Donald Corenman MD DC | Spine Surgeon Colorado

@christinla

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Registered: 9 years ago

Here is > the summarization of the cervical injury,and surgeries; > additional procedures as well as an additional medical > problem called EhlersDanlos syndrom. > > __________________________________________________________________________________________ > Christine Lalley > Summary of > cervical spine injury and subsequent failed surgeries > > > December 2008 - > > > My cervical spine was injured. > I felt immediate and severe pain deep in neck. > I was in an early morning boxing class (heavy > bag); and felt my entire neck go out/give out. > > Diagnosis: four herniated > discs and sprained neck. The spasms started and have never > ceased. > > I > proceeded to try nonsurgical approaches and procedures which > all failed: > 8 spinal epidurals, > physical therapy, > > chiropractor (hurt neck further), > and > McKenzie physical therapy. > > > September 2009 > > I had the first > cervical spine surgery at the University Hospital Tampa > Florida with surgeon Antonio Castellvi of Florida Orthopedic > Institute. > Dr. Castellvi determined that the > C6/7 level was the most so a pro disc C was surgically > installed in spine. > > I spent two nights in the hospital and > over two months trying to recover. I returned to work still > in severe burning pain which increased. The burning pain > deep is deep in my neck predominantly on right side. I was, > and am still unable to hold my head up. > > > > 2010 > > I returned to Dr. > Castellvi but no diagnostic testing was offered nor done, > the surgeon was angry. He stated "everything looks > fine". > > I > went to the Texas Back Institute and underwent a discogram > and diagnostic injections. The discogram indicated that the > pain generator was the C5/6 level. > I also > had an Independent analysis utilizing all of my medical > records, imaging and a phone consultation. This was > completed by Dr.Wilhem Zeegers (see medical records). > > I continued > follow-up care with doctors at Florida Medical Clinic with > Dr. Gregory Cohen. Dr. Cohen felt that removing the Prodisc > C and preforming a 2-level fushion at C5/6 and C6/7 would > improve my cervical spine and failed surgery. > > I also met with Dr. > Joseph Moreno, for a consultation. Dr. Moreno was to view > my MRI and Xray imaging and provide his opinion. Dr. Moreno > also advised removing the artificial disc and fusing at 2 > levels. > > I was > advised against revision and fusion by other doctors, due to > the prodisc C having large keels which make removal high > risk. > Dr. Stephen Gardner took, and viewed > Xrays of my cervical spine and stated that he would not > touch the "mess" in my cervical spine. > > > November 2011 > > I had my 2nd cervical spine surgery with > surgeon Nick Boeree in Southampton England. Nick Boeree > performed M6 Surgery and implanted the ADR into my C5/6 > level. > > The surgeon tried > to compensate for the prodisc C alignment and size error by > using a very large-sized M6. (See-operation report November > 2011). Notation in op report ProdiscC is 2mm anterior, the > surgeon also stated that there were so many bone spurs that > they had to spend a lot of time'cleaning them > out'. > > > Chronic pain and spasms not only continue > but has worsened over the years. > > > 2011 - Present > > My neck is still > unstable. I have chronic severe pain deep in my neck, > predominantly on the right side, relentless spasms increased > after Surgeries - all deemed surgeries deemed failures. The > ongoing pain is from the surgical site. > > > I still am no longer to able hold > up head up for any length of time. > > > I lay flat on heating pad throughout > the day and night. > I rarely sleep due > to suffering major pain issues. > > Additional Procedures: > > Prolotherapy injections - 10 months. > > RFAs (radio frequency alblation) 2 times. > Courses of prednisone packs to decrease > inflammation and prescribed Naproxin. > > > > 2014 > > Diagnosed with > EhlersDanlos Syndrome. > > EhlersDanlos family history sister(38) and > first cousin(43) both passed away from brain aneurysm. > > > EhlersDanlos injuries etc: > > Born cross-eyed surgically fixed > ophthalmologist states left eye now turns out. > Base of thumb dislocations (multiple) > bone spurs; hand surgeon states unable to surgically fix, > (opening a jar caused initial dislocation). > Large foot bone dislocated and came out; > surgery done in Orlando. The hardware in foot bone never > healed correctly, (walking caused this injury). > Carpal Tunnel right forearm > injury/developed carpal tunnel. 8 surgeries to correct. > > dislocations/subluxation left > shoulder left hip neck knee. Neck often "goes > out". > > > Diagnosed with Osteoporosis - > trying to reverse by healthy diet, vitamins and Supplements. > > > > Please take my case, please look at the > diagnostic imaging to let me know what has happened what is > causing the never-ending pain and spasms in my neck. > > Pain is all at the > surgical site. > > Dr. > John Ostero referred me to you, Dr. Donald Smith. Dr. Ostero > stated that you have a stellar reputation, and that you are > not quick to to do surgery. He feels that you will be able > to (hopefully) tell me what is wrong, and the options > available to correct the surgery/hardware/bone spurs in my > cervical spine. > > > Sincerely, Christine Lalley >

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Donald Corenman, MD, DC

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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.

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