[Artificial Disc Replacement / Cervical] 3 M6Cs 3 Months Out (Dr. Boeree, C4/C5, C5/C6 & C6/C7)

[tyler]

Several of you had asked to see pictures of my cervical ADR scar. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to post a picture. The scar is not all that noticeable. When they perform cervical ADR, they have to work around the muscles in the neck. Since they come in from the front of the neck, one of the major muscles they have to avoid is the SCM (Sternocleidomastoid). So, the scar tends to follow the line of the SCM (the big linear bulge in the attached photos). As you might expect, wrinkles in the neck tend to follow these same structures. In dim light, my scar looks like just another wrinkle. Wow, finally a good reason to have a few wrinkles!

I have attached two versions of the same picture, one plain and one identifying the ends of the scar.

Some patients are opposed to staples, thinking that they will worsen the appearance of the scar. I followed the recommendations of Dr. Boeree and stuck with the staples (pun intended). The staples were taken out five days after surgery. I could not even feel when the nurse took them out. After a few weeks, you could not tell that I ever had any staples in my neck.

Don't worry about scars. Get fixed if you can!

Phil

Phil -

Great to hear that all went well with the triple M6 - here's to a continued smooth recovery!

As for scars, I also went with the staples and have virtually no scar apparent (though haven't done photos yet). I used a gel called "Dermatix" that an English pharmacist recommended, which seemed to have worked really well. I think it may be available in the U.S. as well.

Best,
Tyler

[seabloom]

I am so happy to have found this thread. I too am debating what to do, when to do it, fighting with my insurance company (surgeon recommends hybrid) and wandering next steps. Due to the added complication of my osteopenia I am wandering if you or anyone has heard of any successes with internal or even external bone stimulators with cervical fusion? You are all inspirational as all of this is scary. It is difficult to know what to do when the surgeon recommends something your insurance company will not pay for and research on hybrid methodology is scanty at best. Thank you. Sea

[fran brennan]

Hi Phil:

Thank you so much for writing about your surgery experience with Dr. Nick Boeree. I am very happy that you are doing so well and wish you continued wonderful recovery and health!
I will be having surgery with Dr. Boeree in December, 2012 and was so very pleased to read about your surgery and post-op experiences.
I, too, have thoroughly researched surgeons in the USA and Europe and decided Dr. Boeree was the right surgeron for me as well as the M-6 cervical disc.

I have the exact same three-disc surgery issues (C4/5, C5/6 & C6/7) that you had and will need three M-6 cervical discs. It is very difficult to select a surgeron for this type of surgery without ever meeting the surgeon in person. Although, I agree that our phone consultation was great and put my mind at ease. After researching Dr. Boeree and reading patients posts on this and other forums, I am convinced that I am making the very best decision for my medical needs.

Here's my personal cervical disc story and I will post for other potential patients post-op to let you know my surgical experiences with Dr. Boeree:

