C5/C6 and C6/C7 -- Artificial Disc Replacement?

**Katie** · 11-23-2009, 11:44 PM

Wow, what a thrill to have made such progress.

I am very happy for you, and hope everything goes as well as humanly possible. You certainly have done as much research as possible, and I know how exhausting that can be, especially when technology is changing so quickly.

Time is going to fly now! Have you decided who is going with you? (And you might want to check out the list of 'must haves for surgery' that Justin posted a while ago) I have at least half a dozen Stenum contacts who came through surgery with flying colours, if you would like to chat with anyone.

Unfortunately they all had a different appliance than the M6, but other than that, their experiences were all similar, all very successful and happy.

Great job and congratulations! (and I'm just a bit envious

All in good humour, of course!)

**Dave** · 11-24-2009, 05:53 AM

Dave,

Good luck in your journey. Making the decision is the hard part, now it's all gravy, hopefully not with to many lumps.

**Cindylou** · 11-24-2009, 11:14 AM

So happy for you Dave in getting your decision made!! That is awesome! And as the other Dave said, that really is the most difficult part: which device? which doc? and where? It will be here before you know it! Try not to second guess yourself on anything, and relax and enjoy your holidays!

**Justin** · 11-24-2009, 04:15 PM

Dave,

This is great news.

You really hit the nail on the head regarding spouses -- they truly are angels for putting up with us!

Please let us know how we can help before your surgery on January 8th.

Don't forget to check out the Spine Surgery Recovery: "Must Have" Items & Postoperative Tips thread.

Originally Posted by Dave

Dave,

Good luck in your journey. Making the decision is the hard part, now it's all gravy, hopefully not with to many lumps.

+1

**Justin** · 01-19-2010, 08:44 PM

Hey Dave,

I'm just checking to see how your surgery on January 8th went. I wish you the very best in your recovery.

**davemmevad** · 01-22-2010, 08:44 PM

Hi All,
Wow - first off thank you thank you thank you for all the warm wishes - now I just wish I could follow them up with good warm fuzzy news, but I'm afraid I can't, LIFE has gotten in the way. Hmmm, where to start....

I had to cancel surgery. Then I was so pissy about it that I didn't have time to monitor the board (or much else for a little bit). Basically, the bank that has my equity line had to cancel all future withdrawls on all such accounts to stay in business .... arrrrgggghhhhh. I hoped at the time that it was just temporary and I could scrape the $$$ but in doing more than due dilagence, I found a local doctor who is well versed in revisions on ADR, and who looked at me at my primary physicians request (my primary is amazing...I won't ever leave that office!!!). The news wasn't what I wanted to hear, but unlike everyone else, who either seems to say "I can do what I always do" be it fusion or ADR, he wasn't recruiting me for surgery, jsut giving an opinion, and he felt that ADR was a very bad choice for me. evidently I have more facet deterioration than we thought, and more importantly my pedicles are very short, along with a couple other congenital defects, resulting in a very narrow spinal canal. So stenosis is a given for me. My discs aren't that bad really, but there just isn't enough space. He then showed me some MRI's of 'normal' folks and they have 2-3 times the amount of fluid space around their cord that I do.

So, he made sense, and offered what I feel is some very very good advice based on my body, and not just what he could do. I had to think about it for a while, go over my MRIs again etc, but he is right, and for once my gut is telling me so too. so, I'm going to go ahead and fuse in stead. No, it isn't ideal, but it appears to be the best decision in my case.

So thank you all, and I'll be in touch when I have a date etc.

Dave

**Katie** · 01-23-2010, 04:01 AM

Dave, sometimes not getting what we asked for is a good thing. I had been trying for almost three years to have surgery on multi-levels of my spine. Insurance and surgeon problems stalled that until just now. I had been extremely frustrated and upset about the lack of progress, until I found out I was allergic to all the metals they would have used in any of the appliances, be it fusion or ADR, but especially ADR.

I would have ended up extremely, if not fatally ill if I had gone ahead with it. I've learned to be careful about what I wish for.

If your gut is telling you something, I would listen.

**runagain** · 01-23-2010, 05:20 AM

Dave,

You came to a good decision as you have to do what is the best surgery for you. I know if you have severe deterioration of the facet joints, lumbar ADR is an absolute contraindication at this time. I am not as clear on things for cervical ADRs but you don't want to do something that would make you worse after surgery.
I would get another opinion if you think you need it.

I got several opinions which really helped me understand what the best surgery was.
Hope you feel better soon.

**davemmevad** · 02-08-2010, 02:12 PM

Hi All,

Since I started this thread, I figure as I know stuff I'd better put it here. So here we go:
I'm Scheduled for Surgery on March 4th, for 2 level ACDF with plate.
I don't know the details of auto, allo, or cage, and have a meeting scheduled 2 days before the surgery to go over all of it.
I have LOTS of appointments prior to get ready. Man....you get over 45 yrs (I'm 46) and suddenly they are all paranoid youre gonna die. When I was 44 and had the shoulder done, there were no EKG, Physical etc required. Sheesh.
I bought a recliner so I can sleep in it instead of the bed (wifes idea). should give more options at least, and I'll work from home in it (has a laptop table - I may never get out of it!! :-) ).
Not driving will totally blow!
I'm damn glad I'm on the calendar, as the last 2 months have been bad, and I am aware that I am getting worse.
I'm nervous. I'm looking forward to it, and stopping as much as we can, but the MD is real clear, that if the leg/body issues are from damage to the spine, they won't go away, but will there shouldn't be any more deterioration. If they are merely from irritation then I'm lucky. At least the arms and neck should feel better.
I am really lookng forward to the otherside off all this, and keeping my fingers crossed that I get enough leg sense back to ski again next year.

Take care all - Not too much else I can say at the moment.

Dave