M6 or Pro-Disc C??

[golfer]

Hello, I'm doing research on the M6 vs. Pro-Disc C. I currently have a herniation at C5-C6 an a bulge at C6-C7.

January 2009 I was sitting at a red light and a huge truck rear-ended me going 50mph. Texting or playing with the radio is what he said. Totaled his car and the car in front of me. I was the meat of the sandwich. Lucky I was in a SUV. I was wearing my seat belt but could hardly move for a month after the accident. MRI report and symptoms show a herniation at C5-C6 and a bulge at C6-C7. Rehabbed for an entire year (DRX/Spine Force/Chiro/massage therapy/ muscle relaxers, bikram yoga, etc...). I've had hardly any improvement and am unable to return to perform in my active profession/career. Feel very unstable. numbness, muscle twitching, pins and needles, weakness(in arms, hands, shoulders), and traps go into lock down mode 3-4 times a week. Since I've tried every non-surgical approach, my neurosurgeon wants to do an ADR with the Pro-Disc C (only at C5-C6). I've gotten 5-6 other opinions saying I would be a perfect candidate for an ADR. I'm a 33 year old professional athlete. Have you heard of any athletes returning to active competition after an ADR? And which disc is better M6 or Pro-Disc C? Seems like the M6 is far more advanced. I wouldn't mind going to Germany/Stenum to have it done. Rather have someone who's done 1000 do it rather than someone who's done 20. Heard good things and I've been to almost every country in the world anyway. I want the best technology if the disc will be in my neck forever. I'm sure in 10 years there will be something better, but I can't wait 10 years with my career as an athlete.

Thanks for your help and hope to hear back soon

[rhatzy]

Hello, I'm doing research on the M6 vs. Pro-Disc C. I currently have a herniation at C5-C6 an a bulge at C6-C7.

January 2009 I was sitting at a red light and a huge truck rear-ended me going 50mph. Texting or playing with the radio is what he said. Totaled his car and the car in front of me. I was the meat of the sandwich. Lucky I was in a SUV. I was wearing my seat belt but could hardly move for a month after the accident. MRI report and symptoms show a herniation at C5-C6 and a bulge at C6-C7. Rehabbed for an entire year (DRX/Spine Force/Chiro/massage therapy/ muscle relaxers, bikram yoga, etc...). I've had hardly any improvement and am unable to return to perform in my active profession/career. Feel very unstable. numbness, muscle twitching, pins and needles, weakness(in arms, hands, shoulders), and traps go into lock down mode 3-4 times a week. Since I've tried every non-surgical approach, my neurosurgeon wants to do an ADR with the Pro-Disc C (only at C5-C6). I've gotten 5-6 other opinions saying I would be a perfect candidate for an ADR. I'm a 33 year old professional athlete. Have you heard of any athletes returning to active competition after an ADR? And which disc is better M6 or Pro-Disc C? Seems like the M6 is far more advanced. I wouldn't mind going to Germany/Stenum to have it done. Rather have someone who's done 1000 do it rather than someone who's done 20. Heard good things and I've been to almost every country in the world anyway. I want the best technology if the disc will be in my neck forever. I'm sure in 10 years there will be something better, but I can't wait 10 years with my career as an athlete.

Thanks for your help and hope to hear back soon

Hi,

I went to Stenum and have two Mavericks in my back and doing just fine. There are many people with ADR's that are back to doing most of the things they like. I have been in a batting cage hitting a hundred balls with no problem and I know people that are back to golfing. As for dics choice, that is up to you. If it were me, I'd probably choose the M6 or the prestige. I'm 52 so I'm sure they would last. Also, I would make sure which disc is causing the problem. You might need 2 of them. Probably need a discogram which will show if the discs are the problem.

A guy that was in my group at Stenum had 2 in his back. He is a weight lifter, body builder and trainer. Last I heard He was back to presurgery weight and strength and squatting 350lbs. He is in his mid 30's

Mark

[golfer]

Mark,

Thanks so much for your insight. I'm glad you had a great experience at Stenum. I'm going to do some more research with them and see if they can put me in touch with that weightlifter or other athletes. I know they're doing the same surgery in Barcelona for a little less $. The $ doesn't bother me too much, but I want someone who's done 100's or 1000's rather than 10 or 20. Not sure what a discogram is? I've had 3 MRI's along with x-rays and ct-scans. Is the discogram different from those? As for the disc's, It's looks to me like the M6 is the one. Pro-disc seems like a thing of the past. I have a herniation at C5-C6 and a slight bulge at C6-C7. Surgeons here suggest 1 level. I certainly don't want to do this again, so a 2 level may be the way to go. Wish the FDA would have approved these 20 years ago like Europe. Would be nice to have to have more stats to weigh my options. Being 33, I hope the disc will last my lifetime.

Thanks again for your help and I'm glad you're doing great.

Mike

[Justin]

Mark,

Thanks so much for your insight. I'm glad you had a great experience at Stenum. I'm going to do some more research with them and see if they can put me in touch with that weightlifter or other athletes. I know they're doing the same surgery in Barcelona for a little less $. The $ doesn't bother me too much, but I want someone who's done 100's or 1000's rather than 10 or 20. Not sure what a discogram is? I've had 3 MRI's along with x-rays and ct-scans. Is the discogram different from those? As for the disc's, It's looks to me like the M6 is the one. Pro-disc seems like a thing of the past. I have a herniation at C5-C6 and a slight bulge at C6-C7. Surgeons here suggest 1 level. I certainly don't want to do this again, so a 2 level may be the way to go. Wish the FDA would have approved these 20 years ago like Europe. Would be nice to have to have more stats to weigh my options. Being 33, I hope the disc will last my lifetime.

