Donald Corenman MD DC | Spine Surgeon Colorado

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MarieTaylo
Participant

January 13, 2018 at 1:39 am

Post count: 13

in reply to: Failed neck surgery #27295

Sammiemae wrote:

Marie, I can relate to your cervical spine issues. Two years ago I underwent a C3-T1 posterior fusion. I also have postoperative kyphosis, along with bilateral C8 radiculopathies and muscle dehiscence at the operative site. I am also dealing with intractable pain. I also have T7-8 and T8-9 herniated discs causing a stabbing pain in my thoracic spine and left rib and abdominal muscle pain, with EMG documented radiculopathies. I just under a CT/myelogram of my cervical and thoracic spine, and I am waiting for results of that from a spine surgeon at the Mayo Clinic. Like yourself, I can’t get any answers or relief from the pain and I am functionally disabled. I was am amazed to read your story and plan on following Dr. Corenman’s advice to you. Best wishes!

Hi Sammiemae,
I am sorry it has taken 4 months to respond or post on this forum. Right now, I woke up to wind gusts @ snow. I came upon this entry and I cannot completely respond (I have to get some sleep) but I will say the consult I had was extremely productive. Dr. Corenman laid out the (4) problems within my cervical spine, explained each problem and gave me a plan to attack each problem or “pain generator.”
I am still working on the 2 easiest problems.
Recommendations 3 & 4 will be difficult due to insurance and traveling quite a distance to see specific specialists who care for very complicated spine problems.
I will post additional information to you.
Don’t wait for me.
Collect all of your medical records and specifically all imaging related to your cervical spine.
I highly recommend Contacting their office and getting a consult with Dr. Corenman. The first item they will need is your imaging to review what has happened to your spine.
Then, he may want a very recent CT Scan. You will need to coordinate this with his office and your PCP.
After receiving a recent scan, he will to a comparative study of your cervical spine. Then, he will call again with his impressions and advice.
After discussing my case, I have a plan
which has given me some hope.
Best Wishes!!!

MarieTaylo
Participant

August 18, 2017 at 12:51 pm

Post count: 13

in reply to: Failed neck surgery #26016

Dr. Corenman,
You stated the issues related to pain management very well in a paragraph.
It’s very complicated.
I’m looking forward to meeting with you and hopefully, you can help me.

MarieTaylo
Participant

August 14, 2017 at 10:36 am

Post count: 13

in reply to: Failed neck surgery #25990

Sammiemae,
Don’t give up hope.
Until my cervical spine was damaged in 2013, I led a healthy life, had a interesting career and a lovely family.
I didn’t know what pain was until waking up from surgery on 7/7/2014. I tried to tell the PACU Nurse something was wrong.
When I signed the broad consent form, I read the possible risks involved.
What I didn’t realize at the time was if the surgery failed not only would I be coping with severe pain daily but soon the government would place major barriers to receiving pain management.
After ten months of crippling pain, I found a pain specialist who has made the pain bearable to do light ADL’s and daily physical therapy. Bed rest deconditions your body making a bad situation worse. If the pain had not been controlled, I wouldn’t be in a position to travel for healthcare. In February, a 10 minute car ride had me in tears. Now, I’m able to attend the Opera, a movie and contemplate a trip to Vail.
Dr. Corenman may not be able to change my situation. I hope he can! However, I believe he can explain what has happened and how I can best manage my spinal health.
Keep the Faith!
Marie

MarieTaylo
Participant

August 13, 2017 at 10:48 pm

Post count: 13

in reply to: Failed neck surgery #25986

Dr. Corenman,
After discussion with my husband, I have decided to complete the necessary paperwork and send all my medical records and imaging to your practice by the end of week ending 8/19/2017.
I’ve come as far as I can with physical therapy and pain management. Facing complete disability and chronic intractable pain by the age of 50 has taken me 4 years to accept. I still believe there is hope for me.
I’ll be in touch with your staff soon.
Marie T.

