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[TheAlchemist]

Great info across the board from LL vets!

I'm in the process of planning and budgeting for my rod removal. For the actual op, I went with Paley and knowingly paid a substantial premium over other docs given the risk / reward assessment and going with the most reputable doc. In hindsight I'm happy with the decision even factoring in the premium of $20k to $30k as I'm happy with the outcome and am fully aware of the much higher risks/commitment involved in the initial op. In other words the cost / benefit and associated risk made sense to me paying top dollar for the initial op......

Question for all: Given the nature of the rod removal procedure, and assumed reduced complexity and related risks as compared to the initial op, what would you say the cost / benefit is with going with the right doc? Going with Paley right now would cost me around $18k, while there are other US docs that can possibly do the procedure for $14k, or even as low as $10k with the right insurance. Going a step further, I've heard you can get the removal done for around $5k with Dr. Giotikas in Greece.

A part of me thinking going with a US doc for the lowest possible fee (e.g. $10k to $14k) makes more sense than paying the Paley premium given the risk/nature of the procedure. Another part of me thinks, well if the procedure is that simple why not save even more money and go to Dr. G in Greece?

Would love to hear people who've had their rods removed thought process was when selecting a doc and budgeting for the removal op?

Thanks!

[Arcon]

Great info across the board from LL vets!

I'm in the process of planning and budgeting for my rod removal. For the actual op, I went with Paley and knowingly paid a substantial premium over other docs given the risk / reward assessment and going with the most reputable doc. In hindsight I'm happy with the decision even factoring in the premium of $20k to $30k that I paid by doing it with Paley and all the associated overhead costs with staying and living out in Florida as opposed to doing it with another slightly cheaper US doc where I could save costs living home, etc. as I'm happy with the outcome and am fully aware of the risks/commitment involved in the initial op. In other words the cost / benefit and associated risk makes sense to me......

Question for all: Given the nature of the rod removal procedure, complexity and related risks, what would you say the cost / benefit is with going with the right doc? Going with Paley right now would cost me around $18k, while there are other US docs that can possibly do the procedure for $14k, or even as low as $10k with the right insurance. Going a step further, I've heard you can get the removal done for around $5k with Dr. Giotikas in Greece.

A part of me thinking going with a US doc for the lowest possible fee (e.g. $10k to $14k) makes more sense than paying the Paley premium given the risk/nature of the procedure. Another part of me thinks, well if the procedure is that simple why not save even more money and go to Dr. G in Greece?

Would love to hear people who've had their rods removed thought process was when selecting a doc and budgeting for the removal op?

Thanks!

Well, EU hospitals are so much more competitive than the US these days in all types of medical services and with similar quality standards, so what you are thinking does make sense.
The only problem is that Giotikas prices out all implant removals that aren’t his and puts them on a separate waiting list (he actually calls it "discount and prioritization to his own cases", but it's the same thing, isn't it ?). It may still be worth it though.

[BetzLandLiberator]

Great info across the board from LL vets!

I'm in the process of planning and budgeting for my rod removal. For the actual op, I went with Paley and knowingly paid a substantial premium over other docs given the risk / reward assessment and going with the most reputable doc. In hindsight I'm happy with the decision even factoring in the premium of $20k to $30k as I'm happy with the outcome and am fully aware of the much higher risks/commitment involved in the initial op. In other words the cost / benefit and associated risk made sense to me paying top dollar for the initial op......

Question for all: Given the nature of the rod removal procedure, and assumed reduced complexity and related risks as compared to the initial op, what would you say the cost / benefit is with going with the right doc? Going with Paley right now would cost me around $18k, while there are other US docs that can possibly do the procedure for $14k, or even as low as $10k with the right insurance. Going a step further, I've heard you can get the removal done for around $5k with Dr. Giotikas in Greece.

A part of me thinking going with a US doc for the lowest possible fee (e.g. $10k to $14k) makes more sense than paying the Paley premium given the risk/nature of the procedure. Another part of me thinks, well if the procedure is that simple why not save even more money and go to Dr. G in Greece?