Thanks again for your help and I'm glad you're doing great.

Mike

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society!

I understand being young and dealing with spine issues--I've had three spine surgeries and I just turned 30 last November.

Here's some information about a discogram (discography): eMedicine Discography. I've spoken with many Spine Patients that have returned to active lifestyles after artificial disc replacement surgery (professional tennis, ski patrol, weight lifting, etc.).

As Mark said, one important factor in any surgical procedure is surgeon experience. Make sure to "work up" your pain generators completely in your cervical spine. Please let me know if you need anything.

[Katie]

I had a consult with Dr. Fabien Bitan in NYC last April for both ADR and fusion surgery, a hybrid at five levels.

While in his office I noticed several posters from professional ball players (sorry, not sure if baseball or football), thanking him for his talents. They obviously had great results.

I had planned to go to Stenum two years ago, and in my research have made a number of friends who had already gone there with excellent results. If you would like to talk to any of them, please don't hesitate to contact me. Other circumstances prevented my trip there, mainly due to insurance problems.

And welcome to our board! It is an awesome place to hang out and gather knowledge about the things that consume us.

[jss]

Hello, I'm doing research on the M6 vs. Pro-Disc C. I currently have a herniation at C5-C6 an a bulge at C6-C7.

golfer, that's a bummer of a story. I hope you can get up and around soon after your surgery!

I have two M6's; C3/4 and C6/7, courtesy of Dr Clavel in Barcelona. I'm not a professional athlete, but do enjoy running marathons. I'm about eleven weeks post surgery and am back up to running 50 miles per week. I'm guessing that your sport is golf? As I don't golf, I don't know how running compares, but I'd guess that golf is less stressful on the cervical spine.

A couple of things I considered when selecting an ADR device was longevity of the device, and the effect of each device on my remaining natural discs. I thought the Prestige (ball and socket like the ProDisc) looked far more reliable and much more likely to last me 35 or 40 years (I'm 47). I ended up selecting the M6 because (in my judgment) it was the more likely of the two to not add additional and unnatural stresses to the discs at the adjacent levels. That is, I'd rather have to replace an M6 every several years than to have to do an ADR on any of my remaining discs.

Anyway, good luck on selecting the right ADR device for you.

[golfer]

Thanks for all your insight everyone.

JSS, It's great to hear your running 50 miles a week 2 month post surgery. Golf does twist and torque your spine in different ways especially if you do it for a living and play 30 out of 52 weeks a year. I wonder what would be more jarring to the spine (running or golf)? Why was your final decision for the M6 Barcelona and not Germany (or somewhere else in Europe)?

Katie thanks for your thoughts and I will get back to you soon so maybe in the future I can talk to your friends. All the best and I hope the insurance issues can get worked out.

Justin, what do you mean by "working up" my pain generators in the c-spine?

[scduggan]

Dear Mike!
Welcome to the website. There are a lot of cervical people around here. It looks like a few have weighed in already. I am so happy. I started researching last August. It is overwhelming, but you are in the right place. Real patients who have been in your shoes will be able to give you the best info. Good Luck!
CD

[jss]

I wonder what would be more jarring to the spine (running or golf)?

I'm not a kinesiologist, but do recognize that as a difficult question because, as you noted, each activity stresses the cervical spine in different ways. It seems evident that running requires that the prosthesis absorb a LOT more axial compression than would golf. (The M6 cushions axial compression where the ProDisc does not.) But then when running, you're not constantly and violently jerking your cervical spine from a flexed to an extended position as is occurring in golf (only after you've made contact with the ball of course). So it is entirely possible that one device is better for one activity, and that the other is better for the other; I don't know.

Why was your final decision for the M6 Barcelona and not Germany (or somewhere else in Europe)?

My final decision was 89% based on finances, and 11% based on my wife (of 27 years) telling me, "We've already been to Germany twice, but never to Spain!" While I was able to cover either option, Stenum would have taken most of my non-retirement savings. Since my health insurance provider had vowed to not cover one red cent of the procedure, Barcelona began to look more attractive. When I began researching Dr Clavel and discovering his imminent credentials, though I still preferred Stenum, my reservations about Dr Clavel began to fade. Dr Clavel has more research experience in ADR than the Stenum doctors; but the Stenum doctors have far more experience in actually performing ADR; about a 10 to 1 advantage. Though I trust Dr Clavel implicitly and would have no reservations using him again if (God forbid) I need another ADR, where money is no object, I would still tend to recommend Stenum because of their superior experience. Outside of Stenum, and arguably Dr Zeeger in Munich, I did not discover another European surgeon with Dr Clavel's ADR credentials.

BTW: If you happen to choose Dr Zeeger in Munich... my favorite brewery in the world is located in Munich, exactly 1.1 miles from the main train station. If you do go there, PLEASE visit Schneider and Sons Brewery and have AT MOST three pints of their Aventinus Eisboch on tap. Sigh... No offense to Spanish beer, but why didn't I go to Zeeger????


Good luck, Jeff