Originally Posted by Mike P. on April 9, 2004

SURGERY DATE: 12/3/2003

AGE AT SURGERY DATE: 30

SURGEON: Dr. Zucherman

SURGERY LOCATION/CLINIC: St. Mary's, San Francisco

DEVICE(s), LEVEL(s): Prodisc, L4-S1

COST = ??
AMOUNT BILLED:
INSURANCE ALLOWED: Workers' Comp covered all expenses
OUT OF POCKET:
TRAVEL:
EXPLANATIONS?

ONSET OF LUMBAR PROBLEMS, DATE OF INJURY, CAUSE, ETC...: Lifting injury Nov. 4, 2002 at work

PRIOR SPINE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES (IDET, ESI, etc...): ESI, PT, Chiro, Anti-inflams, conservative care.

PRE-OP MEDICATIONS: Norco, Effexor

PRE-OP DIAGNOSTICS (discogram, nerve root blocks, etc...):MRI, x-rays, nerve block, EMG

PRE-OP NEUROPATHIES (what, where, & degree of pain, numbness, tingling, sexual/bladder/bowel symptoms, etc.): Low back pain, slight nerve weakness in legs

PRE-OP CONDITION (Please include %leg pain/% back pain, pain levels, type of pain, ability to work and function, disability status, etc.... be direct, but be as verbose as you need to): 90% back, 10% leg, achy, sore back pain, 7-10 pain levels, off work, on temporary disability through workers' comp.

TIME POST-OP AT ORIGINAL POST HERE:4 months

DESCRIBE YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE: Lots of pain!!! I think it would have been fairly positive if it weren't for all the intense pain. I didn't respond to any pain meds, so I basically had to take all the pain!

RATE FUNCTIONALITY / SATISFACTION AT INTERVALS BELOW:

FUNCTIONALITY:
1. Very poor: much worse... disabled after surgery.
2. Poor: worse after surgery.
3. Neutral: No improvement, or improvements offset by new problems.
4. Fair, some improvement, limitations are still serious.
5. Good, substantial improvement, some limitations.
6. Excellent: no limitations.

SATISFACTION:
1. Very sorry I had the surgery.
2. Somewhat sorry I had the surgery.
3. Too soon to tell, or I'm ambivalent about the surgery.
4. I'm somewhat glad I did my surgery.
5. I'm very glad I did my surgery.

FUNCTIONALITY: _3_ SATISFACTION: _3_ [6 WEEKS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: _4_ SATISFACTION: _3_ [3 MONTHS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: _4_ SATISFACTION: _3_ [6 MONTHS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [1 YEAR POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [2 YEARS POST-OP]

6 WEEKS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ECT... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): Slight leg pain caused by surgery diminishing, major back pain continues, too soon to start PT for me, lifestyle still extremely limited, taking fentanyl patch, Effexor, Flexiril.

3 MONTHS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): Leg pain gone, PT has helped recover movement and mobility in my spine and legs, low back pain continues to be very bad - 7-9/10, achy, sore, spasms, lifestyle extremely limited, taking Lexapro, Baclofen, Neurontin, Fentayl patch.

6 MONTHS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): Low back pain continues to be very bad - 7-9/10, achy, sore, some spasms, lifestyle extremely limited, taking Lexapro, Zyprexa, Neurontin, Fentayl patch, and some Norcos.

1 YEAR POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

2 YEARS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):