Would love to hear people who've had their rods removed thought process was when selecting a doc and budgeting for the removal op?

Thanks!

I think you should pay the price and go with Paley just because he did your original surgery with him, so he already knows you, your leg, how he originally put the nail there in the first place, etc... No guessing.
It's a much simpler surgery but it's always good to avoid problems.

[TheAlchemist]

I think you should pay the price and go with Paley just because he did your original surgery with him, so he already knows you, your leg, how he originally put the nail there in the first place, etc... No guessing.
It's a much simpler surgery but it's always good to avoid problems.

I see your point but that is a $8k to $14k premium I'm paying for peace of mind haha. I can afford it but that's a decent amount of cash to revisit the Paley risk / reward value. If Dr. Rozburch can do it for $10k (assuming my insurance covers and $10k is out of pocket) it would be hard for me to justify an additional $8k for Paley for a relatively standard procedure of removing rods when Dr. Rozburch is US based and is a very reputable doctor.

[Movie]

I don't think that's a factor that comes in to play in this surgery ... it doesn't matter if another doctor hasn't seen your legs before, they're using the x-ray machine during the surgery so they see where their tool is going and where the nail is at all times, they're not guessing. I'm pretty set in going to Giotikas in Greece for my nail removal, little vacay to visit Athens, do surgery, then a few days later go back home for I'm estimating 7-8K total, rather than paying 21K at Mahboubian they quoted me.

[BetzLandLiberator]

I don't think that's a factor that comes in to play in this surgery ... it doesn't matter if another doctor hasn't seen your legs before, they're using the x-ray machine during the surgery so they see where their tool is going and where the nail is at all times, they're not guessing.

Maybe "guessing" is not the best term for what I meant. But every patient is unique, sometimes the doctor had to ream a little bit more in one leg, maybe had to put the screw a little bit different in one of the legs, maybe there was some nerve problem during the first surgery in one leg, etc...
Your original surgeon would know about that. If you go with another one he would have to discover this by your medical records, x-ray, etc...

Anyway, I don't think 4k is such a big difference in price considering the cost of the surgery.
But you're right that that's a much simpler procedure, maybe it won't make any difference.
My opinion it's only what I would do (and what I did - I went back to Germany to take the nail out with Betz).

[hanshi]

I see your point but that is a $8k to $14k premium I'm paying for peace of mind haha. I can afford it but that's a decent amount of cash to revisit the Paley risk / reward value. If Dr. Rozburch can do it for $10k (assuming my insurance covers and $10k is out of pocket) it would be hard for me to justify an additional $8k for Paley for a relatively standard procedure of removing rods when Dr. Rozburch is US based and is a very reputable doctor.

You are correct. Any surgeon can remove the nail as long as he has the appropriate extraction tool. Anything else is of no importance. I know this from experience.

[Movie]

Exactly to my understanding There's special tools to install the Stryde nails that the surgeons use and they use those same tools to remove the nails, so anybody who does a good job in putting the strydes successfully should be able to uninstall them as well.

[iwanttobeabillionaire]

This thread came right in the nick of time.

Getting my nail removed in one week and scared  less. Of course previous operations were worse but something about this being the final one. The info on this thread makes me feel better. Would just like to be out of the woods and have it all in the past.

The only curious thing is my doctor mentioned I should use crutches for two months. I thought I’d be back to mostly normal within two weeks. Anyone else get this recommendation?

FYI 6.5cm Tibia LON in April 2018.

[hanshi]

This thread came right in the nick of time.

Getting my nail removed in one week and scared  less. Of course previous operations were worse but something about this being the final one. The info on this thread makes me feel better. Would just like to be out of the woods and have it all in the past.

The only curious thing is my doctor mentioned I should use crutches for two months. I thought I’d be back to mostly normal within two weeks. Anyone else get this recommendation?

FYI 6.5cm Tibia LON in April 2018.

It's a safety measure. After nail removal the bone is weakened due to the drill holes from the screws and since the nail was taking part of the load from the bone before. Therefore you should be careful immediately after removal and not jump and run for a few weeks. Using crutches is for additional safety. Better be safe than sorry.

