Hello all,
I just saw Meyers on Tuesday and am slated to go under the knife on Wednesday, May 28.
As I had posted earlier, my insurer (Aetna) posted a policy bulletin stating that this procedure is experimental and investigational (http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/700_799/0750.html)
Has anyone had any success in fighting their insurance companies over this? Apparently Aetna PPO has covered this in the past, but this bulletin was issued quite recently. Thanks...
Sub 6,
I followed your link to the Aetna bulletin a week or so ago. They are quoting something a group including Meyers wrote about eight years ago. I first ran across the statement when researching this injury. At that time he (and most of the other surgeons) weren't performing this surgery much except on "high performance athletes", so I suppose it was a bit experimental. That certainly isn't true anymore. I would ask Meyer's office for some kind of letter from him and try and fight Aetna. Good luck. I'm sure glad I didn't get this injury ten years ago. I needed the surgery to keep building houses (but if I manage to sneak back on the soccer field, that'll just be gravy).
Jeff
YA so mine ended up being experimental and its for sure that they won't pay. apparently there is a 10% chance of getting them to pay and usually it is because a company is self-insured...but i think we're going to keep fighting it and get it appealed..let me know what happens with your surgery..i go under on the 21st..good luck with you
Update:
Had the op (mesh) Aug 2007, the surgeon found nothing significant but put the mesh in anyway, citing an %85 success rate with this procedure. Well I guess I'm in the unlucky 15% as I am no better, in fact over the last two months or so have got worse, now with hip and back problems.
I've been back to my sports doc and had an MRI, which maybe showed a slight tear in the hip, so under fluoroscopy had an injection of anaesthetic in the area, this made my hip feel better but not my groin, infact it made it much worse, to the point I could hardly walk. I've also being seeing a chiro who (obviously!) thinks it's my back, his treatments have relieved my back and hip but made my groin worse.
Can anyone offer any advice as to where I go now. After reading all the posts I am leaning towards a trip to Germany
Hi guys!
This is the best aricle I have read about SH ever:http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/ortho/residency/usmjournal/sportshernia.pdf
The only bad thing with the article is that they dont have the German ladys stats there. I have do work now,but read the article!!
jeff55 wrote:
Sub 6,
I followed your link to the Aetna bulletin a week or so ago. They are quoting something a group including Meyers wrote about eight years ago. I first ran across the statement when researching this injury. At that time he (and most of the other surgeons) weren't performing this surgery much except on "high performance athletes", so I suppose it was a bit experimental. That certainly isn't true anymore. I would ask Meyer's office for some kind of letter from him and try and fight Aetna. Good luck. I'm sure glad I didn't get this injury ten years ago. I needed the surgery to keep building houses (but if I manage to sneak back on the soccer field, that'll just be gravy).
Jeff
Jeff,
Thanks. Marcia had sent some articles over and I'll try to prepare something. I'm just wondering whether it's better to somehow try and argue over it before I get the surgery or whether I should just cross my fingers and then fight it once I get the bill.
Sub6
I HAVE the answer to this. I suffered all the symptoms (groin pain testicular pain etc etc). for 18 months. Was examined by the great Mr Gilmore himself (definitely not a nice guy, ZERO empathy for his patients) and told, yes it was/no it wasn't his thing. Had all the scans etc etc, the most expensive tests around.
Having almost resolved to a life of pain I went to see my local osteopath about an unrelated problem, mentioned the groin pain, he diagnosed it in three seconds and fixed it in another five. I'm not joking!
In all probability your sacrem is stuck out of line. My laymans understanding is that because this is mis-aligned, the tendons that pass through it pull on your testicles/ groin and cause the pain. Simply applied and totally painless pressure from him fixed it. He tells me it is always missed by the scans as they are looking for trickier stuff.
BUT WAIT. It gets better. Once it has been stuck it is likely to happen again. You may have a weakness there. But do the following and you can fix it yourself.
Its called the frog. Lay flat on your back. Draw up your knees until your feet are flat on the floor. Now let your knees open and fall apart sideways (Like a frog). No need to push down, just spread 'em as far as they will easily go. This rotates the hip in the sockets and frees everything up.
