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iSpine Discuss Self fusing discs-surgery or leave them? in the Main forums forums; Katie, I hear you. Sorry to step on your post but I'm so frustrated I could spit I've ... |
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good info to know...
this thread is very informative....thank you
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C4-5: Mild disc height loss with central annular fissure. Small broad-based left paracentral disc protrusion. Moderate central canal stenosis-the disc protrusion abuts and mildly flattens the left ventral surface of the spinal canal. C5-6: Disc desiccation with mild height loss.Diffuse discosteophyte bulge and uncovertebral joint hypertrophy, moderate central canal stenosis- Severe neuroforaminal stenosis bilaterally, right greater than left. |
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My Prodisc at L4-L5 is autofusing. A doctor at Johns Hopkins offered me injections and/or surgery (more of the same crap that hasn't helped me yet). My NY Surgeon doesn't want to keep cutting me open. My last surgery in November was awful and I don't want to go through any more surgeries. I'll have to live with the pain and hope for some miracle medical breakthrough from our miraculous medicinal massive.
Good Luck, I know how you feel!
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12/16/03 Work Accident Herniation and DDD at L4-L5 4/1/05 Discectomy Epidurals and facet injections 5/15/06 Discogram confirmed L4-L5 DDD also an asymptomatic L5-S1 tear 10/24/06 L4-L5 Prodisc surgery with Dr. Goldstein CAT scans & X-Rays show ossification Trigger Point Injections, Medial Branch Blocks, Acupuncture, Weekly Deep Tissue Massage 10/27/08 Discogram (positive L5-S1) 11/25/08 L5-S1 fusion with Dr. Goldstein FAILED BACK SYNDROME Liberty Mutual WC Last edited by Eddie G; 07-27-2009 at 04:55 AM. |
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So Eddy, they tried to do a fusion and it didn't work? Can you give me a few more details please? What do you mean that the last surgery was awful?
Sorry that you are in such misery.
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DDD Herniated discs C4/5 & 5/6, L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1 Severe compression of spinal cord in two levels All conventional therapy exhausted, including spinal injections, PT, massage, etc. In appeal with Gov't Insurance for Out-of-country coverage for ADR hybrid surgery of above discs. Recently discovered that I am severely allergic to all common metals used in surgical hardware except for Titanium. |
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I don't think there is any 'one size fits all' answer to most spine questions. I've seen literally dozens of adr procedures on completely collapsed disc spaces, including many autofusing segments. There really isn't any 'breaking of the fusion. The annulus and ligaments become more and more calcified, showing the autofusion halo on xray. The more calcified, the less flexible, but it's really not like solid bone and is not immovable (in the cases I've seen.)
These types of surgery require experience, finesse and patience on the surgeons part. It may be much more dangerous to 'brute force' your way to enough disc space to accomodate ADR or fusion cage; but much less dangerous for someone with a lot of experience to carefully release just enough of the annulus and ligaments necessary to achieve the appropriate disc hight, while preserving the necessary stability of the system. Mark
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1997 MVA 2000 L4-5 Microdiscectomy/laminotomy 2001 L5-S1 Micro-d/lami 2002 L4-S1 Charite' ADR - SUCCESS! 2009 C3-C4, C5-C6-C7, T1-T2 ProDisc-C Nova Summer 2009, more bad thoracic discs! Life After Surgery Website President: Global Patient Network, Inc. Founder: www.iSpine.org |
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I was assuming that the surgeon was also worried about causing a lot of new pain from stretching the ligaments, etc. so much? That is called distraction pain, isn't it?
Mark, thanks so much for the clarification on that. I thought that discs that auto-fused would be pretty solid. I'm glad you straightened that out for me. How often does that pain occur and how long might it last on average, taking into consideration that everyone is an individual. More levels done = more stretching and pain, I would think. And Eddie, I see that I misquoted your post. Your Prodisc is starting to fuse? How is that possible? Is there an excessive amount of bone building up all around the disc so that it isn't moving like it should? I hadn't heard of that complication before.
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DDD Herniated discs C4/5 & 5/6, L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1 Severe compression of spinal cord in two levels All conventional therapy exhausted, including spinal injections, PT, massage, etc. In appeal with Gov't Insurance for Out-of-country coverage for ADR hybrid surgery of above discs. Recently discovered that I am severely allergic to all common metals used in surgical hardware except for Titanium. |
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