[Movie]

This thread came right in the nick of time.

Getting my nail removed in one week and scared  less. Of course previous operations were worse but something about this being the final one. The info on this thread makes me feel better. Would just like to be out of the woods and have it all in the past.

The only curious thing is my doctor mentioned I should use crutches for two months. I thought I’d be back to mostly normal within two weeks. Anyone else get this recommendation?

FYI 6.5cm Tibia LON in April 2018.

Nice man please do let us know how it goes, never heard of 2 months to recover from nail removals lo,l but then again yours are tibia nails, not femurs, those go out from the knee rather than hip, sounds a bit more invasive.

[frenchie]

Where did Giotikas come from all of a sudden? People want to travel to some other country and go to him because he is good and they know this how? Zero accounts of full recovery or legit patient testimonials. Why not go to Betz who also does Stryde now so he should be able to remove it for cheaper than a US doctor.

[Arcon]

Where did Giotikas come from all of a sudden? People want to travel to some other country and go to him because he is good and they know this how? Zero accounts of full recovery or legit patient testimonials. Why not go to Betz who also does Stryde now so he should be able to remove it for cheaper than a US doctor.

I think that the small percentage of us here who are actually getting closer to having their surgery done, don't just rely on information from this forum only and it seems to be a lot of word-of-mouth recommendations out there for Dr Giotikas from his previous patients.  Betz is also a very good surgeon and certainly cheaper than the US to have your nails out.

[azman]

Where did Giotikas come from all of a sudden? People want to travel to some other country and go to him because he is good and they know this how? Zero accounts of full recovery or legit patient testimonials. Why not go to Betz who also does Stryde now so he should be able to remove it for cheaper than a US doctor.

He came from out of space like yesterday, a long distance planet TOI 700 d.  I assuming you are a patient of Betz for that recommendation, if not well well.  Betz is a good surgeon but Giotikas is the BEST from my own personal experience.  I’m not saying he is better than any other surgeon, since I have no experience with them.  Do your research before blasting a surgeon!!! 

I thank God every morning when I wake that I chose Dr. Giotikas not for the money I saved from traveling to Athens compared to doing it in the US, but for the successful surgery and lengthening, it’s been a game changer and BEST decision I ever made and only wished I did it sooner. 
 
Zero accounts of full recovery or legit patient testimonials.  You must be a joker or full of 💩💩💩.

[Hagane]

hey just wanted to revive this topic real quick

@ez i know from your diary that you did stryde. because of that magnetic legnthening device you cannot go through an mri. and while youre healthy now there may come a time down the line whereyou may need one. and if those rods are in: they're a contraindication

[a]

Do you guys really want to live with an UNNATURAL substance in your bones?!
Seriously, get them removed.

Best Regards

[OverrideYourGenetics]

I would also suggest removing the rods. I had mine removed one year after I stopped lengthening, and the knee pain went away, and I was able to run much longer than before.

Here's my post on before vs. after rods removal, plus details on the removal surgery (it was much easier than the insertion).

[azman]

I would also suggest removing the rods. I had mine removed one year after I stopped lengthening, and the knee pain went away, and I was able to run much longer than before.

Here's my post on before vs. after rods removal, plus details on the removal surgery (it was much easier than the insertion).

That’s awesome!!! Can’t wait till I get mine out. 
Did you ever get knee pain, well pain around the knee like upper knee lower femur muscle area when you lay to rest, off and on?

[Movie]

I would also suggest removing the rods. I had mine removed one year after I stopped lengthening, and the knee pain went away, and I was able to run much longer than before.

Here's my post on before vs. after rods removal, plus details on the removal surgery (it was much easier than the insertion).

This gives me HOPE and LIFE personally lol I need this on and off knee pain to go! I'm happy you're still around OYG. Cheers!

[OverrideYourGenetics]

Did you ever get knee pain, well pain around the knee like upper knee lower femur muscle area when you lay to rest, off and on?

No pain while stationary, except in the very first few weeks after the implant surgery.