Cervical fusions CAN be reversed!

[Marti in Benicia]

"A [San Francisco] Bay Area woman has finally found relief from debilitating pain, thanks to a surgery that may be the first of its kind in the world. Doctors in San Francisco literally reversed a spinal fusion in her neck."

Update: I've learned that spinal fusion reversals are "old news" in Europe, something they've been doing as necessary for some time.

A surgeon here in San Francisco, Kenneth Light, took the plunge and replaced a fusion with an artificial disc!!! Wow. And they said it couldn't be done! (It reminds me of the myth of "once a Cesarean section always Cesarean section .")

To see the story first aired on ABC's San Francisco affiliate on July 28th during their prime time news, use this link:
Unique surgery performed in the Bay Area said to relieve neck pain | abc7news.com


If, while you're on that site, you want to see the news item the same anchor/reports did on my campaign to change how the FDA handles EU approved and successful devices, and requiring insurers to pay for all approved devices, use this link:
Woman forced to travel abroad for surgery | Video | abc7news.com


Marti in Benica
Marti@Salaices.com

[KBear]

Awesome, thanks for the info.

[Greg]

That has to be the greatest artical/video I've read all day. For the longest time I thought that somehow someway somewhere somebody had to have taken a sawzall to the fused vertebrae, cleaned it up with a dremel and then put an artificial disc in its place. I knew it was possible but it seemed like one of those scenarios that remains a concept/theory for so long because they're waiting for the right person to come along who's got nothing to lose if it fails and willing to be the guinea pig to prove it can be done! I'm not a doctor but it wouldn't seem like it would be that hard to do.....well I guess trying to avoid major arteries, nerves, and other body parts is probably the risky part. Oh well.....Great freakin news.....and fantastic outcome for the lady who had this procedure done.

And what surpirses me and makes me happy is this happened in the US, not overseas in Germany or something. So is it true that the US is officially the 1st in reversing a fusion into an ADR??? Would be cool!

BTW....Marti in Benecia, I don't know how I missed your introduction back in June of last year so even though I'm 13 months late I wanted to say happy belated to the forum. Better late than never, right

[KBear]

Wow, I was just able to watch the segment with you on it (for some reason it wouldn't play on my phone last night). Very good interview, you did an amazing job. Great job for not giving up and fighting for those who come along behind us and need this surgery (hopefully, the laws will change will insurance has to pay for FDA approved devices).

[runagain]

Thanks Marti,

I ran across doctor Light when I was doing research for an appeal in 2009. He has impressive credentials.
Good for you. We need to continue to fight for what is right for people in the US.

R

[Cindylou]

Thanks also Marti....great video interview of you and the passion shows. Let's keep up the good fight!

[Carson]

Right on, Marti!

Very happy to see someone making some waves in this area. You presented our case wonderfully on the news. Thank you.

Yours is the perfect example, having to fly to UK to receive a two level using discs provided by a great, innovative company right here in Sunnyvale, CA! Discs like the Spinal Kinetics M6, Nuvasive NeoDisc, Active L are more than proven safe as those currently on the US market and benefit a surgeons arsenal in resolving our pain. When a product is receiving the CE Mark in Europe 5 years ahead of FDA approval in the US it's time to change it. Thanks.

[Justin]

Thanks, Marti! We should catch up soon.