Donald Corenman MD DC | Spine Surgeon Colorado

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Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

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fdylan1212
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November 18, 2017 at 5:21 pm

Post count: 8

in reply to: L4-L5 MRI Report #26867

Five Months Post Lumbar Fusion for L4-L5-S1

Addendum 1
At L5-S1 the previously noted central and slightly left-sided extruded disc herniation is
no longer seen there has been laminectomy associated with both pedicle screw and anterior
interbody fixation. Typically appearing postoperative enhancing granulation tissue is-notedl circumferentially without compressive effect.

At L4-5 the previously noted extruded left paracentral disc herniation is no longer seen
and there has been laminectomy. There is a posterior extrathecal small fluid collection
with mild to moderate central stenosis compressing the dorsal aspect of the thecal sac in
a curvilinear fashion. Pedicle screw and anterior interbody stylefixation is noted. Typically appearing postoperative enhancing granulation tissue is noted circumferential without
compressive effect.

fdylan1212
Participant

October 26, 2017 at 6:04 pm

Post count: 8

in reply to: Post Fusion Recovery with translation of post op MRI Translation #26698

Good evening

If these residual disks are causing compression what is the method of getting rid of them if they are causing my recurrent pain? From your experience would there have to be more surgery or is it something I just deal with for the rest of my life with pain. I am just curious.

Best regards

Francis May

fdylan1212
Participant

October 24, 2017 at 2:53 pm

Post count: 8

in reply to: Post Fusion Recovery with translation of post op MRI Translation #26665

Good afternoon

My fusion was based on the fact that my first surgery failed and discs re-herniated.
I know I must have a another spine doctor look at the images.
There is got to be something causing it.
Thanks for advice Best regards

fdylan1212
Participant

October 22, 2017 at 3:57 pm

Post count: 8

in reply to: Post Fusion Recovery with translation of post op MRI Translation #26643

Before my 1st surgery when I got hurt I had back/rear end pain and sciatica & numbness in my left leg.
EMG test om my left leg showed chronic sciatica and weakness in my foot and calf
Most activities would upset the symptoms and laying down would make it better
My pain intervals were between a 9 & 10.

After my first surgery I felt a little better for a first few weeks but my symptoms came back gradually like the ones noted above and my right foot started to feel numb for the first time. Most activities would upset it and PT was not doing much. The pain started at a 5 in the morning and then 8 by days end. Between Jan and June of this year My right started to get worse and heaviness and numbness and nerve pain was bilateral.

Now, after the fusion my back pain was around a 8 and moderate numbness and heaviness in my legs and feet and then gradually got back into the bilateral leg pain, complete numbness and heaviness in left foot and my right leg and foot started shortly after. I also have massive weakness in my left foot and walk with a gait.
Burning sensations started in my legs along with electric impulses in my left leg just two months ago
I went to my MD and he reviewed my MRI’s and said there was no nerve compression and everything was healing.Now, wants me to go for pain management. So, while I await for my Pain appointment I had the MRI’s reevaluated and the report noted above is the findings.

fdylan1212
Participant

October 21, 2017 at 4:20 pm

Post count: 8

in reply to: Post Fusion Recovery with translation of post op MRI Translation #26629

I was hurt at work back in 2015. My first surgery was in Sept. of 2016 cause I had two herniated disks and had a diskomecty. Soon after my symptoms came back: numbness in feet, heaviness in legs, weakness in my left leg.
I had a follow up MRI in Dec. of 2016 and the discs re-herniated and had severe central stenosis. Since it is workers comp. these things take a while to workout. Before my fusion I continued with the symptoms and did physical therapy and did the epidural shoots but they do not work. I just had a follow up with my surgeon and he wants me to go to pain management. He said that there was nothing wrong in my MRI’s to be feeling this way currently and I decided to have the images re-looked at and this report is what they sent me. Currently having electric like impulses in my legs and burning sensations in legs which I never had. So, I am not sure what to make of why current situation.
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Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

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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fdylan1212

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