[Artificial Disc Replacement / Lumbar] 25yr MALE ProDisc-L & Infix Cage Hybrid Surgery

[kimhyu39]

Hi Everyone,

At the beginning of this year I was involved in a terrible auto accident which left me with a 6mm protrusion in L3/L4 and a 12mm protrusion in my L4/L5. I've consulted several physicians and they immediately wanted to replace them with a ProDisc-L ADR as well as an Infix Cage. I'm 25 years old, healthy and in great condition before the accident. Now, I can barely walk without a stabbing pain in my lower back. I've tried therapy for 3 months but it feels like a temporary fix with the pain still present. I have an unusual high tolerance to pain but the stress has caused me to do things that are not in my character (ie. easily frustrated w/ coworkers, unusually depressed, easily angered, snappy, overall not a pleasant person). I really think that surgery should be a last resort but the doctors have been telling me that this is the only possible solution. Dealing with the consequences of the accident have been so stressful on me and my body and honestly I feel as if the doctors are almost too quick to suggest such a surgery which would most indefinitely change my life forever. I'm currently in the process of getting several opinions from different orthopedic surgeons as well as neurosurgeons BUT if anyone has any advice/thoughts with such prosthetics and surgeries, I would love to hear from you.

Thanks!
Kim

[Flycolorado]

Hi Kim,

With my own experience, I had great results with my chiropractor doing decompression therapy (spine med). It was expensive but It gave me enough relief to be able to continue working.

Have you also looked into minimally invasive surgery?

My disc is herniated at L3-4... pretty much bone on bone... I will be having an ADR on April 19th.

So sorry you are in pain.. It just plain SUCKS! Stay strong and positive!

Andrea

[kimhyu39]

Hi Kim,

With my own experience, I had great results with my chiropractor doing decompression therapy (spine med). It was expensive but It gave me enough relief to be able to continue working.

Have you also looked into minimally invasive surgery?

My disc is herniated at L3-4... pretty much bone on bone... I will be having an ADR on April 19th.

So sorry you are in pain.. It just plain SUCKS! Stay strong and positive!

Andrea

Andrea!

Unfortunately, since the condition of my discs are so extreme (usual back problems 1-3mm...mine is at 12mm..a full centimeter), the doctors have said that any type of therapy would be useless and would just be costly "temporary" fixes. I've also asked about minimally invasive surgery but yet again, with such extreme circumstances of my discs, they would have to pull the whole thing out.

I appreciate your words of encouragement, it means a lot!

Thanks,

Kim

[Cindylou]

Hi Kim and welcome to SPS, I am so sorry to hear the condition that the auto accident has left your spine in. And it is not unusual to experience the type of mood swings that you are having, when you are in extreme pain. Pain can just bring out the worst in us. I think you are being so smart to take your time and exhaust all conservative measures first before you entertain surgery, especially given your young age. Even if you end up needing surgery in the end, you can tell yourself you did everything else in your power to avoid it. And it's also great that you are getting multiple opinions from different surgeons, as this too will help zone in on what the consensus of treatment is for your spine. I hope you find a permanent solution for your spine soon and get the much needed relief you deserve. Take care, Cindylou

[trkdoc714]

Kim,

One thought regarding insurance; insurance companies seem to use the position that "not enough conservative treatment" was pursued prior to fusion or ADR. I'd hope your surgeons would get a pre-certification for at least the fusion then appeal for the hybrid or double ADR if offered. It may be different since your injury was accident related but insurance companies are really stretching for any reason to deny a claim these days.

Good luck on your journey. It sounds like you've done a lot of research and by joining SPS, you're about to get more info on spines than you could hope for.

Bob

[Hooch]

Gday Bud, I've been there... generally the pain will improve from this stage slowly over the months, the question is how much pain u are left with and whether it is chronic. The surgeons don't know the answer to that, only time will tell. But I get u are not in a good way.

Consider this, if you rocked up to the clinic with the same condition, but not due to a clear traumatic incident like a car accident, would they be ready to operate on you pronto? Unless they are super aggresive surgeons, the answer is no.

Yeah, it's a big herniation, but that doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot if the nerves are clear. The source of axial back pain from that condition is ultimately unknown to medical science, but they suspect it has more to do with annular tears and innervation of the disc, not the size of the herniation.

The hybrid op they are proposing is a final step, Ive got one in my back, its the last throw of the dice. If it doesn't work out for you well ur up **** creek with no paddle.

Mind you, if surgery hadn't meant the end of my fking career and temporary loss of financial fking independence and Id had access to some competent surgeons where I was living at the time, Im sure I would have done the op a lot earlier. My back still hurts like all heck at times, but I expect u now know the difference between pain and PAIN and PAIN is ultimately debilitating.

There is a lot of physical therapy that can be done. An injury like that will send ur stabilising muscles spastic and they wont turn back on on their own... speaking from long and hard experience. If u have an op ur going to have to work on that to rehab it so u may as well get cracking, but it is a long term pay-off and in the short term it wont do much at all.

A lot (probably most) of people are passive and expect their pain to be relieved or controlled by a process done to them, instead of done by them.

the doctors have said that any type of therapy would be useless and would just be costly "temporary" fixes

This is only true for dependant therapies like chiro, osteo, acupuncture, massage, that ridiculous decompression machine that costs thousands etc. Most doctors and surgeons have absolutely no clue about rehab, it is not their field.

My advice is to give at the very very minimum 6 months, do a course of rehab and get ur TA and other deep stabilisers going, see where u are at. If it's still misery, then the surgical option is available.

[scduggan]

Dear Kim,
Hi and welcome to the website. I am also sorry to hear about your accident and the resulting spine problems. All of us here know what you mean by "not a pleasant person." My spine problem was the result of degeneration so I do not know enough about trauma to offer advice. I can wholeheartedly agree with Hooch about the stabilizing muscles. I wanted to let you know you are not alone and that you are on the right track by doing research. Knowledge is power.....so is patience which is not great to hear when you are hurting. Trust your gut and keep us posted.
CD

[petrkr]

Kim,
I know 3 month is frustrating to be in severe pain. But surgery any type should be your last option. You are very young and with very good PT you will improve over the next 12 month.

I would suggest Epidural injection to relive the worst pain. You should find great physiatrists (back specialist). There are also other medications which can help with pain outside of pain killers.

You need to give it at least 12 month. 90% of people do get better, even from a really bad shape.

The ADR is really final, and if things do not go super duper you might be left with pretty severe pain anyway and not much to do about it after.