After extensive research, I have come to the conclusion that the Spinal Kinetics M6 disc is the most advanced solution for me as it offers the same range of motion (six directions) just like a human disc and it was designed to provide increasing resistance to movement with components that make it far more durable than other options . . . and no fusion, no adjacent problems for other discs/facets and further surgeries. Dr. Boeree performed Marti Conger's surgery in 2009 and when I spoke with her on the phone in October she said she was still pain free and that her surgery was flawless. To use the word “flawless” is a specific, strong word. She is extremely pleased with her surgery results and recovery. This is the kind of surgery and recovery I want for myself. She is a patient advocate who spoke in the Spring, 2011 in Washington, D.C. before the Senate subcommitee on medical devices to let them know how disappointed and ashamed we all our of our slow, bureaucratic FDA and government when it comes to fast tracking and approving M6 which is far superior to other cervical disc devices used in the USA. Too much politics, fees to doctors for using current, outdated devices at the expense of real people lives !
I am a very sports active, exercised and healthy 59-year old woman , except for my cervical disc issues in my neck. I want my life back (exercise, skiing, swimming, golf, tennis, etc.) and having fun with my husband and family! I have become a shell of myself and can no longer do any of my exercise or sports activities and household chores are now becoming an issue as well.
When my head pain becomes severe enough, I have difficulty focusing and concentrating which also is affecting my work! I continue to function on a daily basis,working full-time, while trying to ignore my physical neck and head pain issues. The “ignoring” is becoming increasingly more difficult! Large doses of tylenol and advil get me through my work days.
“Experience is key” to me and I want to find a neurosurgeon who has a high surgery success rate and is a “root cause, solution-oriented”, low risk surgeon who can deal with multiple issues in one, minimally-invasive surgery. I am very frustrated by what is happening in healthcare and with insurance (non-education and insurance denials for options that heal instead of causing adjacent future problems) and FDA burearcracy and slowness in testing and approving artificial devices for spinal injuries that function as close to the natural human body as possible. I desperately want to get my normal body function back again and need to get to the root cause of my neck/head/arm pain. The appropriate artificial disc is also key to getting my life back and with M6 and Dr. Boeree as my surgeon I would have that opportrunity! Unfortnately, insurance will not pay, so I have to come up with the money! But I understand that appeals can work with insurance companies, so I will be appealing with my insurance carrier.
I have suffered with severe pain in my neck, head and left arm with three numb fingers, migraine-like headaches, head fogginess, nausea and dizziness, some low back pain with occasional sciatica for 5 years due to two accidents (diving board back flip injury and tailbone fracture from fall on ice). I was functioning just fine until these accidents and have progressively gotten worse over the last several years. It is very debilitating to live with this pain dysfunction and the head pain issues make it extremely difficult for me to focus and concentrate on any work. I have several cysts in my neck which the radiologist says are benign, perineural Tarlov cysts, one the size of a small cherry tomato which they say are not an issue, but these cysts are taking up space in my neck that they should not and could be a contributing factor (?).
I have seen highly recommended sports medicine and orthopedic doctors, two neurologists (one specialist who diagnosed me with Brachial Neuritis and Guillain-Barre!) and an orthogonist/chiropractor in CT, an orthogonist in New York City and an orthopedic surgeon, neuro-surgeron and orthogonist/chiropractor in Florida. I investigated everything I could to alleviate my pain including exercise, physical therapy, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, traction and steroid injections which did not solve my root cause problems. The only procedure that is helping me right now is the orthogonal work that my chiropractor is performing to help keep my pain at bay . . . which is a temporary fix. No hand manipulation, but an orthogonal piece of equipment which operates similar to percussion instruments and is able to move my atlas bone back in place when my muscles in the neck and instablility pull it out of alignment, causing me the severe problems listed above.
I have never been prone to headaches and now have terrible migraine-like headaches and light sensitivity with my head feeling like it is in a vice and terrible pressure behind my eyes as well as numbness and tingling in my face and back of head especially in the occipital nerve area. Temporary relief has only been provided with orthogonal and decompression therapy. I want a permanent solution to the “root cause” of my head and neck pain (vice-like pain radiates into my temples and head with severe migraine-like symptoms, fogginess, nausea and dizziness . . . muscle trigger points so hard and fixed under my right ear, it is affecting my hearing, muscle trigger points cascading upward all through my head, neck and back. When I lay down flat in bed on my back, the throbbing in my temples gets worse. If I change directions when lying down, this motion will set-off the throbbing with sweats. My eyes look black and blue from so much head pounding and I feel awful and exhausted at times. This is definitely not like me at all ! I have always been happy and active my entire life until now.
My atlas bone continues to misalign, we believe due to my C5/6/7 neck issues (especially C6/7) and my body fights to realign itself creating significant muscle tension in my back, arm, shoulders and head, severe trigger point issues in my head/neck/back which, over time, all symptoms become very debilitating and exhausting. At times, any motion will make my head symptoms even worse to the point of throwing up and naturally makes any activity difficult and impossible at times(pressing on vagus nerve?).
When I get really dizzy and nauseous, this will shut down my digestive system for several days and I am not very hungry. This is also not like me ! I love to prepare and eat good food !! I strive to live a positive life and try to function the best I can under these difficult circumstances, however, I cannot continue to live my life this way as it is negatively affecting my personal and professional life in a significant manner. When the orthogonist uses his percussion-like instrument to realign my atlas bone, etc. . . . the majority of the symptoms, including all of the muscles tightness, spasms and trigger points all relax for a period of time . . . however, it does not last long and starts all over again!
There is also a vascular test result showing an issue - a birth defect with my arteries in the back of my head which may also be a potential contributing factor to be investigated further (?). Now that I have put you to sleep with my cervical tale . . . I am praying with Dr. Boeree is the answer to my prayers.

If you can think of anything else I should know or can recommend prior to my surgery, I would greatly appreciate your thoughts. I would also love to hear from other patients of Dr. Boeree who have had similary cervical disc surgery . . . about their experiences and thoughts/recommendations.
With all good wishes for Health, Happiness and Success Always,
Fran