Hello From The UK.
 

Hello, i have recently been put on the waiting list for hybrid surgery (fusion and ADR) and i have been reading up a lot about other people's experiences so that i know what to expect when they call me in for surgery.

It's going to take me soooooo much time to read all the topics on here to find out how those of you who had similar operations are getting on after surgery but i would be really happy to hear from anyone who has had fusion & ADR done so i can go into it with an open mind.

Mark (UK)

Mark, welcome to he forum. I've had many clients with fusion at L5-S1 and ADR at L4-5... all I can think of now have excellent results. See Alan's story on the GPN stories pages... 100% recovery.

With all spine surgeries, you'll hear good and bad. If you are a good candidate and you get a good job done, you have an excellent chance of a good outcome.

Please tell us what levels... what device... why not 2 ADR?

Take care... all the best,

Mark

Hi Mark (it feels funny having the same name lol)

I can show you part of the letter from my consultant that shows in detail what they are planning to do. It is highly possible i will need 2 ADR's above a fusion but not all Dr's are enlightened enough to do 3 ADR's in a row in the UK, that's why it's good to hear from people in the US because as you know we usually get new procedures from you. That said, there are some Dr's here that are happy to entertain multiple ADR surgery - just not my one.

Procedure: Discography. Some pain at L4/5, and no response to injection clinically post op.

The patient's pain has continued. He would like to go ahead with surgery. I have placed him on the waiting list for an L4/5 disc replacement, L5/S1 fusion anteriorly, and in the interim have arranged a new MRI scan. Should the scan show any difference to that which we have seen in the past, particularly at L3/4, we may need to change his procedure to a 2 level disc replacement with a fusion at L5/S1. We will review the MRI scan results, and if we change the procedure, we will contact the patient"

Unless a disc is totally incompetent, most of the surgeons I know would not take disc just because it looks bad on MRI....

have you had discography?

(mark mark... sounds like a hair-lipped dog)

Yes, i had discography perfomed twice. I was already aware that 2 discs had degenerated then the 1st doscography revealed a further disc was badly degenerated so they performed a 2nd one on that disc which gave a positive result.

Mark

Now i'm going to sound really stupid, where can i find 'Alan's story on the GPN stories pages'? I don't know where to look for this bit?

Mark. (You're right, it does sound like a dog with hairlip) lol

Sorry Mark... I edited the original post to add the link... here it is again

Alan's story

GPN story page

Mark UK
 

Glad you found your way here!
Maria

I certainly did, thanks Maria. I have sooooo much reading to do as well. lol :D