MarieTaylo
Participant

July 16, 2017 at 1:53 pm

Post count: 13

in reply to: Failed neck surgery #25562

Dr. Corenman,
Update from Winter 2017:
After meeting with 3 neurosurgeons, I was told that “most likely” an infection may have caused muscle & nerve damage in the cervical spine area. Basically, the shook their heads and expressed sadness about my situation.
(I don’t want sympathy…I want answers!!!)
By March, 2017 I was in debilitating pain. My husband & I met with a new Pain management doctor closer to home. (By March, I couldn’t tolerate more than a 10 minute car ride.)
Currently, I’ve been diagnosed with “intractable pain secondary to failed back surgery Syndrome”.
In Ohio, there is a law that allows Pain Specialist to treat “Intractable Pain” with higher doses of opioid medication than the “DEA/CDC/FDA/’Doctors without a MD’ Guidelines permit.
Currently, it’s been the only effective treatment offered to me.
After trials on various combinations of opioids, I’m currently on a 50 mcg./hr. Fentanyl pain patch and Norco 10 mg. TID prn (I’m taking all 3 doses daily).
Since the pain is down to a slightly more manageable level, I’ve completed 4 months of intensive physical therapy on my neck with in-home PT.
In June, I added daily aerobic exercise and worked up to 40 minutes of stationary biking and 25 minutes of Treadmill walking to my stretching exercises. Recently, I started going swimming twice/weekly, too.
Despite the exercise routine, I have severe pain bending, lifting pulling or any type of jarring movement. Sitting at the dinner table is challenging. So, I’m working to increase my stamina and reverse the severely deconditioned state that comes with prolonged bed-rest. However, simple daily tasks of living are very painful.
I have two more appointments in Cincinnati.
I’m meeting with a General Surgeon this week to evaluate the hideous scar on my neck. Sores have started to appear near the incision. (REVISION???)
The following week, I’m meeting with the Pain Specialist to discuss adjunct procedures (RFA to the cervical spine nerves, Occipital nerve block, trigger point injections, Facet injections, etc.).
“I know the pain medications are only covering up a painful problem.”
I’ve worked very hard and will continue to do exercise therapy until I drop!
Bottom line: I’m still in a lot of pain. I force myself to workout because I have no other options.
3 years of debilitating pain has taken its toll on me. I’m 54 years old, I haven’t been able to work since July, 2014. I rely on my husband for almost everything.
I told my husband that if between the two doctors they are unable to concieve of a plan that would make me less dependent on others; we need to consult with Dr. Corenman.
I don’t know if you can help me but I don’t even have a diagnosis.
Two neurosurgeons said, “We think an infection set into your neck incision.”
Another doctor said, “Your neck is a mess!” Then, he told me to return to the surgeon who created the ‘mess’
Do you feel a trip to Colorado could answer some questions and come up with a treatment plan to increase my ability to function?
Possibly, pain medication isn’t the only answer.
(BTW-I’m fused from C2-T2)
Let me know,
Marie C. T.
SW OHIO

MarieTaylo
Participant

March 23, 2017 at 4:57 pm

Post count: 13

in reply to: My issue is with C1-2 and i can't find much information published #24575

Dr. Corenman,
My husband & I have asked questions about severe pain after 3 cervical fusions and a revision.
On February 23, 2017 I had a MRI with contrast.
Technique: Multiplanar & multisequence MRI of the cervical spine performed on a 1.5 Tessa magnet without & with IV contrast.
Impression:
Post Surgical changes extending from C2-T2. Anterior Fusion is seen at C4-C7 with C5 corpectomy. Posterior Fusion is present from C2-T2.
C1-C2: Hypertrophic changes in the posterior elements contribute to bilateral C1-C2 foraminal narrowing without definitive nerve root impingement. There is no canal narrowing.
Limitations: Extensive metallic susceptibility artifact.
I’m experiencing disabling pain.
Is there a treatment for the above?
I was resigned that I had Epidural Fibrosis.
Could this be a factor in my poor outcome?
We would be on a plane to Vail on a heartbeat if we knew treatment is possible. I’m in so much pain that a two hour drive to a Midwest Medical Center brought me to tears.
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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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MarieTaylo

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