even sitting was painful.
The fusion surgery produced immediate relief! And the recovery was much easier than I expected.
To this day I can do all the activities I love from hiking, to standing in a stream fly fishing to riding my bike long distances - or just walking down the street with my wife.
Kudos to Dr. Corenman and his staff, (including the two Erics) for taking such good care of me!

Leslie R

Jul 9, 2020

by Leslie R on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

TLIF

I had my TLIF surgery on 6/24/2020 by Dr. Corenman, I can not say enough good things about the Dr or his staff. I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic.

Submit your review
First Name, Last Initial:
Email:
Review Title:
Rating:	1 2 3 4 5
Review:

Check this box to confirm you are human.
Submit Cancel

Susan117

Forum Replies Created