Anyone had their Prodisc Fused?
 

Something I've been thinking about, I was just wondering if anyone who has had continued or worsened problems post ADR, particularly Prodisc & at L5/S1, given in & had the area fused? If so, has it improved things or made little difference or indeed made things even worse?

Apologies if this has been covered before, if it has then please forward me any links & I will take a look.

All the best

removal of ADR
 

Lyndsay
I had the Charite disc and had it removed almost 6 weeks ago. Although they are two different discs, the doctors told me that just going in and fusing the spine while keeping the disc in, whether pro-disc or charite or whatever, is not as effective as removing the disc. They found that more patients continued to deal with major pain after the fusion.

I had to get mine removed because of the pressure the artifical disc placed on my facet joints. they were completely healthy before the surgery to basically being completely shot in basically 3 years.

Since I'm only in the early stages of my recovery I can only tell you what I know and the difference between now and before my surgery. This is the first time in more than 7 months that I feel clear headed, the pain that I went in with is now gone, I am more active and mobile now than I have been in almost 2 and a half years.

Hope this helps. If you want any more info I've been doing a weekly update about my recovery or message me anytime if you have questions about what led me to my decision.

Blair

I have a client with 2.5 years of unrelenting leg pain after 2-level Pro-Disc. (Leg pain was also before the surgery and started immediately following posterior decompression surgery - micro-discectomy/laminotomy.

Fusion and decompression provided immediate relief... she ditched her walker, her cane and her grimace of pain. If her case is similar, contact me off the forum and I'll try to put you in touch with her.

Mark

Thanks Blair, I'm glad to see that you are recovering & feeling better :) The reason I asked about the Prodisc is because of the keel in it, I thought once a Prodisc was in it couldn't be removed?

Mark, thank you. I had some leg pains before my surgery but nothing like I get now.

I'm beginning to think my PT was right in that I set my sites too high in what I would gain from having ADR! I know I'm only 7 1/2 months out but I'm far worse now than I was 12 months ago.

I honestly thought ADR was the best option & being at the end of my rope with my back problems I thought it would be the answer to my prayers! I just hope I can get something, some how sorted out in the next few months before I lose my insurance (divorce) as once that's gone I'm screwed because of the useless NHS :(

Thanks again for your replies.

Lyndsay and others,

I'm sorry that your pain has increased. We all have ADRs hoping for that all elusive miracle that will give us our lives back, releasing us from our unrelenting pain and constant need for medications. For some, this dream is realized. For others, it is not. For most, there's a percentage level of relief, hopefully, acceptable.

Currently, there is no database, from the patients viewpoint, of successful implants. Where a doctor might consider the ADR successful, the patient may consider is only 70% successful, etc.

Though I wouldn't consider an increase in pain successful, 7 months is still early. There's a lot of swelling going on and inflamed nerves can take quite a while to relax. If all tests reveal nothing, which doesn't completely negate the possibility, stick to your medication regime which should include anti-inflammatories. Ask your pm about Neurontin or Lyrica for nerve pain.

I do hope your pain is resolved soon and you move over to the successful side of life. I wish you well,

Dale

Thank you Dale. When I saw the PM last week we discussed Neurontin etc but he wants to wait & see how things go between now & my next check up in a months time. I agree it's still early days, I just get frustrated at the constant increase in pain & not being able to do the things I want to.

Thanks again.