Nettie and Dave Reimer

A two day conference in Winkler is bringing together doctors and officials from Stenum Hospital in Germany with those who have already had and those considering having artificial disc replacement (ADR) surgery. The operation addresses degenerative disc disease, something many sufferers at the conference said is not being addressed by procedures currently available in Canada or the United States. The ADR procedure is essentially not available in North America, but is widely available in Europe with dozens of North Americans making the journey to Stenum every year.

The procedure offered at Stenum Hospital involves an implant being placed in the spine. According to Stenum's website, ADR intervention offers the possibility of complete restoration of disc height, and removal of the disc which may be in contact with exit nerves or the spinal cord.

Malte Petersen the head of Stenum's International Medical Department and Dr. Hanz Georg Zehcel are in attendance, and have answered dozens of questions from individuals interested in finding out more. Stenum officials have also had approximately 40 appointments over the two days with individuals wanting more information about the ADR procedure. The event was organized by New Bothwell resident Ken Hiebert who went to Germany in June for the surgery.

Also in attendance is Dave Reimer, the first Manitoban and the second Canadian to have the procedure at Stenum. He is being called a pioneer as one of the first to fly overseas for the ADR procedure.

Reimer and his wife Nettie were living in Grunthal at the time of his journey that ended with the surgery at Stenum Hospital. That was about seven years ago, and it's clear the operation has had a huge impact on his life. "Pain everyday, morphine everyday, enough morphine to not know if you've picked up the mail, or if you are on your way to pick it up again," says Reimer. "It was hard to even walk as far as the bathroom across the room very many days." He saw several specialists in Winnipeg, and was ultimately told he would have to live the rest of his life with the pain. He tells us he had intense lower back pain, his legs didn't work right, and eventually he had to stop working.

He says throughout the five years he was on disability he continued to look for medical treatments that would address his situation.

Reimer says the experience of actually flying to Germany, and prepping for the surgery was scary, but stresses he had nothing to lose because he didn't have a life. Since having the surgery, he tells us he's got his life back.

As for being recognized as a pioneer, "Very humbling. It's been worth every step of the way. There's not many words for it, it's just unbelievable." Reimer and his wife Nettie Live in Magrath, Alberta where he works as a trucker.

According to organizers of the conference and officials from Stenum Hospital, over 100 Manitobans have visited the facility to have ADR procedures completed. Petersen says those patients have come predominantly from the Steinbach, Grunthal, Altona, and Winkler areas.