[Artificial Disc Replacement / Revision] Hello, I am yust new here. (Artificial Disc Replacement Revision)

[Renos]

I am a new member at this forum. I hope to share stories and help others with information out of my experience.
As most of you, I have also a long history of pain and I am still not where I want to be. But I will come there!!!

This year I had a revision posterior L4L5, since 3 screws were loose and the allograft bone which was used in 2007 was not grown fixed. Non-Fusion! Also the block between the two vertebra's L4L5, instead of the Active L ADR, was not fused. Since the last revision surgery is possibly not enough, I am now facing with an additional anterior revision of the block L4L5. Next week I have an appointment with my Neurosurgeon.


Regards, Renos.


45 years male, married, 3 sons, living in Europe.
2003, Chronical pain back, botton, leg, foot right side
2005, ADR at L4L5 in Germany with no result and extra severe pain left side
2006, Anterior fusion L5S1 in Germany, Stalif Cage, Right side pain resolved! but left pain worse.
2006, Posterior fusion at ADR L4L5 and cage L5S1 in Holland, no result but worse.
2007, Anterior ADR removal and placement of Trabecular Block at L4L5 in Holland, no result. Pain even worse.
2009, Revision posterior in Belgium, exchange hardware with new autograft bone at L4L5, result: in beginning better, but again severe pain.

[ajj1001]

Hi Renos and welcome.

I'm in the UK and am 44 with three daughters and had revision surgery on an adr at L5/S1 that has failed to fuse as yet so am fairly similar to you. However both my adr's did perform well for a few years (2002 - 2007) so at least i had a break from being in pain.

Hope you have a good consultation with your neurosurgeon.

alison x

[Renos]

Hi Alison,
Thanks. Are your ADR(s) also been removed or only fused posterior?
Renos

[ajj1001]

The bottom adr was thought to be causing most problem but I was not offered a removal due to this being difficult. The surgeon attempted to fuse it with the disc still in place with a posterior fusion with instrumentation and using bmp. My last CT scan showed that it had not fully fused. The operation was done 10 months ago. Nothing has been done with L4/L5 and further options are being considered as I am quite disabled by my current state.

[Renos]

Hi Alison,
I had also first a posterior fusion with hardware and autograft bone over the facet joints to create a bone bridge at the level L4L5 with the ADR. But this was no succes and after 6 months they removed the ADR. Since the experience nowadays that only posterior fusion at an failed ADR is not enough, they removed the ADR at the same day.
Renos

[Renos]

Hi Alison,

Sorry to hear from your problems. Are being threathed in the UK? What are the future plans now?
I know also from other people that failure at the ADR's will give severe pain which is often cause disabillity. Keep on fighting and dont let the doctors say that it not the ADR's. Let it do something about it and find a doctor who are able and willing to help you. If you want to know a doctor who is able to remove the ADR, please let me know. And yes, it is not without risk but when you find one with experience and the right procedure that minimize the risks.
Take care.

[Keano16]

Renos who is your doctor, have you tried Dr. Zeegers?

[Keano16]

And of course, welcome to the SPS !!!

[Justin]

Hi Renos,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society! Gosh, I am so sorry to read everything you have been through. Good luck at your appointment with your neurosurgeon next week. Please keep us posted on how things go!

[ajj1001]

Are being treated in the UK? What are the future plans now?

Yes I'm on the NHS in the UK so options are limited to consultants who operate within that system. I've not had a problem with anyone trying to say its anything other than the adr just find a safe way to proceed. I've got more tests to be done to look at discs further up so will make some decisions once I know the results.

What symptoms do you suffer with?