M6-L L5-S1 Oct/2011 Feb 2014 told it's failing

Karger · #1 (**permalink**) 07-09-2014, 08:56 PM

Welcome vicki! Glad to see you on this forum

As I mentioned on the other thread. Your in good hands with Dr zeegers. Herny and mark where both great answering questions along helping me with the unknown.

I hope nothing but the best for you

.

Your friend Karger

vnf · #2 (**permalink**) 07-09-2014, 09:53 PM

Need to remove for personal reasons

Karger · #3 (**permalink**) 07-11-2014, 01:24 PM

Has Dr zeegers come back to you with any theorys?

Karger

vnf · #4 (**permalink**) 07-12-2014, 04:07 AM

Need to remove for personal reasons

henry4956 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-12-2014, 02:48 PM

What a dilemma. You will undoubtedly be haunted by this decision. My instincts say the M6 should come out, for what it's worth. Perhaps the docs who say it can stay in, are saying that because they are not up to the task of taking out the M6. Too many surgeons IMO make recommendations based on their limited abilities and instead of saying 'I think you should do X, and I'm not experienced or trained to do X, but I can recommend someone who can'

There's not much I can say or that anyone can say that is going to make this any easier for you to decide. Even as far as the fusion, I have a friend with multiple lumbar fusions who swears if he could do it all again - he would make sure he'd have nothing but '360' fusions, which of course require posterior and anterior approaches. I'm probably not helping you here. In my mind, I would not want anyone without adr experience taking it out but I would not want it replaced with another adr (say the ActivL) for instance. I do strongly believe the ActivL is a superior disk but in your case considering the level L5-S1, the existing condition Failed ADR, and some facet degeneration since original implant - I would think another 'replacement disk' would not give you much peace of mind.

However, I think you have said the level above is now showing signs of degeneration as well, in which case maybe the ActivL would be a better long term solution. An I have not even touched on the danger of going frontal again. Oh My God, this has to be the most complex decision I can imagine.

I think this one will require some deep consultation with the Lord. I think your answer will become clear eventually. Just keep the faith in the mean time and I for one will be praying for you.

vnf · #6 (**permalink**) 07-13-2014, 01:59 PM

Need to remove for personal reasons

henry4956 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-15-2014, 03:27 PM

I think you have the right attitude. God expects us to use our minds and seek knowledge, but in the end it ALWAYS comes down to trust

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding

May peace be with you

Tableone · #8 (**permalink**) 10-04-2014, 06:04 AM

Hello:

i just wanted to say how sorry I am that your surgery failed. How very traumatic! However, I appreciate you posting about it so we can all learn. Could you please let us know what you decided to do? I'm preparing for lumbar 2 level surgery and want to know what the surgery options are in the US or Europe for failed ADR surgeries. Actually, in my particular case the ADR is only expected to last for about 15 years so I really need to have a plan in place for when my do break down.

Thank you!