Facet Joint Replacement for Spinal Stenosis
 

I was diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis in 2006 after years of back pain.
I found a Clinical Trial for Facet Joint Replacement for Spinal Stenosis online. After 2 years in extreme pain.....epidurals...pain meds.....PT, ETC., I researched the study. Dr. John Regan was doing the study at Saint Johns Hospital in Santa Monica. ( There are studies being conducted all over) I contacted Facet Solutions who were sponsoring the study. I passed the preliminary qualification tests and was sent to Dr. Regan for more testing. I had the surgery on July 17, 2009. They did a decompression of L 3/4 and L4/5 after which they normally do a fusion. Instead, I received a new cobalt Facet Joint at L 4/5.
It is now 2 months later and I believe, guinea pig or not, that I have received a miracle. I no longer have ANY leg pain, which was the most crippling. I was housebound for 2 years. I no longer need a brace, walker, or cane. It will be a while until I can hike, dance or walk to the bay, but I never believed I would know a normal life again. I'm on SSI and Facet Solutions pays for whatever your insurance doesn't. Mine paid nada.

Facet Solutions, Inc.

http://www.stenosisrelief.com/

Lisa, thanks so much for posting! We don't see many facet replacement patients yet... your story will give others hope some hope. The doctors I've spoken to about them are saying that with proper patient selection, the results can be amazing. I'm so happy to hear about your success. Please keep us posted!

All the best,

Mark

congrats!
 

Lisa,
thanks for posting this as I just heard from my OSS a while back that my facets have degenerated enough at L4 as well as L5 to prohibit ADR surgery and while I don't want any surgery now I was wondering about facet replacements should I need something like this.

Hope your recovery continually progresses and you're able to resume the activities dear to your heart!


thanks again for posting!

Lisa,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting. Another miracle in the making for far too many sufferers. I hope your success continues and you will be hiking, dancing and such.

Off the topic - I wonder why Regan and not Delamarter is part of this study in Santa Monica???

Wishing you the best, Dale

great news Lisa so pleased for you and it sounds very promising for facet sufferes what a ray of hope. Will you know about the trial's conclusions to let us know? Mazzie

wow thats great...

wow
 

Fantastic news!!

I guess Dr. R is no longer affiliated with Cedars.

May this pain relief be permanent.

ans