Nuvasive Neodisc...

**jss** · 09-25-2010, 09:37 AM

Carolina,

I am so sorry that you are having new issues; especially when ya'll haven't been able to determine for sure where the problem is coming from.

On the numbness under your chin... I've had three cervical surgeries, and each time the area from the incision up to my lower jaw bone has been numb. The feeling returned to that area after the second surgery, but it took five or six years. The reason for the numbness of the skin under my chin was that many nerves in the skin were severed when the skin was cut. I'm betting the same is true with you. The feeling may or may not return, and if it does, it could take years.

Before my second surgery I had mostly loss the use of my right arm. That motor control returned within a year after surgery; even to the point that I could do 100 push ups and 10 pull ups. Before my third surgery my left hand went numb. Today, ten months later, it is still numb. The numbness might be permanent, nobody knows.

I'm not sure if you are STILL in pain from two years ago? Or if you are in pain AGAIN after two years of being mostly pain free?

I started the process of signing into the NeoDisc trial, but decided not to pursue it because it was a double blind study, and I did not want to wake up with another fusion (I already had two). While that trial allowed participants that had fusion at an adjacent level, it excluded participants with DDD active at two adjacent levels; which suggests that the DDD that you currently have at the adjacent level was not detectable or was not present at the time of your surgery. Does the NeoDisc cause new problems at the operative level? At an adjacent level? If so, how? I know that this won't help you, but to answer questions like this is why Nuvasive needs data on you and the treatment that you pursue for this unfortunate new round of problems.

Please keep us updated, and good luck.

Jeff

**Katie** · 09-25-2010, 06:04 PM

Carolina, I'm sorry that you are having problems. I had the NeoDisc surgery in March this year, and am very happy with mine. Thankfully all of my neurological problems disappeared with the surgery, but I was warned by several surgeons pre-op that they might be permanent.

I had actually forgotten about the numbness in my chin until I read this thread, but it lasted until about six weeks ago, and disappeared quite gradually. If it hadn't I wouldn't have worried about it, as for me, the surgery was worth it. But that's a personal opinion of course. It was quite bad in the beginning, but I figured it was better than pain

My NeoDisc was 'fastened' with carbon fiber screws instead of titanium because of my allergies.

I too would urge you to get more tests to discover exactly where the pain is originating. I have a hard time distinguishing between the pain in different levels. I also expect that some day the next level may go...it was a bit iffy to begin with but the surgeon decided to do just one level for now. His thought was that the NeoDisc may provide some relief to the next level and stop any more degeneration, but only time will tell.

I hope you are able to get to the bottom of this. It is a difficult struggle and saps us of a lot of energy, but it is worth the effort in the end.

**Carolina Girl** · 09-25-2010, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by Katie

Carolina, I'm sorry that you are having problems. I had the NeoDisc surgery in March this year, and am very happy with mine. Thankfully all of my neurological problems disappeared with the surgery, but I was warned by several surgeons pre-op that they might be permanent.

I had actually forgotten about the numbness in my chin until I read this thread, but it lasted until about six weeks ago, and disappeared quite gradually. If it hadn't I wouldn't have worried about it, as for me, the surgery was worth it. But that's a personal opinion of course. It was quite bad in the beginning, but I figured it was better than pain

My NeoDisc was 'fastened' with carbon fiber screws instead of titanium because of my allergies.

I too would urge you to get more tests to discover exactly where the pain is originating. I have a hard time distinguishing between the pain in different levels. I also expect that some day the next level may go...it was a bit iffy to begin with but the surgeon decided to do just one level for now. His thought was that the NeoDisc may provide some relief to the next level and stop any more degeneration, but only time will tell.

I hope you are able to get to the bottom of this. It is a difficult struggle and saps us of a lot of energy, but it is worth the effort in the end.

I felt awesome a few months after the surgery then it hit like a ton a bricks again. New pain, same pain....I have a call into the doctor right now. Had my massage today...and she said I was so tight, and everytime she got to one of the muscle's they wanted to roll. She dis say the muscle area at the base of my neck felt very tight and she could not get it to do anything. I feel much better tonight than last night and this morning. We just have to take it day by day and hope we all can help each other. Thanks to everyone on this site for all you input with the pain,etc. very helpfull

**Katie** · 09-25-2010, 10:57 PM

This is sounding familiar....

A month or so ago I was very afraid that I had damaged something after falling hard in the middle of the night, plus working on my art in different positions that I hadn't done in a long time. The pain was in my lower back, right in the same general area of my fusions at L4/5, L5/S1 that I had at the same time as the NeoDisc.

Since I don't have a local surgeon (my surgery was in Brazil) I went back to my chiropractor who was doing gentle muscle releases before surgery. He explained that my SI ligament was very tight and my whole lower back was knotted, and after several trigger point treatments and a few other things I can't really explain right now, my pain is lessening considerably. If I hadn't gone back to him, I'd have worked myself into a small panic, and still be in pain. His work is more like massage or osteopathic than regular chiropractic as it is not involving the 'cracking' for lack of a better term, at least what he is doing with me.

Perhaps something more like this may help you, especially if it seems to be working right now? I am lucky to have someone who has been following my case for several years, and understands my situation.

**spinches** · 05-29-2011, 11:38 PM

Does anyone know if the results of the clinical trials for this disc been published yet? If not, has anyone heard updates at spine conferences about the ongoing trials?

Sandra

**Katie** · 05-29-2011, 11:48 PM

I guess you are referring to trials in the US, Sandra? I know that Dr. Pimenta has been using the NeoDisc for quite awhile now, and has been involved in its design. You can contact the company in California I believe, and talk to one of the engineers there. Just a thought. I had a great discussion with one when I was first thinking of using it.