[Artificial Disc Replacement / Lumbar] 2 new m6 adrs installed at L4-5 and L5-s1. With Boeree, No Regrets

[Thomas]

Hi, My name is Tom and I thought I would share my experience in the UK. Quick background, I am now 53 and have been dealing with lower back issues for about ten years. I have been waiting to go "bionic" for the last 5 years ever since I 1st read about ADR's (artificial disc replacement) in Popular Science sitting on the toilet.. Physical Therapy worked well for me for quite a while but by the fall of 2010 I had milked that to the end. It was time. The best available adr seemed to be the m6. Research through this forum was instrumental in the process and decision to go to The Spine Center at Nuffield-Wessex in the UK and see Dr. Boeree. I felt I was a good candidate for this surgery because I had no other complicating issues. No prior surgeries and scar tissue, not too old, I am very fit, and not over weight. I just had 2 very compressed discs. This is relevant because being a good candidate is essential to the outcome. The consults with various Docs agreed with that analysis. Although, my bottom disc was so compressed that both surgeons I consulted said that there was no guarantee that it, "L5-s1", would not have to be fused. So I might end up with a hybrid of fusion and m6.


Being from the States and never having traveled in the UK, we booked 2 weeks for the trip. We stayed in Winchester, a short drive to the clinic, and beautiful ancient town. That was the suggestion of Dr.Boeree and a good one. We booked a hotel that was modern enough to have an elevator option and a hot tub. Although the hotel we stayed in was great, if I had to do it again, I would stay at the hotel next to the Winchester Cathedral for its location. That area is filled with things to see and visit and makes for great short walks which you need to do.


My wife accompanied me on this journey and I would not recommend one do this alone. In any hospital stay, whether in the States or elsewhere, you need an advocate to be in the loop. You will be in pain and on drugs. Not the best state of being to be making decisions. With that said, the staff at the clinic was great. Polite, caring, and attentive. The Nuffield Hospital is a bit dated compared to the Hospitals we are used to, but England is much older than the US, and probably that should have been expected. Their protocols include visiting hours limits which seemed odd to us. But their food service was awesome, which again seemed odd to us.


I will not walk you through the day-to-day stuff as that can be found on other's posts. What I feel is important to share are those things that were important to the process. Things that I would have done differently and those that turned out to be very appreciated.


On the flight out: We would not book thru Chicago, O'Hare. Both on the way out and the flight back we were delayed and had to spend the night. Maybe just bad luck on our part, but I think O'Hare is just too big to be efficient. We booked business class, which I never do, but its was great and much better for the back on that long flight over the ocean.


As mentioned before, the town of Winchester was awesome... But driving on the left is a challenge. Since you will not be driving after surgery, your companion should do the driving from the beginning. They need to get use to it. They will be driving back to town in the dark. It takes at least a couple days to get past the learning curve so drive around a lot before surgery. We picked up a cell phone in Winchester with a prepaid # of minutes. That worked well to stay in touch with the Clinic and other local contacts. Facebook was used for the home communications. My wife created a "group" and could update everyone at night in the hotel when she was alone. That was good for her sanity.

As for the surgery, that was all new to me not having had any before. When I came to, I was hooked up to IV's for fluids and morphine. Back pain was mostly insignificant. Some irritation with the stables, but not bad. Recommendation: Have a catheter installed in surgery. After surgery, when they were pumping me full of fluids, my bladder at the end of day was ready to burst. My ability to urinate laying on my back after surgery was not there. I had to have a catheter installed. Twice actually because I had them take it out the next morning which was too soon.

It took a day or so to get unplugged from the IV's. Discomfort in general was minimal. The first step was interestingly unstable. Dr. Boeree mentioned that the new mobility would feel that way at first. Not painful just kind of wobbly at the new disc levels. I walked around several "short" times that day and each day got better. The tender nerve pain was gone, but muscles and other connective tissues were tight and sore. I was a half inch taller. Kind of stretched out. So it was to be expected.

Now it is 7 months later and I am playing tennis again several times a week, have gone skiing twice, and am loving working around the house again not have to ask for help to move things or lift. For me, so far, it has worked out great. No regrets.

[KanRunMo]

That's great news Thomas. I also play tennis (and golf) and wondered how ADR surgery would affect those. Good to hear you are back to playing tennis in 7 months.