Coflex f Implants still in pain?

[Gil Denis]

Hi All

I have sent all my latest images to Dr Bertagnoli with the help of Tim now the game begins can he help my five levels of degeneratipn FSS ??

Gil

[jsewell]

Gil i wish you the best of luck in getting this next surgery to help you.
I never thought i would be this pain free, almost with my whole spine fused, almost but i am at this point, i hope the same for you in the time to come.
judy

[Gil Denis]

Hello

This is the reply from Dr B so far I will need to send X Rays and other information .
There is certainly considerable nerve pain out there in your case from previous irritation. This will realistically not improve with surgery.
Judy thanks for that uplift

Gil

[mmglobal]

Hey Gil, sorry you are still in it. I'm looking forward to hearing what Dr. Bertagnoli has to say after he sees your updated imaging.

I'm very curious... how did Dr. Pettine treat you after the coflex surgery failed? What does he say about your options?

You only got Coflex at 2 levels, but if I remember correctly, you had severe collapse at more levels??? Is there an understanding about the pain generators... do you know what they are?

All the best,

Mark

[Gil Denis]

Hi All

L5-S1 and L4-L5 coflex implants with no disc at l5-S1 andL4-L5 very degenerated! Dr Pettine suggested not to fuse because the degeneration will continue and I will be fused from my tail to my neck suggested bone marrow stem cell injection at four levels to regenerate the disc ??? Not very nice
New XRays on the way??

Gil

[Ringo]

Hoping all is well for you or as best can be. It can be a hard struggle at times. Let me know how it goes.

I have siginficant degeneration throughout my neck
I had a discectomy that removed about 1/3 of my disk and 3 lumbar fusions.

I am disabled and struggle with pain/burning/aching along the back of my legs, back and neck, and severe headaches. I have suffered emotionally and was hospitalized for depression. But, I will say that that was a great experience when it came to learning greater humility.

My surgeries helped those areas that were fairly obvious regarding pain generators but I have degenerative changes above those areas that complain as well. not sure why my whole back aches especially like it is right now. Chronic long term imflamation and surgeries crammed into the same 6 inches of my lower back is not good for anything. My first sugery was in about 1987. Things have progressed considerably since then but still best not to have surgery if you can help it.

Stay strong brother! Terry

[Gil Denis]

Dear Mr. Denis,

your x-rays arrived and were reviewed. So good to have the full info now.

the scoliotic curvature is more than expected from the MRIs – but apparently fully due to the degeneration.

So Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli expects to correct this along with eliminating the disc pain and realigning facets by:

a) ADR into your l23 l34 l45 and l5s1 (this is maximum surgery already, app 5-6 h OR time, bu feasible in very experienced hands
b) dorsal removal of the present implants, re-instrumentation with a dynamic pedicle screw system (DPI), at L2-l5


a) and b) can and should be done in separate anestehsias, app 1 week apart, to give your systems time to recover. Primary stability is there after the ventral procedure, so you can be mobilized.

Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli wants to point out, that the “standard” solution for your constellation is a (min) l2-s1 fusion, expectedly to be widend to thoracic for better alignement. In his eyes and experience this would however sacrifice mobility without need (even if a dorsoventral combination is not as mobile as a virgin disc would be or once was). And he has gone to use this hybrid construct for comparable cases since several years, if feasible. It is in your case..

Pro-spine will send you a preliminary cost-estimate for the proposed surgical plan. Be back to me via this e-mail account, if you wish to be scheduled. Of course our staff will be here to support you with local travel arrangements like airport pick-up and hotel etc. I am here to answer your further medical questions. We thank you for the honor of your inquiry. Feel free to be back with any questions you might have.


Well this is huge all the options in this country none had offered and help except a Spinial Cord Stimulator or a four level fusion and fusing my S Joint
Now how to come up with the money arround $100 grand

[vnf]

Gil

Any update?