3 Year ADR Update

grima6 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-14-2006, 05:05 AM

Hi Jim
My Name is Lorna, I am an Aussue mum of 4 who is now 20mths post L5-S1 disc replacement. I have the same sort of pain as you by the sound of it! Burning pain at the disc site leval that extends bilaterally down both legs to my toes. One day the right leg is the worst the next it may be the left leg. I know my pain is related to motion but have no idea which one!! Lifting over about 5kgs is an automatic week pain increase as is sex but hey, you gotta live! I am 34 yrs old and first injured myself in 2004 so I, like you feel too young for this pain stuff. I have always wondered if a fusion would have been the better option but was told the disc was #$%& so ADR was only choice. In research I have done post-op it seems that sooooooo many post ADR pts (especially with lower lumber discs) havehuge ongoing nerve and pain issues. I am having a Neurostimulator implanted next week which will apparantly change the pain to a tingling instead, heres hoping anyway!! I hope you feel less alone knowing that I know EXACTLY what your pain feels like! People who have not felt it would have no idea, it interrupts your thought processes and your whole functioning not to mention the depression that inevitably comes with it. Keep your chin up and my magic INSTANT PAIN RELIEF IS HOT WATER BOTTLES UNDER DISC SITE AND LEGS RAISED ON PILLOWS WITH HOT PACKS UNDER THE WHOLE LEG IT IS INSTANT HEAVEN UNTIL THEY COOL DOWN! mIGHT WORK FOR YOU? i HAVE RESEARCHED HAVING THE DISC REMOVED AND A FUSION DONE BUT IT WILL ONLY CAUSE MORE NERVE PAIN AND AS L5-S1 IS AT THE JUNCTION OF MAJOR VESSELS, IT IS LIFE-THREATENING SURGERY SO REALLY LOOK INTO IT. i SLEEP ON MY RIGHT SIDE WITH A PILLOW BETWEEN MY KNEES AND HOT PACKS HELD AT THE DISC SITE BY TRUSTY UNDIES!! VALIUM IS ALSO GOOD FOR SLEEP AND AS IT IS A MUSCLE RELAXANT IT TENDSTO STOP NOCTURNAL SPASAMING OF THE BACK( BUT IS NOT AN EVERY NIGHT THING ONLY "A CAN'T STAND IT ANY MORE NIGHT THING"). tAKE cARE MATE, THINKING OF YOU! lORNA

mmglobal · #2 (**permalink**) 10-14-2006, 05:46 PM

I have a client who had 2-level Dynesys implanted behind 2-level Charite on Thursday. He had the 'tilting vertebrae' that we sometimes see. We have no idea what the long-term outcome will be, but if the Dynesys corrects the tilt, as it did in Carmont's case, he should look forward to a good outcome. He has some surgery induced thigh numbness, but that is not unexpected and seems minor. Hopefully, it will fade in days or weeks. Upon waking from the surgery, the numbness and pain in his feet and lower legs was gone. Again, too early to draw any conclusions. As he resumes more normal activites, we'll see. I'll report significant events as I learn them... or maybe he'll come and post.

Mark

Michelle · #3 (**permalink**) 10-14-2006, 06:53 PM

I'm 3 weeks post-op L4-5 ProDisc. Now you guys are worrying me. When did your pain worsen, or did it just never go away post-surg?? I feel great, aside from minor leg pain that seems to be getting better, and an ache in my spine that varies with activity. It also seems to be improving. I'm just hoping it never comes back!!

dshobbies · #4 (**permalink**) 10-14-2006, 11:24 PM

Michelle,

Everyone is different and though we look for someone who has similar problems, you shouldn't look for them before they hatch. If your leg pain is getting better and as long as you take it slow, you have every reason to believe all will be well.

If and when... etc., don't waste your energies worrying about something that may never be a problem.

I wish you continued luck with your recovery.

Dale

knbosse · #5 (**permalink**) 10-15-2006, 10:18 PM

Hi
I'm new here.Is there anyone getting ready for spine surgery in germany 3 levels

Jim M2 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-16-2006, 12:20 AM

Lorna,
Yes, your pain sounds similar. Thanks for letting me know your story. I have the radicular pain but it's intermittent and not too bad. There are two main components of pain that really slow me down. One is the sharp bilateral LBP. The other is just plain old LBP. There are several other less-than-rosie ADR patients from other forums who I hope eventually fine ispine so that we can share our findings.

Mark,
I'm always amazed by the good outcomes of dynesys. CQ seems to be doing well. I just don't get how it would work unless it virtually eliminated motion (maybe it does?).

Michelle,
I agree with Dale - give it some more time before you worry. It sounds like you have a very good trend going. I recall some ADR surgeries on the forums with very rough and disappointing starts that turned out with excellent results after several months. This was not my experience. I had trouble from day one. I had surgery first thing in the morning. That night it seemed like something was not right. The old pain was gone, but a new high level pain was there. It was spread out a little more across the back and seemed closer to the skin. Looking back I think it was my facets screaming.

knbosse,
I think you should start your own thread to ask your question. Where specifically are you going in Germany? Good luck to you!

Jim

Blairsara · #7 (**permalink**) 12-04-2006, 09:59 AM

Jim and Lorna,
I think i might have the same problem (if your pain is generated from the facet joints). I am 2.5 years after Charite ADR and have been basically in constant pain since ... 2001? As soon as I recovered from my surgery this new pain hit me and hasnt gone away.
I'm glad I found you. It's nice to know that you're not alone in these situations. Jim, did you have facet deterioration before your ADR? I know it's been a while since you guys posted on this thread, but I hope you guys read this.

Blair