Questions about Stenum (New-Disc, Terry, etc.)

[Ben]

New Disc,

I am going to Stenum for L4-5, L5-S1, adr and L1-2 fusion 6/27. Am somewhat terrified by the thought of having my abdomen cut open and my guts shoved aside to do this. I viewed your blog....great by the way. You look great. Did you have much trouble, pain, adhesions from the surgery itself? Thanks.

Ben

[Katie]

Ben, you have a pm.

[New-disc]

Ben,

I had a bit of a problem with breathing on the flight home. Not real sure if it was a bit of bronchitis.

The only thing I would do different is make sure that the plane has a portable oxygen tank next to me.

Other than that everything else went well.

If you have any other ?'s Please feel free to ask...

Travel light!!

My prayers are with you

Todd

Todd

[Gilbert P]

Hi Ben

Are you sure you want to fuse L1-L2 would that compromise the adjacent Disc?

Have you done all your research?

I wish you all the best

Just looking out for a fellow spiney

Please do all your research

How old are you?

All the best

Gilbert P

[Katie]

Gil, there must be a reason why they would do ADR in one spot and fusion in another. I have been told to get hybrids, ADR with adjacent fusion, and the doctor gave me his reasons why, which made sense to me.

This was after I was adamant about finding a doctor who would do ADR only for me.....

I have had several friends go to Stenum for treatment, and some have just ADR and others a combination...they were all different, and I'm assuming that's the case here.

[trkdoc714]

Gil,

It's very difficult to implant an ADR at L1/2. The position of the major vessels and organs most of the time will prevent the procedure. Although surgeons have successfully performed ADRs at that level before, it's extremely risky to the patient.

Bob

[Katie]

Ben, while I haven't had the surgery yet, I've chatted with many patients, and done some research. As I have adhesions, I can give you what I know about that part of the surgery.

From what I understand, adhesions only usually form when the surgeon goes into the sac that holds most of the organs, and this does not happen with spine surgery. They push that sac aside (miniscus....Justin?....my memeory fails me right now) and work around it. So scar tissue (adhesions), which binds the organs together and to the sac wall should not form.

Most of my friends who have gone have been women, and most report being able to get up and walking the day after surgery, and then by the end of their trip there, they are literally walking miles around the village.

And as for pain, they almost all report that theirs was kept under control right from the start. Stenum gives the patient an epidural, as well as general or a twilight anesthetic to reduce the post-op pain and help healing. They were amazed at how little pain they had actually.

One of my last friends did have a problem, but it was caused mainly by a reaction she had to some medications. I hope this helps.

Now for those with first hand experience...did I screw up any of that information?

[KBear]

Katie, You are correct that they push the sack of organs aside. However, my dr's are thinking that I have adhesions inside the sack. I asked how that was possible, since they didn't cut into it. They said just the roughness of the surgery, the moving of the sack and subsequent bumping could have casued it. From what I have read and been told, you can get adhesions without even having surgery. If you have an infection or inflammation, your body's way of healing itself is producing scar tissue, which can then turn into adhesions. Apparently, they are very common, but don't cause problems in most people (most people don't even know they have them). Anyhow, if adhesions is something that has to be dealt with for a pain free back, then it is still well worth it.

[Terry Newton]

Ben:

I went to Stenum Hospital in 2006 to have a very major surgery. I had 4 artificial discs installed in to my spine; two lumbar and two cervical. I was 49 years old at the time of the surgery and was in great shape prior to the surgery. I could not think of a finer group of surgeons and staff that took care of me and my wife in the process. The hospital was clean, staff professional, care excellent, accommodations fabulous, etc. I had S1-L5, L5-L6 implanted with the Maverick discs; and C5-C6, C6-C7 Prestige discs implanted. I had ridden about 1,800 miles on my bicycle, prior to the surgery and, walked a lot so, I went in to the surgery in very good condition. As a result, I believe my recovery was much better though, it is still a long process. It took me all of about 20 months to start feeling really top shelf. I don't say this to scare you, just to be realistic. I did not baby myself at all when I got home and was chomping at the bits to get back to work. I went back to work at exactly 2 months and started spinning and snoweshoeing right off the bat. When the snow melted I started riding my bicycle while healing from the surgery. I rode 2,300 miles that first season and 2,100 miles last season. I still get a little flare up of an SI joint issue that gets resolved with an occasional epidural. If you would like to discuss this further I will give you my telephone number and you can call me concerning some useful tips for the travel, where to stay, what to see and do, etc.

I have been really thrilled to have gotten my life back after this surgery. Prior to the surgery I had been pretty crippled up from a bicycle accident and I did not know if I was fixable.

Hang in there. :thumpup:

[Katie]

Katie, You are correct that they push the sack of organs aside. However, my dr's are thinking that I have adhesions inside the sack. I asked how that was possible, since they didn't cut into it. They said just the roughness of the surgery, the moving of the sack and subsequent bumping could have casued it. From what I have read and been told, you can get adhesions without even having surgery. If you have an infection or inflammation, your body's way of healing itself is producing scar tissue, which can then turn into adhesions. Apparently, they are very common, but don't cause problems in most people (most people don't even know they have them). Anyhow, if adhesions is something that has to be dealt with for a pain free back, then it is still well worth it.

You are right...I have heard of that happening from other people lately. I not only had surgery, but a bad infection afterwards which really set the little crappers growing. Another lady thinks she got them when a large dog jumped on her and bruised her belly.

I'm glad you added that part...I forgot about it.