My experience – MS patient
09-09-2015
09-09-2015 On 4 June, I had surgery for a rather complicated condition. I suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS) and over the past year I’d been feeling even worse than I normally do. I visit my neurologist every six months to keep my condition under control, and this time he said that the deterioration I’d been experiencing had nothing to do with MS but it was instead caused by a type of hernia called foraminal stenosis. The neurologist also said that I needed urgent surgery because the hernia had been affecting my mobility for almost 6 months, not to mention how painful it was.
The waiting list at the hospital were I was due to have surgery was too long, so I looked for options elsewhere. The hernia clinic in Ede was initially an option, but it wasn’t until the last minute that I found out that they didn’t have an intensive care unit and that they perform surgery under general anesthesia. Personally, I didn’t like the idea, and it’s a shame that they didn’t mention it earlier.
In retrospect I’m glad that things didn’t work out at other clinics, because that’s what led me to Dr. Iprenburg’s clinic in Veenhuizen. I felt instant relief as soon as I walked in. The clinic is well organized, the patient is a priority, and you can tell that Dr. Iprenburg knows what he is talking about. The operation was over soon and the team briefed my neurologist. The surgery is done under local anesthesia and I can tell you that the pain level is minimal.
I arrived at the clinic at eight o’clock and was there for a total of one and a half hours. After surgery you feel a bit lightheaded but the anesthetist is always by your side. Once you leave the clinic, you should follow carefully the post-op instructions for best results. A nice detail is that I was given a book on the social history of the Netherlands and of Veenhuizenm, which shows how human Dr. Iprenburg and his team are and their consideration towards every patient. Unfortunately, this treatment hasn’t yet been reimbursed by my insurance provider. This is too bad because the benefits are great: faster recovery at home, less pain, avoiding waiting lists, and a very good team that keeps in contact with patients even after surgery.