I am NOT medical and this may not fix you. But it has fixed half a dozen buddies who, like me, were pretty thrilled at the result.
If you are really grateful send ten bucks to
. Every 10 bucks goes to my osteopath.
Really hope this sorts it
I HAVE the answer to this. I suffered all the symptoms (groin pain testicular pain etc etc). for 18 months. Was examined by the great Mr Gilmore himself (definitely not a nice guy, ZERO empathy for his patients) and told, yes it was/no it wasn't his thing. Had all the scans etc etc, the most expensive tests around.
Having almost resolved to a life of pain I went to see my local osteopath about an unrelated problem, mentioned the groin pain, he diagnosed it in three seconds and fixed it in another five. I'm not joking!
In all probability your sacrem is stuck out of line. My laymans understanding is that because this is mis-aligned, the tendons that pass through it pull on your testicles/ groin and cause the pain. Simply applied and totally painless pressure from him fixed it. He tells me it is always missed by the scans as they are looking for trickier stuff.
BUT WAIT. It gets better. Once it has been stuck it is likely to happen again. You may have a weakness there. But do the following and you can fix it yourself.
Its called the frog. Lay flat on your back. Draw up your knees until your feet are flat on the floor. Now let your knees open and fall apart sideways (Like a frog). No need to push down, just spread 'em as far as they will easily go. This rotates the hip in the sockets and frees everything up.
I am NOT medical and this may not fix you. But it has fixed half a dozen buddies who, like me, were pretty thrilled at the result.
If you are really grateful send ten bucks to
. Every 10 bucks goes to my osteopath.
Really hope this sorts it
Hi Futbolista, I developed a inguinal hernia in the low left abdomen. I'm a runner and have done 4 marathons...including 3 Boston Marathons. Although I'm 62 I'd like to continue running so I researched the various ways to get the hernia fixed. Discovered that the mesh implant can come loose and people say they feel the mesh as they move. So then I found runners who recommended Dr Muschaweck for her minimal repair technique with microsurgery. So how long did it take to get scheduled for diagnosis/surgery? I'm hoping to do it ASAP if my wife will let me as its probably not covered by insurance. You mentioned 2 weeks of pain afterwards...how bad was the pain? Thanks! Bob
Hi Ade-
I am in the same boat as you are. I injured my groin while playing tennis. I had a surgery, the surgeon found nothing, he placed mesh thinking it would coure Sports hernia. I am 9 weeks since my surgery. It's gotten a little bit better. But I still have same symptoms. I dont feel any pain while walking and doing normal activities. I am able to play basket ball, but the day after I play, I am really sore. It's just frustrating. I can't workout, do situps. It hurts while doing situps. Right now I am in just wait and mode, thinking time will help it heel.Let me know how things go with you. You can email me for any questions.
Good luck.
jeff55 wrote:
I'm seven days out from surgery with Meyers (bilateral and adductor release)and feeling pretty damn good. Walking about a mile and a half each morning, and, while there has definitely been discomfort (especially sitting) I haven't had any severe pain.
Thanks again to everybody here for all the great info over the last year and ahalf.
Jeff
Jeff,
Glad to hear the surgery went well and you're on the mend. I owe Meyers a lot more than what I paid him. Good luck with the rest of the recovery.
RD
hey
im seeking "justintherunner"
can you hit me with an email?
got questions for you re labral tear/fai...im determined to get rid of this.
