My 3 mo X ray - Discs tilted all over the place

[steve55]

Met with Dr B and Dr Sullivan here in Wisconsin today. Apparently my disc subsided deeper into my vertebrea such that I may not have enough bone left to do a fusion with. I guess that when the disc sinks, it eats up the bone and it must just disentegrate? They may end up doing a corpectemy (removal of C5/6 & C6/7 ADR's and removal of the vertebrae). This is not quite as drastic as removing all 3 discs and two vertebraes as the dallas doctor suggested, but its still not good if that ends up being the case. Dr Sullivan said he would suggest doing the corpectemy but Dr B says that after reviewing all the films, he thinks I have just enough vertebrae left for him to be able to salvage this via fusion and save the C5/6 ADR. Dr B says that normally they dont take bone from the patient hip, they normally use donor bone. But in my case, I need the sturdiest tightest fusion possible since the vertebrae is already so compromised, so they will take bone from my hip instead. I told him I heard that the donor site pain can be worse than the fusion pain, but he says that's usally with lumbar cases due to taking much larger graphs. But with cervical, they dont need much and he will cut from the top center of the hip and not from the edges as most docs would do. This supposedly makes it much easier pain wise. He doesnt expect Ill have much of a problem with pain at the donor site (hip). I guess Ill see soon enough. Again, it may be they end up doing the corpectemy. It all depends on what they see once they have me open.

Im actually more worried about this surgery than I ever was about the 3 level ADR in germany. I have a feeling this one will really be a tough experience. Im hoping Im wrong, but Im really not looking forward to it at all. : ( Surgery is tommorrow at noon.

[Katie]

Oh Steve, what a turn of events. My prayers are with you. I don't know what else to say except good luck with it all. I have to look up all the terms to see exactly what they are doing with you as well.

Your very positive attitude has amazed me throughout all of this, and it will carry you far. I don't think I would ever have stayed as up beat as you have. You have my vote for most courageous man of the year

I just came across this now, and you will probably be being prepped for surgery as I type. I'll be checking back often to see how things are.

[dshobbies]

Steve,

Doubtful that you'll get this prior to surgery but I wish you every luck possible and hope your vertebrae is salvagable. I understand your nerves being shot and that this is a larger worry than the ADR surgery itself but you know it has to be done and is no longer a choice. In this way, it's easier.

The immediate post op pain may be severe but is also short lived. Stay on the pain pump as long as needed and you'll do fine. I look forward to your post op posts

Sending you good, good, GOOD vibes, Dale

[mmglobal]

I've been speaking to Steve for the past couple of days... he asked me to post a brief update, so here it is:

Surgery last Tuesday as planned. He got out of the hospital on Friday and is doing quite well. He's taking no pain meds and has very low pain levels. He hopes to go home on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, the findings were very unexpected. Dispite never (since the ADR surgery) presenting with any infection symptoms, labs, etc... and even his current labs being negative; it appears that the subsidence was related to infection in the bone. All 3 prostheses were removed and he has a 3 level ACDF with iliac crest autograft and anterior plate. Thankfully, they were able to get this done without removing any vertebral bodies as the Dallas surgeon had recommended.

Again... Steve is recovering nicely and I'm sure he'll be along for an update next week after he gets home and back online.

Mark

[sahuaro]

Thank you for the update, Mark. How wonderful that Steve is doing so well and I am wishing him a smooth and thorough recovery. Rather astounding findings re the infection.
Mark: you've seen many, many patients have many different procedures--have you ever encountered a bone infection before?

[New-disc]

Good news Steve!!

Keep us posted when you feel up to it.

[dshobbies]

I'm so relieved that not only is the surgery over but also that he's doing well. I've heard bone infections are very difficult to treat. I wonder if he'll need follow-up treatment or is the removal of the ADR all that was needed?

If you read this, good wishes to you Steve!

Dale