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alison x
This is a discussion on Disc herniation at L4/L5 & L5/S1 -- Fusion or ADR? within the Artificial Disc Replacement forums, part of the Spine Surgery Support category; My name is Greg DeArros and I live in Southport, NC. I am 23 years old and have had chronic ...
Disc herniation at L4/L5 & L5/S1 -- Fusion or ADR? My name is Greg DeArros and I live in Southport, NC. I am 23 years old and have had chronic lower back pain since I was 15 years old. I have been to many doctors and chiropractors over the years and they all said I was too young to have a serious back problem and never took me serious. After I established myself in a very good job where I travel abroad and train police departments in tactical entries and manual breaching, I realized I cannot continue my career since my condition was only worsening.
In June of 2009 I went to see a doctor (again) about my back condition. After describing my life of pain and thoughts of cause; I told the doctor if she wanted to treat me and see me again, the only condition was we get a MRI. This was done and proved I have a disc herniation at L4/L5 & L5/S1. This was the best bad news I have ever hadWe went through all of the non-surgical treatments and unfortunately, nothing made a difference...not even prescription pain meds! I have now been bouncing around specialist and surgeons to determine the best course of action and learned that I also have Sacroiliitis which is being cause by my bad, deteriating discs. I just had my referral sent to Dr Coric in Charlotte to have ADR on the 2 discs.
The internet is full of information but since ADR is still relatively new, it has been a task trying to gather all the knowledge and answers to the questions I have. I have barely begun to scratch the surface of this forum and already have found out more than I could have imagined. I look forward to talking with you all and hope one day I can be as helpful.
alison x
Alison 46 year old female
2012 Doing Rehab
2011 Sept 3rd Op Removal of old instrumentation and PLIF L4/L5 - L5/S1 both adr in situ
2010 May Discogram on L2/L3 & L3/L4
2009 May 2nd Op Failed revision fusion on L5/S1 with Charite ADR in situ
2008 Caudal epidural exacerbated nerve symptoms. Prolapse L2/L3
2007 L5/S1 Facet deterioration
2002 March 1st Op ADR Charite - L4/5, L5/S1
2000 Disc prolapses L4/5, L5/S1
Hey Greg!
Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.
I'm glad you found us, but I am so sorry that you are dealing with spine issues at such a young age. Like you, I've had spine issues since the age of 15 years old, and, as you know, living with spine problems is no fun.
Keep doing your research, and if a doctor dismisses your symptoms / what you are going through, find another one that cares. Be your own best advocate. At the end of the day, you have to live with your spine the rest of your life. Make sure to consider all of the options that are available to you.
Hang in there and feel free to contact me. I am here to help--I've been in your shoes before--it can be overwhelming, especially at a young age.
-Justin
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
So sorry to hear of all your back issues - you are too young to have to go though this! I wish you will and hope you find lots of great info on this site! Everyone here is ready to support you in any way we can.
Lynn
November 08 laminectomy L4L5 - complete drop foot
June 2009 fusion at L4L5 - drop foot gone
August 2009 cage slipped out
August, 2009 fusion repair
August 2011 L5/S1 fusion
April 2012 scheduled for fusion to run from S1 - L1 with titanium rod
I completely get what it is like to be treated as if because of your age you don't 'qualify' you for spine problems (like you signed up for this!) I was injured at 25 and was treated like it was all in my head.
There is alot to know on ADR; but you are at the right place to learn it. I started researching it in October of last year and had my surgery in March. I learned everything from forums. The people on here are a wealth of information and everyone is super helpful. If you have a question, ask, nothing to small or petty and definitely no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to your spine.
Kathy
31 years old- 1/06- In wreck with 18 wheeler at 25 years old; 6/06- Head on collision on Interstate, both wrecks other drivers fault. Numerous MRI's, PT, chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS therapy, massage therapy, facet injections, epidural injections, Nerve study, Discogram, confirms pain in L4/5, IDET, decompression, Bi-lateral neurotomy L3/4/5, denied by insurance twice, in Active L clinical trial, had surgery March 17, 2009 in Miami, FL- received Active L disc at 29 years old. Pain and medication free as of October 2010!Mommy to Emma- 8 years, Ava- 6 years & had baby Eli after ADR, via c-section on March 25, 2011, completely pain free still!
Welcome) So, we get pain like nobody's business.
There is a great group of folks here. Pull up to the table
and join us.
• January 2000 MVA passenger, used jaws of life to retrieve me, neck injury and months of PT
• June 2001 Bicycle accident, 2 compression fractures at T12/L1, Vertebroplasty Sept. 2001
• April 2006 right hip, labral tear and repair
• April 2007 3 level ProDisc @ L3/4, L4/5 & L5/6✷ ✷Lumbosacral transitional vertebra; Dr. Rudolph Bertagnoli
• July 2, 2008 ALIF & Laminectomy @ L6/S1
• July 30, 2008 re-opened 28 days later to remove bone cement that had leaked onto S1 nerve root
• August 2008 Pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, re-hospitalized 1 week
• March 10, 2009 Right SI Joint Fusion
• April 27, 2010 2nd right hip arthroscopy to remove adhesions and release psoas muscle
• September 30, 2010 lumbar facet rhizotomy
• December 9, 2010 12 bilateral lumbar trigger point and steroid injections
• December 23, 2010 12 more bilateral trigger point injections w/o steroid
• February 15, 2011 ESI bilaterally in lower lumbar...relief only for few days. Considering 1 more.
Did Spinal Cord Stimulator trial from 5/11/11-5/17/11 with excellent results; Spinal Cord Stimulator surgery is Monday,
July 18, 2011
Greg.
Ask all the questions you want and need. There is a vast amount of experience here.
Dave
Diagnosed with DDD in Nov, 2007. MRI, EMG
C3/4 C4/5 C5/6 C6/7
Surgery 06.04.08--C5/6 and C6/7 w/Prodisc
C4/5 deterioration progressing quickly
MRI on lumbar shows disc herniation at L5/S1, stenosis at L3/4, L4/5, spondylosis and DDD at L2 through S1 in July, 2009
Nerve Root, Facet Injections and Epidural every 3 months. Ongoing treatment for continued degeneration.
Sorry I'm so late for a reply. Too busy of a life! I wanted to make sure I came back to this thread and thanked all of you for your "arms wide open" welcome. I'm definitely glad to be here and anxious to help others as you all have helped me. Kudos to all
Welcome Greg! I have been following your threads throughout the past few days, and I'm sorry I didn't properly welcome you on this thread
Yes, please check in often. We love having new members with whom to share our stories, both weird and wonderful
Severe compression of spinal cord, flaval ligament, etc. at C4/5 & 5/6.
Herniation and compression, at L3/4 to L5/S1 plus spondylosis at the latter level. Severe allergy to most metals.
Three level surgery in Brazil with Dr. Luiz Pimenta on March 17/2010 using non-metal appliances. L5/S1-PEEK cage, ALIF; L4/5-PEEK cage, XLIF; C5/6-NuVasive NeoDisc. Three separate approaches, two minimally invasive. Currently minor residual back pain, from SI ligament and still overdoing things
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