Hi! (Herniation at C5/C6)

[darryljames]

Hello, as sig says, my name is Darryl, 35 years old from the UK. I have been getting "pins and needles" (think it is called parathesia) in my right arm since September last year. I got my insurance to cover an MRI two weeks ago before coming to Sweden for two weeks of work. The consultant (non spinal) called me last Wednesday 9th Feb to say I have "an impressively herniated disc", his exact words, I am not yet sure what can be impressive about the implications of potentially major surgery but there you go.

The consultant said he word refer me to a spinal specialist "most probably for a disc removal and fusion", no further information or advice other than saying that as it has not degraded in nearly 6 months it was unlikely to get worse and that I should carry on as I have been.

Looking at other people's stories on SPS I feel a little trivial in comparison, I have no pain and only suffer parathesia when my neck is straight or extended as it would be laying back in a airline seat or being lifted off a surfboard which are the two positions I try to get into as often as I can. The airlines for work (I am that most dreaded of specialist, the IT consultant) and the surfing cause it is the thing I love most in life (apart from my beautiful wife).

I'm a little scared, a little nervous and as yet not quite clued up enough to go to the spinal consultant with all the facts I need.

i am most convinced that this herniation is caused by specific trauma, I can detail that some other time but the parathesia began after a specific event. So that makes me think I likely have no DDD, I am 35 years old, 6'2'' & 200 lbs (okay a bit on the big side). I surf ok, I love to mountain bike and walk and do stuff that requires neck mobility. I reckon I am a good candidate for ADR but I hope i can get enough information from SPS and related sources to convince the surgeon and the insurance company that this is the best option for me.

Thanks SPS for welcoming me, I hope I can find some answers and guidance here and that I can provide the same some day for others.

darryljames

[ajj1001]

hi and welcome. I have had ADR in the uk but lumbar. where have you been referred? no apologies about being an it consultant, that's what my other half does!

[darryljames]

Hey ajj1001, I live in Aberdeen in Scotland so have been referred to the BMI Albyn Hospital there as the private hospital in the area. i have good medical coverage from my employer with AXA PPP, all they have said is to get the procedure codes for whatever work is required and to let them know.

So far I have found no history of Aberdeen having any specifically good spinal surgeons and this guy is opthapeadic (although I don't know if that makes a difference), I have read some good things about a place down south and have no issues with travelling to get the best care if that is what it takes.

Where did you get your ADR done, how long ago and how has the recovery been?

[ajj1001]

hi, don't think there is anyone in Aberdeen doing ADR but if you are being treated privately and can travel then there are some good surgeons in the uk. I haven't heard of any insurance coverage problems recently (i help run a uk ADR board). cervical ADR seems to be alot more straight forward than lumbar! I had mine back in 2002 but it's not been that long lasting a solution, I have a full sus Scott and road condor languishing in the garage

[darryljames]

thanks for the advice, glad it sounds like ADR isn't a big problem for insurance in the UK and that Cervical might be straight-forward, I am keeping my fingers crossed it turns out that way.

You mentioned that ADR has not been a good long term solution for you, was that due to complication with the vertebrae that the adr is anchored in or?? An keen to understand if the materials being used have the longevity we would hope from them, I guess that has to be offset by knowing that our own bodies do wear out, planning for an artificial disc to do the same would seem prudent in the longer term. Don't fancy spinal surgery in my 70's (if I last that long!) although it might be done by lasers and robots by then!

I am sorry your bike is stuck in the garage, last time I was home I checked mine out a bit, I could still ride right now I guess but don't know if I would like the impact, I have a hard tail Trek but it has been so long without a run out the tyres have gone flat by themselves. I have still been surfing, I don't think it is a major impact sport in the waves I ride, I mean, Aberdeen is not Hawaii! just have to get used to a few minutes of pins and needles while I paddle and then they go away within seconds of sitting on my board again, that's partly why I am freaked that "fixing" the disc will leave me less physically able in the longer term, selling four boards, wetsuits et al is not a nice prospect

[KBear]

Welcome to the forum. I'm not familiar with any UK surgeons, though several on here have seen Mr. Nick Boeree and have been very pleased with him. Here is a link to his information Mr. Nick Boeree, The Spine Clinic -- Artificial Disc Replacement (UK) You can also check out the international travel section on here and find others who are top notch surgeons.
Best of Luck,
Kathy

[ajj1001]

Hi, I did really well, pain free immediately post op and I managed to regain good control despite some numbness that was left in my right leg. Its amazing how you can still do things whilst a bit wonky.

I first noticed problems using my left leg whilst we were in the lakes (stranding me by red tarn!) back in 2007, nothing much could be found but it deteriorated more and after tests (nhs so lots of waits) the facets were shown to be deteriorated. These were perfect at the time of implant. The bottom artificial disc was tilted towards the front, this had been checked every year since implantation and been ok each time. Lumbar revision surgery is quite problematic, I don't know about cervical but that obviously would be top of my lists of questions to any surgeon if I were you.

I find the cold water really theraputic and still don the wetsuit and bodyboard in Wales march to october when we are there so no need to sell the gear just yet!

If you want to PM me with any suggested referrals and i'll have a mooch to see if I know anyone who has been to them.

[darryljames]

Welcome to the forum. I'm not familiar with any UK surgeons, though several on here have seen Mr. Nick Boeree and have been very pleased with him. Here is a link to his information Mr. Nick Boeree, The Spine Clinic -- Artificial Disc Replacement (UK) You can also check out the international travel section on here and find others who are top notch surgeons.
Best of Luck,
Kathy

hey Kathy, you look about ready to go in your photo there, hope everything is going as planned with the bambino It was actually a hit on Dr Nick and the Spine Clinic that brought me to this Forum, I have been devouring material and papers about ADR/TDR, it seems like an option far more suited to my situation than acdf (and a lot less scary!) but I guess that depends on test results for ddd etc. Not going to know anymore until next Wednesday, the project I am on right now is in a critical phase, I go back to Scotland on Friday, have spinal consultant on Tuesday evening then am on the 6am flight back here on Wednesday to get back into the thick of it.

I will certainly take all the kind offers for knowledge and information when I get some knowledge from the specialist!

[darryljames]

I find the cold water really theraputic and still don the wetsuit and bodyboard in Wales march to october when we are there so no need to sell the gear just yet!

now there's some good news, maybe a good job I didn't throw away my old bodyboard!

If you want to PM me with any suggested referrals and i'll have a mooch to see if I know anyone who has been to them.

I'll do this, thanks for the offer

[darryljames]

I saw the spinal surgeon I was referred to this evening, a very nice bloke, Mr Craig. Here's the MRI, is all pretty good considering really, no evident DDD, no contraindications for ADR and we discussed a single level ADR using the Discocerv Cervi Disc Evolution on March 9th (2 weeks!).

Expected overnight stay in hospital, three weeks off work and then 4-6 weeks till able to travel for work again, all being well. Mr Craig said he has implanted about 40 of these devices with no complications and very successful results. I am pretty happy this is a good product from what I can find out about it although there is not a massive amount of information out there, anyone got any prior with this device?

Evidently I have a bulge higher up at C3 but that is not considered significant at the moment.



Thanks