Guest guest Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 Hi Sandi, A bone stimulator is a " collar " you wear that has a battery pack area of it that you wear against the back of your neck (if you've had a cervical fusion). My Neurosurgeon had me wear it 3 hours a day for 3 months. It's to speed up the bone growth in the fusion area. It's funny, in this group every Dr. does his own thing. Some people have to wear a collar for months afterwards and some don't. Some prescribe a bone stimulator and some don't. I don't know what constitutes the difference in post op care. But I hope my explanation of a bone stimulator helped you. I had my surgery in Putnam Hospital in Dutchess County NY. I'm from Orange County, NY. Kathy NY > > Hello all! > > , I am happy to hear your surgery went well and you are on the > way to recovery. > > I am scheduled to have a disectomy/fusion from c2-c6,scheduled for > 4/4, and will be using donor bone. My surgeon is also going to use > BMP, I can't remember the medical name, but it is some kind of > altered protein that they use to help stimulate bone growth. I was > wondering if anyone else has had this used in their surgery. Like > stated, my surgeon also said that I will be in a stiff neck > collar for 3-4 weeks. > > Also, Kathy from NY or anyone else with experience, can you please > tell me what a bone stimulator is and how it is used? > > I am very confident with the surgeon I chose (chief of head/neck > surgery at Temple Hosp. in Phila, PA), but I am starting to become > a " nerveous nelly " about the surgery and recovery and I can't even > put a finger on what it is I am nerveous about. > > Any answers/comments you kind folks may have would be greatly > appreciated. > > Sandi in PA > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 Hi Sandi, A bone stimulator is a " collar " you wear that has a battery pack area of it that you wear against the back of your neck (if you've had a cervical fusion). My Neurosurgeon had me wear it 3 hours a day for 3 months. It's to speed up the bone growth in the fusion area. It's funny, in this group every Dr. does his own thing. Some people have to wear a collar for months afterwards and some don't. Some prescribe a bone stimulator and some don't. I don't know what constitutes the difference in post op care. But I hope my explanation of a bone stimulator helped you. I had my surgery in Putnam Hospital in Dutchess County NY. I'm from Orange County, NY. Kathy NY > > Hello all! > > , I am happy to hear your surgery went well and you are on the > way to recovery. > > I am scheduled to have a disectomy/fusion from c2-c6,scheduled for > 4/4, and will be using donor bone. My surgeon is also going to use > BMP, I can't remember the medical name, but it is some kind of > altered protein that they use to help stimulate bone growth. I was > wondering if anyone else has had this used in their surgery. Like > stated, my surgeon also said that I will be in a stiff neck > collar for 3-4 weeks. > > Also, Kathy from NY or anyone else with experience, can you please > tell me what a bone stimulator is and how it is used? > > I am very confident with the surgeon I chose (chief of head/neck > surgery at Temple Hosp. in Phila, PA), but I am starting to become > a " nerveous nelly " about the surgery and recovery and I can't even > put a finger on what it is I am nerveous about. > > Any answers/comments you kind folks may have would be greatly > appreciated. > > Sandi in PA > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 Best of Luck with your surgery, Sandi... Kathy NY > Hello all! > > , I am happy to hear your surgery went well and you are on the > way to recovery. > > I am scheduled to have a disectomy/fusion from c2-c6,scheduled for > 4/4, and will be using donor bone. My surgeon is also going to use > BMP, I can't remember the medical name, but it is some kind of > altered protein that they use to help stimulate bone growth. I was > wondering if anyone else has had this used in their surgery. Like > stated, my surgeon also said that I will be in a stiff neck > collar for 3-4 weeks. > > Also, Kathy from NY or anyone else with experience, can you please > tell me what a bone stimulator is and how it is used? > > I am very confident with the surgeon I chose (chief of head/neck > surgery at Temple Hosp. in Phila, PA), but I am starting to become > a " nerveous nelly " about the surgery and recovery and I can't even > put a finger on what it is I am nerveous about. > > Any answers/comments you kind folks may have would be greatly > appreciated. > > Sandi in PA > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 Best of Luck with your surgery, Sandi... Kathy NY > Hello all! > > , I am happy to hear your surgery went well and you are on the > way to recovery. > > I am scheduled to have a disectomy/fusion from c2-c6,scheduled for > 4/4, and will be using donor bone. My surgeon is also going to use > BMP, I can't remember the medical name, but it is some kind of > altered protein that they use to help stimulate bone growth. I was > wondering if anyone else has had this used in their surgery. Like > stated, my surgeon also said that I will be in a stiff neck > collar for 3-4 weeks. > > Also, Kathy from NY or anyone else with experience, can you please > tell me what a bone stimulator is and how it is used? > > I am very confident with the surgeon I chose (chief of head/neck > surgery at Temple Hosp. in Phila, PA), but I am starting to become > a " nerveous nelly " about the surgery and recovery and I can't even > put a finger on what it is I am nerveous about. > > Any answers/comments you kind folks may have would be greatly > appreciated. > > Sandi in PA > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2005 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 Thanks for your well wishes Kathy and friends. I spoke with my surgeon yesterday and asked him about the stimulator. He said that he has the idea " on his side burner " , depending on what my bones look like during surgery. Has anyone else had the bone morphogenic proteins used in their cervical fusion? Sandi in PA > > Hello all! > > > > , I am happy to hear your surgery went well and you are on the > > way to recovery. > > > > I am scheduled to have a disectomy/fusion from c2-c6,scheduled for > > 4/4, and will be using donor bone. My surgeon is also going to use > > BMP, I can't remember the medical name, but it is some kind of > > altered protein that they use to help stimulate bone growth. I was > > wondering if anyone else has had this used in their surgery. Like > > stated, my surgeon also said that I will be in a stiff neck > > collar for 3-4 weeks. > > > > Also, Kathy from NY or anyone else with experience, can you please > > tell me what a bone stimulator is and how it is used? > > > > I am very confident with the surgeon I chose (chief of head/neck > > surgery at Temple Hosp. in Phila, PA), but I am starting to become > > a " nerveous nelly " about the surgery and recovery and I can't even > > put a finger on what it is I am nerveous about. > > > > Any answers/comments you kind folks may have would be greatly > > appreciated. > > > > Sandi in PA > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2005 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 Thanks for your well wishes Kathy and friends. I spoke with my surgeon yesterday and asked him about the stimulator. He said that he has the idea " on his side burner " , depending on what my bones look like during surgery. Has anyone else had the bone morphogenic proteins used in their cervical fusion? Sandi in PA > > Hello all! > > > > , I am happy to hear your surgery went well and you are on the > > way to recovery. > > > > I am scheduled to have a disectomy/fusion from c2-c6,scheduled for > > 4/4, and will be using donor bone. My surgeon is also going to use > > BMP, I can't remember the medical name, but it is some kind of > > altered protein that they use to help stimulate bone growth. I was > > wondering if anyone else has had this used in their surgery. Like > > stated, my surgeon also said that I will be in a stiff neck > > collar for 3-4 weeks. > > > > Also, Kathy from NY or anyone else with experience, can you please > > tell me what a bone stimulator is and how it is used? > > > > I am very confident with the surgeon I chose (chief of head/neck > > surgery at Temple Hosp. in Phila, PA), but I am starting to become > > a " nerveous nelly " about the surgery and recovery and I can't even > > put a finger on what it is I am nerveous about. > > > > Any answers/comments you kind folks may have would be greatly > > appreciated. > > > > Sandi in PA > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2005 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 I was told the protein is only approved by the FDA for anterior fusion and cost $5,000 - 6,000 dollars per dose which most insurance companies dont approve . --- skcritters <skcritters@...> wrote: > > Thanks for your well wishes Kathy and friends. > > I spoke with my surgeon yesterday and asked him > about the > stimulator. He said that he has the idea " on his > side burner " , > depending on what my bones look like during surgery. > > Has anyone else had the bone morphogenic proteins > used in their > cervical fusion? > > Sandi in PA > > > > > Hello all! > > > > > > , I am happy to hear your surgery went well > and you are on > the > > > way to recovery. > > > > > > I am scheduled to have a disectomy/fusion from > c2-c6,scheduled > for > > > 4/4, and will be using donor bone. My surgeon > is also going to > use > > > BMP, I can't remember the medical name, but it > is some kind of > > > altered protein that they use to help stimulate > bone growth. I > was > > > wondering if anyone else has had this used in > their surgery. Like > > > stated, my surgeon also said that I will > be in a stiff neck > > > collar for 3-4 weeks. > > > > > > Also, Kathy from NY or anyone else with > experience, can you > please > > > tell me what a bone stimulator is and how it is > used? > > > > > > I am very confident with the surgeon I chose > (chief of head/neck > > > surgery at Temple Hosp. in Phila, PA), but I am > starting to > become > > > a " nerveous nelly " about the surgery and > recovery and I can't > even > > > put a finger on what it is I am nerveous about. > > > > > > Any answers/comments you kind folks may have > would be greatly > > > appreciated. > > > > > > Sandi in PA > > > > > > > __________________________________ Celebrate 's 10th Birthday! