New to the forum -- Looking into Extreme Lateral Artificial Disc Replacement vs. Fusion

[Billy]

I've been lurking around reading things trying to educate myself about the new XLTDR (Extreme Lateral Total Disk Replacement).

I had a discetomy in Dec 2007 and returned back to work where I was very active lifting manholes, working on gasoline pumps which required lots of bending, twisting, working on my knees, and over extending myself working under counter-tops routing wires and repairing connections. In the end I had to give up my job.

I returned back to work last April 2011 and where I still work under counter-tops doing the same thing as before but don't have to work on the gas pumps. I have good days then bad days, nights where I can't sleep solid or wake at 3am with sciatica or spasms in my center back, then by 630am I'm exhausted and have to start getting ready for work.

Anyhow...after to many visits to several family Dr and getting Prednisone, Gabapentin, Celexa, Amatriptaline, Mobic, Motrin, ect...I was sent to a different "specialist" where he took an X-Ray and MRI and told me my L4-L5 disk was gone and it's in essence bone on bone and medically speaking the only treatment left is a fusion or TDR. The TDR is under clinical trail but unfortunately there in not much data collected since its such a new procedure and they go in through the side and it's sorta minimal invasive technique but I would be a guinea pig so to speak but it's been done in Europe for over 15 years with good results. Oh and if I agree the disk will be free so let him know and off he went.

I called him back to get more info and he directed me to XLTDR's website which don't tell me how people's outcome with the procedure went or if it's a good idea to have it done, and so here I am.

He did say the fusion would alleviate the pain by giving my disk it's normal space back but they are only good for about 20 years before another disk goes and that's the max. In theory the artificial disk would leave me with proper spacing and normal range of motion. Oh...he's done 2 to date.


Today I went to a old timer (an old back Dr who no longer does surgery in his late 60's) and his stance was put it off as long as you can. So now I have two extremes - the same two I was already battling in my head.

[ajj1001]

Welcome to the forum. How many standard disc replacements has the trial surgeon done? With that outcomes?

[Justin]

Hi Billy,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

Well, it sounds like your spine has suffered through a lot of trauma and difficult work environments. Here's some threads that SPS Members have posted on the Extreme Lateral Total Disc Replacement:

• XL TDR (eXtreme Lateral Total Disc Replacement)
  
• NuVasive clinical trial XL TDR lateral incision
  
• Extreme Lateral Total Disc Replacement Surgery
  
• NuVasive Lumbar eXtreme Lateral Total Disc Replacement (XL TDR) Recovery
  
• NuVasive eXtreme Lateral Total Disc Replacement (4/20/10, L4-L5)

There are quite a few surgeons doing the procedure now that have quite a few (good number of procedures) under their belt. Feel free to send the Members in the thread above Personal Messages (if you click on a Member's name a link will pop up to contact them via Private Message, Email, etc.).

Good luck and please let me know if I can help.

[Billy]

Thanks for taking the time to share those links Justin,

My Dr says he has done two of these procedures. And his colleague has done two.
The procedure will take place in Augusta, GA.

I didn't mean to rant in my introduction and go all over the place on my topics. It's just that I have such a grinding pain in my L4-L5 and it affects every aspect of my life and has gotten me so down for so long. I feel like I have cancer in my stomach from all the worry.

I'm already in pain in my back and I'm so afraid that after surgery the pain will remain.

Yesterday I went to talk and have a second opinion form an older spine surgeon I have seen in the past. I just wanted to get feedback.
He urged me to hold off on surgery, he said what is the rush? He said you will be trading one group of symptoms for another.

Then I read a good story and 2 bad stories. I'm just so anxious about all of it. Anxious about having it done and about not getting it done.

I'm coping with the pain but it taking its toll. I even go a week or two with no symptoms other than the nerve damage that was done from the original herniation back in 2007 but each time I do to much and it come back with more of a vengeance.

Every part of me say's go for it but I keep saying what if? I just hate to go through all that trauma and in the end have other symptoms from having a foreign object in my body.

I want to add I'm 42 and was in perfect health until my disk ruptured. That was when I was 38. I felt 28 back then. After the rupture I began to feel my age. Now I feel like my life will never be the same.

[trkdoc714]

Keep your chin up Billy. The ups and downs drove me up the wall also. I went to a surgeon in Columbus, GA for follow up after my overseas surgery. Perhaps a third opinion (and maybe a 4th) would give you a clearer picture to go forward with a treatment.

All things must pass. Your looking in the right places for help.

Bob