Anyone know where I can get a Freedom Lumbar Disc installed without a trial?

[Carson]

I know your confusion, Linda. Aren't spine problems a joy? It really is overwhelming at times trying to grasp the options and so thankful for a place to discuss them.

I've been following a few of the trials closely including the Freedom and so far I've not heard any concerning news in the least regarding the Freedom Disc bearing in mind the trial is very new. One of the best clinics in the nation is currently using the Freedom Disc with absolute confidence so hopefully the trials will yield more information soon.

[scduggan]

Dear Carson,
Thanks for your post. I have not heard any negative feedback on the Freedom disc as well. I get A LOT of comfort from the fact that the sites participating in the study are some of the most reputable in the world. I cannot imagine those surgeons putting their reputations on the line for a disc that they do not believe to be worthy of approval.

Carson, how are you feeling? Are you hanging in there? I think I lost a few brain cells and I am afraid to say I can't remember your spine situation. Your posts are always really good.
CD

[Justin]

I will tell you the truth, you don't want a "freedom" disk, the surgeon referred to has abandoned them as not suitable for the job. And the one that he did and is shown on my UK website was a total fluke. He's not the greatest surgeon in the world, and I don't like saying that because I don't like "knocking" people but his results have been appalling.
The charitee has now gone and ceased to be manufactured. The active L and C is proving an absolute winner in the UK. The pro disk is still being used, but as you know there are many other similar prosthesis that are available

Check this out

Orthopedics This Week - Spine


Best
Alastair

Hi Alastair,

Could you expand on the bolded text above? There are many reasons why some surgeons "abandon" using an artificial disc (reimbursement, end-point of trials, etc.). Many reasons do not reflect the device itself.

I hope you are doing well...thanks.

[Alastair]

In the UK, we don't do specific trials like you do in the USA, but a number of surgeons decide that they are going to try a prosthesis and take it on. You don't get official notification from anyone or the manufacturer, the only thing you get is feedback from the patient's.

A number of surgeons have tried the Freedom disc and the one that you see on our board which was a success, you will also see one that was a total failure with the same surgeon. He was the last one to the best of my knowledge to try and make a success out of the Freedom disc.

We don't publish statistics either in the UK about surgeons or general outcomes as you do in the USA,which is a much more "open door" about surgical matters. All you can do is get information from patients and sometimes from surgeons if you're chatting with them.

We've just got one surgeon started with "nubac", and I've only got that information from a patient, no other surgeon that I know is even considering it as of the time of writing.

There is nothing put out to the public in the UK about success ratios or anything else of surgeons all you can do is go by feedback and hopefully the Active L, and Active C will come to the USA soon. It's a huge success in the UK, but having so said, all the time there are new prostheses coming out and everybody seems to be jumping on the ADR bandwagon. Sorry not to be able to be more specific
best wishes to all members,
Alastair

[Alastair]

Just to add to the posting above, the official attitude of NICE which is the UK National Institute for clinical excellence which regulates the UK medical system is here about Lumbar ADR

http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/liv...4935/44935.pdf

As you can see all it asks, is that doctors take care, and that they make reports, but those reports are not made public. The Hippocratic oath has gone out of the window, and all that is being said now is "Do No Harm".

So without any trials etc UK Drs can insert more or less anything good,bad ,or indifferent. It only if they get into trouble that enquiries are made

No make of Prosthesis is mentioned or recommended

[ajj1001]

Outline details of European pilot study results 2 years post op -

http://www.spine-center-rischke.ch/_...LumbarDisc.pdf

[Carson]

Dear Carson,
Carson, how are you feeling? Are you hanging in there? I think I lost a few brain cells and I am afraid to say I can't remember your spine situation. Your posts are always really good.
CD

Thank you for the studies and information above, all.

Hey, CD, I'm pretty good. Thanks for asking. You haven't lost any brian cells I just haven't said much about my condition I suppose. I'm doing alright though would be nice to just have arm OR leg pain as opposed to both but that's what I'm working with for now and doing what it takes to improve and move forward in good health best I can. I'm well. I hope you're doing A-OK too. In truth I find the hardest aspect for me is the "change of plan". I'm currently taking classes, and still early on in my career attempting to sit in long classes without flinching. And I do fine so long as I can get up and move when I needed. It's hilarious thinking of a time when I thought a "serious problem" was a speeding ticket, a girlfriend upset with me, a failed class, a lost job; oh how I miss those "problems" . So I'd say my biggest challenge thus far is contending with myself and the unproductive thinking "how much easier this (work & school) would be if I didn't have to think about my back"; my mind still seems to take me there even three years later. The good news is I find I continue improving my outlook and lifting my head in appreciation of what I do have, more and more with every passing month even when the pain increases a bit at times. I'm adapting and improving at adapting. Thanks and take good care.