3 level ADR to Autofusion

[dzydvl]

Hello fellow spineys... Well as expected things got worse, this past weekend I lost feeling in my left leg and ankle, and foot drop set in. I did the usual things one would try when you get a flair up, ice, NSAIDS, and rest. Went to the dr Monday, and they ordered an MRI, and a Doppler ultrasound to rule out DVT. Went to the clinic for the MRI, and they did the test scan and immediately pulled me out due to the fact they couldn't see a thing due to artifacting around the Pro-Discs. I was quite surprised to see a clinic that decided it was better to not to do the procedure if it wasn't going to be useful.

Fast forward to today, when my pain Dr immediately sent me to a surgeon. He looked at the X-rays from a couple months back, as well as some past MRI reports, and decided to order a Mylagram. His immediate diagnosis after the usual neuro tests is minimum of a 2 level fusion (L3-l4, L4-l5), but he also said it may be best just to fuse all three levels, to prevent the bottom disc from causing issues.

To make things worse, thanks to my initial ADR surgery, I have an Abdomin full of mesh, so entering through the front is not gonna happen, unless we have an abdominal reconstruction specialist in the room to clean up the mess he's sure to come across.

Fortunately he has experience of dealing with revision surgery for ADR complications, and he immediately said we would not consider removing the discs unless he sees something when he's in there, even then he's not too keen on the idea.

Any who, that's where I'm at today.... Now the long wait until the dreaded mylagram, and the fun that goes with that.

Any and all thoughts are welcome..
Here's to a pain free weekend everyone...

[Maria]

Wow u sure have been having a lot going on! I think there have been some very successful revisions done that I've read about on this forum and some others over the years. It's good that your surgeon has experience with revisions and doesn't have to refer you out even though you may want a second opinion because of the nature of the proposed surgery (revision). I think that's just the norm whenever a surgery of this magnitude is proposed. That being said you may be entirely comfortable with your current surgical choice and confident in his abilities however it never hurts to get one more opinion!

I don't know if you've gone back through some of the older surgical forum material here though I'm sure there are people that have talked about their experience having to go from ADR to fusion in revision surgeries. If not and even if so you may want to talk with Mark Mintzer (mmglobal) about the proposed surgery (or maybe you've already done this). He would likely be the one person here besides those that have had revisions that could give you the most information.

Anyway I guess you'll be having the myelogram soon ( I hated these because I always got spinal leaks afterwards) and then getting your surgical date pending the results?

Please do keep us posted and while I'm sorry to read that you have to undergo more surgery hopefully the surgery will help your current spinal situation out!

Wishing you the best! Maria

[dzydvl]

Hello Maria

Thanks for taking the time to reply, it's appreciated. There was lots of information in your post, so I want to make sure to address it all.

In terms of the surgeon and the proposed surgery - I completely agree with you here. My plan is to have the myelogram done (Thursday 12th), and get my follow up results on Monday the 16th. That way we know what we are dealing with. Once I have those results, I'm going to go back to TBI and talk to Dr Ziegler and his staff and see if they agree with the results. I'm also looking into one other surgeon that a fellow coworker recommended. I figure three opinions is a good start. If two agree great, but most likely they will all have different opinions, which may not be so bad.

As for reading through the past information, I started to this past weekend, but I will continue my research, I like you agree you can never do too much.

You mentioned the name Mark M, I recognize that name from a forum I used to visit, but it's no longer around, but I will have to look him up. Again, it goes back to that research and you can never do too much.

Oops I forgot one thing, the dreaded myelogram, yeah I'm not looking forward to it. Like you the last time I had one, I had a leak and had to have a blood patch done to get rid of the spinal headache. I'm hoping I don't have to do that again, but I know my luck so I'm already planning for it

I hope I covered it all, but feel free to let me know if I missed anything, I will be happy to respond.

[Maria]

iSpine is his creation! You can address questions to him here specifically in a separate thread and hopefully he will answer or you might want to use the Contact Us up under the disc photos next to iSpine The International Spine Patient's Information Network. You could probably call him and leave a message.

Sounds like you're doing good with all your "moves" thus far! I too would seek more than one other surgical opinion and like the idea of 3 myself.

re the spinal leak I don't know why my doctors never wanted to do one on me so instead I had to be admitted to the hospital and lay on my back flat for a week getting IVs and using the bedpan, eating turned to my side with my head flat... sheesh it was really awful until about the 6th day .. so 2 times I had to do this post myelogram. I had a really bad spinal leak after a spinal tap when I was in my teens as well.

So hoping that you will do Ok with that procedure and if you do have the leak will get the patch and it will work for you and all will go easily enough with all of that part of things!

Take care and please keep us posted! Maria

[dzydvl]

Hey Gang.... I hope everyone is doing well. So isn't it amazing how no matter what we seem to do it's always like we take a step forward just to fall back a mile. I ended up having to stay home from work today, due to the pain. I'm on a pretty high level of medication as it is, so upping it isn't an option, but I was hoping I may have a plan of sorts in the works after my test. Well I get a call from my manager, asking how things were, so I filled him in. Well he brings up a comment, have you looked into FMLA if I have to have the surgery. Well it's my fault but I hadn't, again this is all pretty recent, come to find out I'm ineligible for FMLA, and since I haven't been there 2 years I will only get 60% of my pay. Well being the only person in my family with a job, my boys are both in school and my wife is in school, I'm pretty much screwed. So my only option will be to suffer until I hit the point I'm eligible which is 6 months. Just hope the nerve damage by then isn't too drastic, and that it will eventually heal.

I guess what bugs me most is all I heard before starting there is how understanding they are, and how all these people have had to take extended time off for various procedures. In my case I can work remotely, but we have a VP who doesn't believe in it, so we don't get that option.

Sorry for complaining, I just really feel discouraged today. Thanks for listening, it's appreciated....

[Maria]

In the past I didn't let my work environment know what was going on if possible (which it wasn't always obviously when missing large amounts of time off of work due to back stuff) though I would go out on temporary disability as anyone should able to do that at least if you are in the USA. Also I would take the max amount of leave time for my surgeries not the minimum that I "might" be better by so usually I took 8 weeks off and then on my second surgery had to go with an extension at the end of that for another month.

I'm pretty sure you cannot be refused the temporary disability part and Family Medical Leave should be saved for someone else's illness in the family or a death or something like that I think. I never took Family Medical leave for any of my own stuff (2 back surgeries and 2 right knee surgeries) only for when my Mom passed away and I had to be away from work for a month. If you do it thru your employer they pay the time off but if you pay into SS then you can get temporary disability leave after I think 7 unpaid days off or something like that.

Don't say anything else to your work just check out what you can do legally and I do believe your doctor can order you to be off work almost immediately and you can go on a temporary disability or you can give a notice about how many weeks you're going to be out. Do not feel you are screwed and have to wait. Please check out your options but without letting your employer know your exact plans. You have to think of #1 and your family if you're the bread winner so please do that.

[dzydvl]

Hey gang,

Well thank goodness for an IPad, lol... Well the good news, so far no spinal headache, the bad news won't know anything until Monday. As far as the test, yeah it still sucks, but the pain was manageable which is good. I figure at some point I'll throw the disc in the computer and see if I notice anything. It's always fun to try and read the disc and see if you see anything remotely close to the actual results..... Anyway thanks for the words of encouragement they are appreciated.