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web http://birthday./netrospective/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2005 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 I was told the protein is only approved by the FDA for anterior fusion and cost $5,000 - 6,000 dollars per dose which most insurance companies dont approve . --- skcritters <skcritters@...> wrote: > > Thanks for your well wishes Kathy and friends. > > I spoke with my surgeon yesterday and asked him > about the > stimulator. He said that he has the idea " on his > side burner " , > depending on what my bones look like during surgery. > > Has anyone else had the bone morphogenic proteins > used in their > cervical fusion? > > Sandi in PA > > > > > Hello all! > > > > > > , I am happy to hear your surgery went well > and you are on > the > > > way to recovery. > > > > > > I am scheduled to have a disectomy/fusion from > c2-c6,scheduled > for > > > 4/4, and will be using donor bone. My surgeon > is also going to > use > > > BMP, I can't remember the medical name, but it > is some kind of > > > altered protein that they use to help stimulate > bone growth. I > was > > > wondering if anyone else has had this used in > their surgery. Like > > > stated, my surgeon also said that I will > be in a stiff neck > > > collar for 3-4 weeks. > > > > > > Also, Kathy from NY or anyone else with > experience, can you > please > > > tell me what a bone stimulator is and how it is > used? > > > > > > I am very confident with the surgeon I chose > (chief of head/neck > > > surgery at Temple Hosp. in Phila, PA), but I am > starting to > become > > > a " nerveous nelly " about the surgery and > recovery and I can't > even > > > put a finger on what it is I am nerveous about. > > > > > > Any answers/comments you kind folks may have > would be greatly > > > appreciated. > > > > > > Sandi in PA > > > > > > > __________________________________ Celebrate 's 10th Birthday! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web http://birthday./netrospective/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 Hi Smokie Thanks so much for your info. My brief hx: I am 41, have been involved in 2 mva's about 8yrs and 3 1/2 yrs ago. I have had relentless pain in my neck, upper back, right shoulder which radiates down my arm, slight weakness in both arms, and yes.......... nasty, nasty migranes which don't usually respond to any prescription meds, only a trip to the E.R. and injections of Toridol and Phenegrin takes them away. I get several bad headaches a month, and a nasty migrane about every other month. I have been diagnosed, by mri's and discogram, to have ruptured discs at c2-3 and c3-4 and tears from c4-c6. Plans are to have a discectomy and fusion on 4/4 at Temple Hosp in Phila which is a large teaching hospital. My surgeon will be using the cage, bone from the bank and Bone Morphogenic Proteins (BMP). He most likely will also have me use a bone stimulator because of the multi-level fusion. He did explain to me that this would be "off label use" as it was only developed for use in the lumbar spine and therefore only approved by the FDA for such. He said that he had been to several seminars where people spoke about what good results they had with it's use both in the lumbar and cervical spine. I am not a canidate for artificial disc replacement, as they are only in trials for the cervical spine, one level. All the paperwork has been submitted to my insurance, and I did get an approval letter last week for the hospitalization and surgery. I would assume that these approvals covers everything? Needless to say, I am very nerveous about the surgery and recovery afterwards, but it can't be any worse than what I have been living with for so long. Sandi in PASmokie1952 <smokie1952@...> wrote: I was told the protein is only approved by the FDA foranterior fusion and cost $5,000 - 6,000 dollars perdose which most insurance companies dont approve .--- skcritters <skcritters@...> wrote:> > Thanks for your well wishes Kathy and friends.> > I spoke with my surgeon yesterday and asked him> about the > stimulator. He said that he has the idea "on his> side burner", > depending on what my bones look like during surgery.> > Has anyone else had the bone morphogenic proteins> used in their > cervical fusion?> > Sandi in PA> > > > > Hello all!> > > > > > , I am happy to hear your surgery went well> and you are on > the > > > way to recovery.> > > > > > I am scheduled to have a disectomy/fusion from> c2-c6,scheduled > for > > > 4/4, and will be using donor bone. My surgeon> is also going to > use > > > BMP, I can't remember the medical name, but it> is some kind of > > > altered protein that they use to help stimulate> bone growth. I > was > > > wondering if anyone else has had this used in> their surgery. Like > > > stated, my surgeon also said that I will> be in a stiff neck > > > collar for 3-4 weeks.> > > > > > Also, Kathy from NY or anyone else with> experience, can you > please > > > tell me what a bone stimulator is and how it is> used?