Patient Stories

My surgeons Dr. Thomas Bierstedt and Dr. Bernd Illerhaus worked their magic, the experience they have to produce the results gave me the best confidence in what I was doing and an unbelievable result.

My problem started 28 years ago when I prolapsed L4/5 and L5/S1 and had to give up building. Over those almost 3 decades my daily life has shrunk a little every year till this year where it was completely destroyed, and I was advised I needed a double fusion.

Not wanting a fusion as I know how bad fusions are long term led me to search for an alternative and that’s when I found the ONZ Clinic. Once I went through the research process, references, approvals it was a no brainer this surgery was a must for me.

As I said earlier the entire process from pick up to drop off was fantastic, I had nothing to worry about, think of, or organise. It was all streamlined and seamless.
The entire staff at the hospital, every person there from surgical and medical staff right down to the cleaner who washed the floors of my room every day was there for me, nothing was an issue or problem and the speed and efficiency that they attended to what I needed was fantastic. They were so friendly and helpful that I will remember each and every one of them.

The same has to be said for Rehab at Medicos. What an amazing facility.
From the time we checked into the Courtyard Marriott to leaving, just fantastic.
20min after arrival at the hotel I was collected and given the tour of Medicos and explained what and where, given my daily schedule and straight into rehab where every day I met with my assigned team including Doctor for daily assessment, wound management with the nurse, physiotherapy, Ergo Therapy, lymphatic massage, massage, occupational therapy and Gym.

The fact there is a restaurant there made your day very easy but having a reserved table for the ONZ patients every day made it that much easier and made you feel special.

All I had to do every day was just focus on me and recovering.
It is all the added bits of the refined process that ONZ have crafted along with unequalled surgical skills that allowed me to fly back to NZ 16 days post-surgery in comfortable enough condition.

Every patient is different, I am sure there are different speeds to recovery.
I have been very happy with mine, 28 years of getting shorter in height and compressing nerves that are then decompressed in two hours and prosthetics that make me an inch taller has to take some recovery and rehab.

My nerves were angry causing me grief but upon Dr. Thomas Bierstedt review, “this DISTRACTION pain is to be expected”. I must also add a very important point. The first day post-surgery that they stood me up in hospital, I had ZERO back pain that I arrived with and have had none since.

I have worked tirelessly every day on my rehab and exercises with amazing results each week.

As you know 28 years of degeneration after an injury like that on the entire spine is not good either. I was hoping that the by-product of the surgery would help the rest of my spine, and I must say from day one improvement elsewhere has been amazing no more neck headaches, I am doing exercises in the gym that I couldn’t before!!

I have nothing but gratitude and respect for the team that have given me a second chance in life.

My 14 year old son doesn’t have to tie my shoelaces for me anymore and is excited about what we can do together this summer, my wife of 20 years a relationship that spans a quarter of a century has not known me without a sore back.

Thank you for my future.

All good here, just gone 4 Months and very happy. Nerves are settling a little each week and muscles are coming back. I throw in a 2-2.5km run every two or three days in my 5km walk. Yesterday 1.5km row and heart rate not too bad.
Flexibility is coming on and have just started light rotational strength work.

Muscle spasms have just about completely gone now.

One question, I get a few clunks during the day in some movements perhaps when sitting and slight twisting. Sounds like when you crack your knuckles or back but duller. Any intel on that?

I attached some new training photos of my progress in the gym.

Hi to the team,

All going great here, all muscles, Nerves and ligaments are settling nicely and we are pretty much down to the left glute only that is present and that is minor compared to previous but is there purely due to exercise with me pushing it!! Diminishing daily. There is nothing I don’t do now, running daily, gym 3 times a week, washing the boat as I get no stiffness or discomfort, it really is incredible.

By my best medical experience guess any glute discomfort (I must say it is minor) will be gone in 4 weeks and there will be Zero symptoms or surgical residue apart from my tanned scar! Photo from the weekend out in the boat.

Hope the x-rays look as good as they should do and you are pleased with what you see.

Please give my best to Dr. Bierstedt and all of team ONZ in Germany.

Talk soon, cheers

Big event for me was doing the Tongariro Alpine crossing on Monday, a world heritage site here. A 7 hour hike, 23.5km 293 floors, 34,930 steps and approx. 3500 calories.

Back was fine, including caring a 10kg pack, legs and glute muscles thought I was a …. but are settling down by themselves with stretches and has not stopped me doing anything else on camp.

One part called the Devils Staircase consists of 364 alpine steps and mountain ramps between!!

Regards,