Newbie with lots of questions. All advice welcome.

[rhatzy]

Hi,

I had a 2 level lumbar ADR in January of 2008. It wa the best thing i ever did. You have to look at your options. One is doing the same thing and more than likely get worse as it is not called DEGENERATIVE disc disease for nothing. The other is looking into the very low invasive techniques using lasers, which I believe will also delay the inevitable. I'm glad i had my operation and was more than ready as it was my only choice. The neck is a bit more foregiving with ADR and Fusion and with the disc out today like the M-6, you are looking at doing very well with this. They don't do this disc in the US and you have to go overseas to do it. There are a few good surgeons that do this. I think that the longer you wait, the more you will be only left with one option, fusion.

There is a lot of great info on this site and I wish you well.

mark

[Katie]

Hi sea! Just chiming in here with another welcome, and hoping we can help. I have the good luck to have experienced both lumbar and cervical surgeries, all in one go I had pretty severe spinal compression at C5/6 and somewhat bad at C4/5, plus severe pain in the lower lumbar from DDD. Your statement brought back such memories...

I told the first surgeon with whom I consulted that I was terrified of the surgery and he told me "you should be".

I wasn't afraid of the surgery...I was afraid of NOT having it. It was a 'highly regarded' local surgeon who told me it was far too dangerous, that I would most likely end up in a wheelchair. I wasn't happy with that, so searched for a better doctor.

A wonderful surgeon, Dr. Fabien Bitan in NYC spent several hours with my hubby and I just days after getting my images...he insisted that he see me ASAP. He wanted to do a similar surgery as yours, plus three levels in the lumbar, for five in total...two hybrids. Because insurance wouldn't come through, I couldn't go with him, but ended up in Brazil with a brilliant surgeon there, Dr. Luiz Pimenta. Dr. Bitan believed the surgery was quite do-able, and Dr. Pimenta said that any neurosurgeon worth his salt should be able to do it...."spine surgery 101" is what he called it So the best advice I can give, as others will, is to broaden your search. There are brilliant doctors out there...ones that have done thousands of surgeries, not just a hundred or less. And surprisingly I found that the best foreign ones were usually much cheaper than the great and not so great in North America.....

I ended up only having the C5/6 done, with a newer ADR, the NuVasive NeoDisc, a silicone device, as Dr. P. thought that would be sufficient, and that the C4/5 would settle down once the pressure was sorted out. It is working fine, as did the fusion at L4/5/S1. The numerous neurological problems I was having disappeared completely...every other surgeon said they would be permanent.

I hope you find what you are looking for here...from one mid-50s gal to another We've got a lot of life to keep living!

[seabloom]

Due to my severe osteopenia of the spine I have been wandering if an internal bone stimulator might be warranted. Do you know or does anyone know someone who has used either an internal or external stimulator and what the results were? It is never easy, is it?? Thank you.

[Catherine]

Hi Seabloom and welcome also! I am currently a lumbar patient, but in the early 90's I had a one level cervical fusion with Dr William Tobler who was with the University of Cincinnatti. I've never had any problems with the fusion and it took care of all of my symptoms. Just thought I'd throw in my two cents also. Best of luck and like everyone says, get several opinions and do your research.

Catherine

[seabloom]

Thanks Catherine. I appreciate hearing this kind of thing. It is a very scary proposition. After I get an epidural and in combination with my normal pain meds, muscles relaxers, anti-inflammatories etc. I think... I can manage this amount of pain that is left. Then it all comes roaring back in a couple of months and I have to come face-to-face with the possibility of surgery again and realize a delay is just that...already been delaying for a few decades. If it really takes away most of the pain...wow...I cannot even imagine. It is amazing what you accept as normal with this kind of thing. Thank you for writing and thank you for the encouragement. Best wishes, Sea

[seabloom]

Thanks for the support Mark. I worked with lots of folks with spinal cord injuries a life time ago and I think that sticks in my mind and contributes to my worries. My first experience with a surgical consult did nothing to help me overcome my fear either but reading your post and that of others helps tremendously. I just need to persevere and get some answers. It is complicated to unravel but after 20 years, I need to finally fix this and move on. Be well. Sea

[seabloom]

Ha ha...thanks so much Katie...you are right...we are YOUNG and this is enough!! Okay...back to do battle with insurance companies and find a surgeon. What a process. You give me hope!!! I love the pic BTW. Sea