> > > > > > I am very confident with the surgeon I chose> (chief of head/neck > > > surgery at Temple Hosp. in Phila, PA), but I am> starting to > become > > > a "nerveous nelly" about the surgery and> recovery and I can't > even > > > put a finger on what it is I am nerveous about.> > > > > > Any answers/comments you kind folks may have> would be greatly > > > appreciated.> > > > > > Sandi in PA> > >> > > > __________________________________ Celebrate 's 10th Birthday! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web http://birthday./netrospective/ Celebrate 's 10th Birthday! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 Hi Smokie Thanks so much for your info. My brief hx: I am 41, have been involved in 2 mva's about 8yrs and 3 1/2 yrs ago. I have had relentless pain in my neck, upper back, right shoulder which radiates down my arm, slight weakness in both arms, and yes.......... nasty, nasty migranes which don't usually respond to any prescription meds, only a trip to the E.R. and injections of Toridol and Phenegrin takes them away. I get several bad headaches a month, and a nasty migrane about every other month. I have been diagnosed, by mri's and discogram, to have ruptured discs at c2-3 and c3-4 and tears from c4-c6. Plans are to have a discectomy and fusion on 4/4 at Temple Hosp in Phila which is a large teaching hospital. My surgeon will be using the cage, bone from the bank and Bone Morphogenic Proteins (BMP). He most likely will also have me use a bone stimulator because of the multi-level fusion. He did explain to me that this would be "off label use" as it was only developed for use in the lumbar spine and therefore only approved by the FDA for such. He said that he had been to several seminars where people spoke about what good results they had with it's use both in the lumbar and cervical spine. I am not a canidate for artificial disc replacement, as they are only in trials for the cervical spine, one level. All the paperwork has been submitted to my insurance, and I did get an approval letter last week for the hospitalization and surgery. I would assume that these approvals covers everything? Needless to say, I am very nerveous about the surgery and recovery afterwards, but it can't be any worse than what I have been living with for so long. Sandi in PASmokie1952 <smokie1952@...> wrote: I was told the protein is only approved by the FDA foranterior fusion and cost $5,000 - 6,000 dollars perdose which most insurance companies dont approve .--- skcritters <skcritters@...> wrote:> > Thanks for your well wishes Kathy and friends.> > I spoke with my surgeon yesterday and asked him> about the > stimulator. He said that he has the idea "on his> side burner", > depending on what my bones look like during surgery.> > Has anyone else had the bone morphogenic proteins> used in their > cervical fusion?> > Sandi in PA> > > > > Hello all!> > > > > > , I am happy to hear your surgery went well> and you are on > the > > > way to recovery.> > > > > > I am scheduled to have a disectomy/fusion from> c2-c6,scheduled > for > > > 4/4, and will be using donor bone. My surgeon> is also going to > use > > > BMP, I can't remember the medical name, but it> is some kind of > > > altered protein that they use to help stimulate> bone growth. I > was > > > wondering if anyone else has had this used in> their surgery. Like > > > stated, my surgeon also said that I will> be in a stiff neck > > > collar for 3-4 weeks.> > > > > > Also, Kathy from NY or anyone else with> experience, can you > please > > > tell me what a bone stimulator is and how it is> used?> > > > > > I am very confident with the surgeon I chose> (chief of head/neck > > > surgery at Temple Hosp. in Phila, PA), but I am> starting to > become > > > a "nerveous nelly" about the surgery and> recovery and I can't > even > > > put a finger on what it is I am nerveous about.> > > > > > Any answers/comments you kind folks may have> would be greatly > > > appreciated.> > > > > > Sandi in PA> > >> > > > __________________________________ Celebrate 's 10th Birthday! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web http://birthday./netrospective/ Celebrate 's 10th Birthday! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2005 Report Share Posted March 19, 2005 Hi , Yeah, I have a hip scar too from the graft. My hip never bothered me as much as the neck. I had hardly any pain after the surgery in the hip, it's just now that it bothers me occasionally. That incision you can hardly see now....and of course it's under clothes so it's not a biggy to me but my neck scar is vertical and quite long, it's harder to " hide " that one then the hip. It is a LONG heal time on this type of surgery...I've been told that by numerous Dr.'s to be patient and give your body time to heal. Continued healing . Kathleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 Hi , I had a neck fusion in 1998. Hospital stay was two days. Recovery was not long. I have not had any problems with my fusion. Kathy neck fusion who has had a neck fusion? Thanks, Ebarb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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