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Reply With QuoteRob, the detailed account of your surgery is such a great resource for Spine Patients!
Thank you for sharing this with the Spine Patient Society.
This is a discussion on Rob's Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Experience -- Before, During and After -- Hope this will help someone... within the Surgical Outcomes forums, part of the Spine Surgery Forums category; My Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) experience - before, during and after - Hope this will help someone... I hope ...
Rob's Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Experience -- Before, During and After -- Hope this will help someone... My Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) experience - before, during and after - Hope this will help someone...
I hope my experience described in the attached document can help someone considering, or getting ready to have, an ALIF surgery. The information is provided chronologically for the most part based on the noted milestones. The only exceptions are a few sections at the end on insomnia, meds (quantity, notes & withdrawals), and one on my PA and nurse.
I’m sure that I’ve left things out that I’ll think of later. I REALLY hope that someone gets some use or comfort from reading this.
Regards,
Rob (Click here for Rob's SPS profile)
~50 years old
Back pain for ~25 years
Spondylolisthesis Grade 2 L5/S1
DDD L4/L5 & L5/S1
Positive discogram L4/L5 & L5/S1
Prior PT & injections to no great avail
360 degree fusion L4/L5/S1
Surgery March 15, 2010
Anterior / Posterior approach
Emory University Orthepaedics & Spine Hospital (Atlanta, GA)
Currently recuperating & weaning off the meds
***Please click on the attached document below***
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
Re: Rob's Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Experience -- Before, During and After -- Hope this will help someone... Rob, the detailed account of your surgery is such a great resource for Spine Patients!
Thank you for sharing this with the Spine Patient Society.
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
Re: Rob's Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Experience -- Before, During and After -- Hope this will help someone... Thank you for posting it Justin. SPS is such a great forum! I hope the posting will help someone...
- ~50 years old
- Back pain for ~25 years
- Spondylolisthesis Grade 2 L5/S1
- DDD L4/L5 & L5/S1
- Positive discogram L4/L5 & L5/S1
- Prior PT & injections to no great avail
- 360 degree fusion L4/L5/S1
- Surgery March 15, 2010
- ALIF with Posterior Stabilization Hardware
- Emory University Orthepaedics & Spine Hospital (Atlanta, GA)
- Currently doing really well - 85% improvement (Sept 2011)
- Hardware removel (4-pedical screws & 2-rods) October 3, 2011
Re: Rob's Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Experience -- Before, During and After -- Hope this will help someone... Rob, what a great, detailed journey of your ALIF. This will definitely help others. I already had my ALIF 2 years ago, but it was very interesting reading your account of the surgery. Thank-you for taking the time....I know this was no 5 minute project...... to put this all down for others. Great job! :thumpup:
• January 2000 MVA passenger, used jaws of life to retrieve me, neck injury and months of PT
• June 2001 Bicycle accident, 2 compression fractures at T12/L1, Vertebroplasty Sept. 2001
• April 2006 right hip, labral tear and repair
• April 2007 3 level ProDisc @ L3/4, L4/5 & L5/6✷ ✷Lumbosacral transitional vertebra; Dr. Rudolph Bertagnoli
• July 2, 2008 ALIF & Laminectomy @ L6/S1
• July 30, 2008 re-opened 28 days later to remove bone cement that had leaked onto S1 nerve root
• August 2008 Pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, re-hospitalized 1 week
• March 10, 2009 Right SI Joint Fusion
• April 27, 2010 2nd right hip arthroscopy to remove adhesions and release psoas muscle
• September 30, 2010 lumbar facet rhizotomy
• December 9, 2010 12 bilateral lumbar trigger point and steroid injections
• December 23, 2010 12 more bilateral trigger point injections w/o steroid
• February 15, 2011 ESI bilaterally in lower lumbar...relief only for few days. Considering 1 more.
Did Spinal Cord Stimulator trial from 5/11/11-5/17/11 with excellent results; Spinal Cord Stimulator surgery is Monday,
July 18, 2011
Re: Rob's Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Experience -- Before, During and After -- Hope this will help someone... Thanks Cindylou. It took a little more than 5-minute but with the Rx withdrawal insomnia…!:^)
- ~50 years old
- Back pain for ~25 years
- Spondylolisthesis Grade 2 L5/S1
- DDD L4/L5 & L5/S1
- Positive discogram L4/L5 & L5/S1
- Prior PT & injections to no great avail
- 360 degree fusion L4/L5/S1
- Surgery March 15, 2010
- ALIF with Posterior Stabilization Hardware
- Emory University Orthepaedics & Spine Hospital (Atlanta, GA)
- Currently doing really well - 85% improvement (Sept 2011)
- Hardware removel (4-pedical screws & 2-rods) October 3, 2011
Re: Rob's Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Experience -- Before, During and After -- Hope this will help someone... Thanks Rob for sharing, I'm sure this will help many people who go through the same journey!
31 years old- 1/06- In wreck with 18 wheeler at 25 years old; 6/06- Head on collision on Interstate, both wrecks other drivers fault. Numerous MRI's, PT, chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS therapy, massage therapy, facet injections, epidural injections, Nerve study, Discogram, confirms pain in L4/5, IDET, decompression, Bi-lateral neurotomy L3/4/5, denied by insurance twice, in Active L clinical trial, had surgery March 17, 2009 in Miami, FL- received Active L disc at 29 years old. Pain and medication free as of October 2010!Mommy to Emma- 8 years, Ava- 6 years & had baby Eli after ADR, via c-section on March 25, 2011, completely pain free still!
Re: Rob's Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Experience -- Before, During and After -- Hope this will help someone... Hi Rob
That was great read, I am thankful for all you time and sharing your experience with us. This has helped me greatlyas I am trying to make a decision for surgery that will affect the rest of my life
Thank You
L5-S1 lam 1994
L2 to L5 DDD
L3 -L4 hern Dec 2007.
L4-L5 Annular fissure with mild central stenosis and moderate facet hypertrophy.
L5-S1 bilaterial neural foraminal narrowing with inferior effacement.
L2-L3 Right-sided neural foraminal narrowing
L3-L4 related to posterolateral hypertrophic spurs and facet hypertrophy.
C3-C4 limited DDD
15 injections Depo. P.T. 18 months 9 dose packs,
Nerve Block Injections.4 ESI S1
L5-S1 Foraminotomy 09
L4-L5 Microdiscectomy 09 ReHerniation 4-2010
Surgery 6-29-11 L4-L5-S1 Decompression Fusion L5-S1 and Coflex F implants
Re: Rob's Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Experience -- Before, During and After -- Hope this will help someone... Hi Gilbert,
I'm really glad it was helpful. If I've neglected any particular point of interest please feel free to ask away...!:^)
Regards,
Rob
- ~50 years old
- Back pain for ~25 years
- Spondylolisthesis Grade 2 L5/S1
- DDD L4/L5 & L5/S1
- Positive discogram L4/L5 & L5/S1
- Prior PT & injections to no great avail
- 360 degree fusion L4/L5/S1
- Surgery March 15, 2010
- ALIF with Posterior Stabilization Hardware
- Emory University Orthepaedics & Spine Hospital (Atlanta, GA)
- Currently doing really well - 85% improvement (Sept 2011)
- Hardware removel (4-pedical screws & 2-rods) October 3, 2011
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