3 level lumbar ADR patient from 2005

[Carmen]

I am happy to join this website which is full of objective, helpful, experienced information for other spine patients.
My history is similar to many of yours, I suffered from debilitating pain and degenerative disc disease at L3/4, L4/5 and L5/S1. I am now over 4 years postoperative and have my full physical abilities back. I ride horses, I play basketball, I lift weights and need no medication. No one (best of all me) can tell I had surgery.
For anyone wishing to ask questions, I am more than happy to answer from my personal knowledge about the options, implants, recovery, etc.
Looking forward to a new network of friends and learning of more people "getting their lives back"!
Susie

I have a lot of questions. Please read my information and then you will know why. Who did your surgery? How long was you recovery? What kind of surgery did you have? I have to have from T12 to the sacrum repaired. I am happy to have you aboard. I should be getting other opinions but I don't know who to go to. I faxed my report to one doctor and I never heard from him again. Thank you for whatever information you are able to give me. Carmen

[KanRunMo]

Hi Susie,
I also would like to know your spine problem history and where you had your 3 level surgery done. Someone mentioned Stenum in a reply to you but I didn't know if that was really where you got your surgery done. I may have missed one of your messages.
Where and by whom was your surgery done?
Was your surgery done all at once?
What were the ADR types?
I need multi-level ADRs in my spine and have been trying to investigate where and what to do.
Thanks.

[Carson]

Carson,
Do you know of anyone who has had adr and skiied/boarded and lived to tell the tale?

Hi Ben, catching this way late, sorry. I surely know of people who have had ADR and got back on the mountain but, as ADR is a relatively newer procedure, all have been people on ADR message boards. I certainly know people, personally, who have been fused and still snowboard and surf (hip high, no overhead) with great regularity. So, yes, spine patients can absolutely get back on the hill depending on each patients unique circumstances. Hopefully, ADR will allow more and more spine patients to get back to their sport.

For example, there was an Olympic diver in the 2008 games with a lumbar fusion who was diving like Greg Louganis. So, as always, I believe it's all relative to the degree of injury, one's over all health and age. I plan on snowboarding for decades to come within a realistic framework of what my condition will allow and with acute awareness of my condition while riding. Previous to my accident it was all about large aerials (360s, 540s, misty flips, rodeo flips) requiring great distance and height resulting in great landing impact. That's done for me. I now enjoy powder boarding, carving wide turns in powder. It's the essence of the sport.

[Carson]

Also, would it be alright if I were perfectly honest with you all, whether my hunch is accurate or not, in saying I find it unusual that "Susie", who began this thread, has described a perfectly successful three level disc replacement now lifting weights and riding horses but hasn't posted much beyond that small summary and happens to include a www ritter-lang com in the signature of "her" most recent posts? Does anyone actually know "Susie"? I find it a bit obvious, myself.

[Carson]

Well, I asked around and discovered my hunch was correct; Susie is currently employed by Stenum in Germany.

I find the issue of spine surgery extremely daunting, to the pint of dizzying. As most, it's undoubtedly the hardest thing I've ever had to contend with in my life 10 fold. And while I hope the best for Susie and her continued pain free success, any ability former patients, doctors and clinics have in openly disclosing their commercial affiliations up front or in their signature is always appreciated. Many thanks

[Cindylou]

Good point Carson. I whole-heartedly agree. Thanks for the detective work.

[trkdoc714]

Carson,

I know Susie personally. She was a patient of Dr. Ritter-Lang's long before she became an employee. I've read her posts and really haven't noticed any promotion of Stenum other than sharing her experience as a patient.

I know for a fact that one of the conditions of her joiniing the forum was to NOT recruit or sell for Stenum. This was a condition of her employer.

Sue is very passionate about helping people find solutions to their problems. She is also passionate about not using this forum as a sales tool but letting the members educate themselves through the articles and interactions of SPS. Unlike other $pine forums, she understands that the members of this forum are not a customer base but people in pain as she used to be.

Please don't take this as an unfriendly response, I just wanted to point out how much help she has been to me and others on this forum in helping before and after surgery.

Bob

[Carson]

Hi, Bob; I understand. Thanks for posting.

The original post of this thread struck me as someone affiliated with a clinic so I inquired. I don't make any assumptions about her other posts or nature of her posting in general. I certianly don't doubt she's moved to help others knowing whats she's been through. My above post was solely to express, just as stated: any ability former patients, doctors or clinic reps have in openly disclosing any commercial affiliations up front or in their signature is most appreciated.

When someone posts to explain they ride horses, play basketball, lift weights, no need for meds unable to tell they ever had surgery' I find mention of their being actively employed by an ADR clinic worthwhile. That was the only point I intended to make. I surely wish you a lifetime of continued success, Susie, and thrilled to learn of your success.

[trkdoc714]

Carson,

No problem. I didn't want to come across as argumetative. I think Sue's signature not showing her employment is intended to not advertise for Stenum or Dr. Ritter-Lang.

I hope your strengthening exercises keep you from surgery in the future. Keep it up!

Bob

[JK2234]

wow...this is great news right here.....Im happy for you.