Accepted into the Freedom ADR trial

**Rick** · 06-18-2010, 12:53 PM

I'm actually suprised on how pain free this surgery was. I mean I did have some pain and I was on Vikes all day for 2 weeks but in week 3 I'm down to 3 pills a day. They didn't cut any muscle on the ALIF procedure but I did have pain like I was doing a bunch of situps for about a week. Occasionally I feel a shock of pain in my hips or at the L5,S1 site if I step down hard or any kind of impact. But no constant pain as of yet. I don't have to wear a brace and my restriction are really no bending and lifting heavy weight. I'm thinking of going back to the gym to start light workouts again next week. Mainly cable work and elipticals. I'm hoping after this week I'll be off of the vikes altogether. They used Infuse for the bone graph so no hip pain from a doner site either. I can't imagine the pain going on a year later. Could it be facet pain? One of the things I was worried about with ADR was the facet pain you could get from the capability of the disc to freely move in all directions. With fusion I shouldn't get any facet joint pain due to friction or rubbing.

**KBear** · 06-18-2010, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

I'm actually suprised on how pain free this surgery was. I mean I did have some pain and I was on Vikes all day for 2 weeks but in week 3 I'm down to 3 pills a day. They didn't cut any muscle on the ALIF procedure but I did have pain like I was doing a bunch of situps for about a week. Occasionally I feel a shock of pain in my hips or at the L5,S1 site if I step down hard or any kind of impact. But no constant pain as of yet. I don't have to wear a brace and my restriction are really no bending and lifting heavy weight. I'm thinking of going back to the gym to start light workouts again next week. Mainly cable work and elipticals. I'm hoping after this week I'll be off of the vikes altogether. They used Infuse for the bone graph so no hip pain from a doner site either. I can't imagine the pain going on a year later. Could it be facet pain? One of the things I was worried about with ADR was the facet pain you could get from the capability of the disc to freely move in all directions. With fusion I shouldn't get any facet joint pain due to friction or rubbing.

Wow, you are doing awesome for so early out of surgery. Remember even though you feel great, your body is still healing and to treat it well!
Kathy

**Susanna** · 06-26-2010, 04:55 AM

Originally Posted by Rick

I'm actually surprised on how pain free this surgery was. I mean I did have some pain and I was on Vikes all day for 2 weeks but in week 3 I'm down to 3 pills a day. They didn't cut any muscle on the ALIF procedure but I did have pain like I was doing a bunch of situps for about a week. Occasionally I feel a shock of pain in my hips or at the L5,S1 site if I step down hard or any kind of impact. But no constant pain as of yet. I don't have to wear a brace and my restriction are really no bending and lifting heavy weight. I'm thinking of going back to the gym to start light workouts again next week. Mainly cable work and elipticals. I'm hoping after this week I'll be off of the vikes altogether. They used Infuse for the bone graph so no hip pain from a doner site either. I can't imagine the pain going on a year later. Could it be facet pain? One of the things I was worried about with ADR was the facet pain you could get from the capability of the disc to freely move in all directions. With fusion I shouldn't get any facet joint pain due to friction or rubbing.

Hi Rick,
UGH, I wrote this post to you after skipping a head a couple months. I had seen that you had been accepted into the trial group. Then skipped a head to see how you were doing after the surgery. I completely skipped the part about you not getting into the trial! So.....this is also good for me to see how you are doing, incase I end up having a fusion. I am hoping to get into the XL TDR xXtreme Lateral Total Disc Replacement trial. We will see. I believe I will fit into the group, but like you, who knows. I am so glad you are doing well. What surgical procedure did they use for your fusion?
Thanks
Susanna

**Greg** · 06-26-2010, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by KBear

Wow, you are doing awesome for so early out of surgery. Remember even though you feel great, your body is still healing and to treat it well!
Kathy

That is amazing you are doing so well so soon after surgery. Only after 1 week of my 2 level ALIF I am doing remarkedly better but I still have to watch my amount of physical actvity because it is so easy for me to overdo it and bring all that pain back.

I couldn't agree with Kathy more, "Remember even though you feel great, your body is still healing and to treat it well!"

Have you talked to your doctor about going to the gym and working out? Even though you feel a lot better there is a lot of trauma done that needs to heal. Maybe going over what you want to do with the doctor woud help make sure you dont mess anything up, that way you can feel safe with what you do because nobody wants to take steps backwards after you've jumped so far ahead.

**Susanna** · 06-26-2010, 09:10 PM

Has anyone on here been accepted in the XL TDR xXtreme Lateral Total Disc Replacement trial? And/or had the disk already placed? I am wondering how they have recouperated from the surgery since it is done from the side and if they have had any problems with the disk?

Thanks,
Susanna

**Rick** · 06-28-2010, 02:01 PM

Post week 5 and all is well. I have not yet returned to the gym but hope to this week. I won't be lifting weights or anything stressfull. More PT excercises and mild stretching. My doc said follow you body signs and go slow. I have been walking a few miles a days and spending most of the day on my feet being active but no stressful stuff. I do occasionally get some fatigue pain in my back at the site but nothing significant. I have a follow up mid July so I'll update you then.

**trkdoc714** · 07-01-2010, 07:38 PM

I'd have to agree with your Dr. I waited about 6 weeks after surgery to begin PT. I was their first ADR patient but the head therapist's father had multiple fusions. She treated me as though I had a Fusion. In hindsight I think it was a wise decision on her part. There were a lot of exercises that could have caused damage that didn't dawn on me until she pointed them out.

Good luck Rick. I hope you heal well and quickly.

Bob