thanks
johnny
All right guys if you want to know what to do you're go to have to get surgery on it to feel any better. And not surgery for a regular hernia it has to be for athletic pubalgial. Dr Meyer in Philadelphia with Drexler Medic works with. NCAA D1 Duke, NFL, and some nba. I played professional basketball in the ABA and what they will do is have you get injected with dye in the hip/groin area then dr. Meyers will look at it and diagnose if you have it or not. Then you get surgery the next day. His number is 215-762-1078 (Dr. William C. Meyers) He did Donavan McNabb surgery. Make sure you have insurance because I didn't and they wanted 13,000 up front for half and the rest later now i have to wait 9 months to go back with insurance and have it done because the insurance company i had only covered the MRI to the pelvis. Also Dr. Richard Cattey looks like he's done surgery on it also. His number is 414-961-3254. Good luck because if you don't have surgery you will stay in pain I've had it for about 3 years and its time to get it done. Set up an appointment. With these doctors also one in the Uk some were. Good Luck
God Bless Guys
BostonBob08 wrote:
Greetings BostonBob08, Sorry to hear about the inguinal hernia. Hopefully you can find the right treatment and continue running.
For me, the turning point was seeing Dr. Muschaweck in Germany. When I finally decided to go see her, I think it took about 1 month to get an appointment which gave me the option to see her for diagnosis and then have surgey the following day if needed.
I went there, got the diagnosis, had the surgery and was able to leave the following day. That being said, The post-operative pain should not be taken lightly. The day of the surgery felt like I'd been kicked in the nuts but then after that the pain was more specific to the incision wound and the swelling around it. I could walk around, albeit slowly, but was most uncomfortable when there was any sort of pressure on my abdominal region, so a loose-fitting warm-up suit can be a good idea for that.
Because of the nature of my injury, I did not require any mesh treatment. I know that Dr. Muschawek tends to avoid using it unless absolutely necessary.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any more questions:
xuquer@hotmail.comHi Futbolista, I developed a inguinal hernia in the low left abdomen. I'm a runner and have done 4 marathons...including 3 Boston Marathons. Although I'm 62 I'd like to continue running so I researched the various ways to get the hernia fixed. Discovered that the mesh implant can come loose and people say they feel the mesh as they move. So then I found runners who recommended Dr Muschaweck for her minimal repair technique with microsurgery. So how long did it take to get scheduled for diagnosis/surgery? I'm hoping to do it ASAP if my wife will let me as its probably not covered by insurance. You mentioned 2 weeks of pain afterwards...how bad was the pain? Thanks! Bob
News...
New paper from Meyers/team; very interesting...
Now looking for links & info by alex mckechnie for setting up a prehab/rehab protocal re: AP.
that is the best article on sports hernias i have ever read, hands down. goes to show you that dr meyers is looking at the peripheral of the inguinal canal as opposed to just the point of worst pain. in that mode he has a solid understanding of the true etiology of patients.
i am still having issues now almost 2 years out postop.
i am going to see meyers for a consult, definitely, after reading this article.
it is a good article. i had the surgery with muschaweck i saw her 6 months after saying i had pain she gave me a cortisone shot in the adductors and said honestly just go to physical therapy loosen the tendons and regain a whole lot of strength. 6 months later the only part of my body that feels fine is my abdomen she was absolutely right. this injury made me damage my knee and pull my hamstring among other things. i have full faith in muschawecks surgery i was schedule for meyers but took johnnys advice and it was great advice. its been a year im back to doing interval sprints for the first time in 4 years i hope this helps any sufferers realize that there is hope just do the rehab it makes a world of difference i bit down for 6 months and worked my ass off not taking a break the whole time
Hi all,
I also agree that the Meyer's et al. article is the best out there and has now solidified my skepticism regarding my own bilateral laparo-mesh procedure.
The only thing I could find via the internet for McKechnie is his work with the "Core X System" and the Reebok "Core board." Couldn't find any workout routines etc.
Since I'm now 3 months post-surgery w/o improvement I'm going to consult with Meyers. Could someone who was successful in convincing their insurance to cover Meyer's procedure explain to me what you presented to them to support your case? Thanks, Chris
Going under the knife tomorrow afternoon. Then, the real battle of rehab and fighting my insurance can begin. :)
Hi guys
Can anyone explain Dr Muschaweck's procedure. I had laparo mesh repair last year without success, I'd like to know what she does differently and her success rate.
Also does anyone have any thoughts as to why laparo mesh repair seems to work (AFAIK) for the majority of people but does nothing for the rest of us
Thanks