Artificial cervical discs-Prodisc C X 3 instead of fusion

[Guest guest]

Greetings and Happy New Year!

It has been some time since I have posted or been involved with this

group. So long that I had to " re join " .....Anyway.....a year or so

ago I promised that I would let this group know when I had

a 3 level cervical ADR (Artificial Disc Replacement)surgery. IT IS

DONE....YEAH!!! I am home recovering after a very successful surgery

performed by Dr. Jens Chapman at the University of Washington

Medical Center on December 29th, 2008.

Due to previous scoliosis and revision surgeries, I was already

fused from T-2 to S-1. When the discs in my neck started

degenerating, I was determined to avoid further fusion. Life

without being able to bend or twist from T-2 to S-1 was already

challenging enough! When I began searching for solutions to my

chronic and constant neck pain in 2005, I learned about ADR surgery,

but at that time it was not approved by the FDA. Patients from the

U.S. had to go to Germany or other foreign countries to have the

procedure done. I came close to cashing in our retirement savings

and flying to Germany....but in the end I was too chicken to have

such a serious surgery performed by a dr. that (although he had an

excellent reputation and has performed more ADR surgeries than any

other dr.) I didn't know, wasn't covered by our insurance, would not

be available for my post op care, was so very far from home, etc.

Lucky for me, I found an excellent surgeon closer to home. Although

I had to wait for 3 years, eventually the FDA approved ProDisc C for

use in the U.S. There were more hoops to jump through....FDA's

approval was for single level disc replacements and I needed 3

levels (C4-5, 5-6 & 6-7). My surgeon was willing to perform the

multi level operation " off label " ....but as you can guess, my

insurance company balked at the idea of paying for something they

could call " experimental " . Negotiations with insurance took several

more months (Initial denial, appeal, second denial, second appeal

and then serious negotiations began). The whole issue of payment

has not been completely resolved, but we came close enough to an

agreement that the surgery got the green light from the hospital and

dr.'s office!

I can't tell you how happy I am that my persistance finally paid

off! My neck pain is gone! Yes....there is some normal surgical

pain to contend with....but it is minor and I am ready to begin

tapering off of the narcotic pain meds that I have been taking for

the last several years! Best of all, my neck is more flexible now

than it was before surgery! If anyone has any questions, I will be

happy to try to answer them. Many scolio patients with Harrington

Rods will experience degeneration of the discs above and below the

fused area of the spine. If my experience is typical, I would urge

anyone with degenerated cervical discs to explore this option with

their Dr.

Thanks for reading this long post! I hope it helps someone!

Melody

[Guest guest]

Melody,

Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us! It's exciting to

think that there may be some alternative options out there for people

need additional attention to those cervical discs after having a long

spinal fusion. Please continue to keep us updated. I would love to

hear how things go as time goes on, so please keep us in the loop

>

> Greetings and Happy New Year!

>

> It has been some time since I have posted or been involved with

this

> group. So long that I had to " re join " .....Anyway.....a year or so

> ago I promised that I would let this group know when I

had

> a 3 level cervical ADR (Artificial Disc Replacement)surgery. IT IS

> DONE....YEAH!!! I am home recovering after a very successful

surgery

> performed by Dr. Jens Chapman at the University of Washington

> Medical Center on December 29th, 2008.

>

> Due to previous scoliosis and revision surgeries, I was already

> fused from T-2 to S-1. When the discs in my neck started

> degenerating, I was determined to avoid further fusion. Life

> without being able to bend or twist from T-2 to S-1 was already

> challenging enough! When I began searching for solutions to my

> chronic and constant neck pain in 2005, I learned about ADR

surgery,

> but at that time it was not approved by the FDA. Patients from the

> U.S. had to go to Germany or other foreign countries to have the

> procedure done. I came close to cashing in our retirement savings

> and flying to Germany....but in the end I was too chicken to have

> such a serious surgery performed by a dr. that (although he had an

> excellent reputation and has performed more ADR surgeries than any

> other dr.) I didn't know, wasn't covered by our insurance, would

not

> be available for my post op care, was so very far from home, etc.

>

> Lucky for me, I found an excellent surgeon closer to home.

Although

> I had to wait for 3 years, eventually the FDA approved ProDisc C

for

> use in the U.S. There were more hoops to jump through....FDA's

> approval was for single level disc replacements and I needed 3

> levels (C4-5, 5-6 & 6-7). My surgeon was willing to perform the

> multi level operation " off label " ....but as you can guess, my

> insurance company balked at the idea of paying for something they

> could call " experimental " . Negotiations with insurance took

several

> more months (Initial denial, appeal, second denial, second appeal

> and then serious negotiations began). The whole issue of payment

> has not been completely resolved, but we came close enough to an

> agreement that the surgery got the green light from the hospital

and

> dr.'s office!

>

> I can't tell you how happy I am that my persistance finally paid

> off! My neck pain is gone! Yes....there is some normal surgical

> pain to contend with....but it is minor and I am ready to begin

> tapering off of the narcotic pain meds that I have been taking for

> the last several years! Best of all, my neck is more flexible now

> than it was before surgery! If anyone has any questions, I will be

> happy to try to answer them. Many scolio patients with Harrington

> Rods will experience degeneration of the discs above and below the

> fused area of the spine. If my experience is typical, I would urge

> anyone with degenerated cervical discs to explore this option with

> their Dr.

>

> Thanks for reading this long post! I hope it helps someone!

>

> Melody

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy,

I am not very computer oriented....so someone else will have to tell you/us how to contact other people who have had ADR surgery in this group. However.....there are other groups/web sites that I have learned a lot about ADR from. I'm not sure if it is ok to mention them on this site, but you are welcome to send me a private email if you want that information: melodylane2195@...

You didn't mention how many levels of fusion/instrumentation you currently have? I'm not a doctor and certainly can't give you any medical advice....but I will share what I was told by my doctor/s about the possibility of ADR in my lumbar area. Unfortunately, it probably isn't what you are hoping to hear. I saw 3 different specialist and consulted over the phone or on line with 3 others who had seen my MRI's and CT scans. None of the surgeons recommended ADR surgery at L4-5 and S-1. I ended up having additional fusion in that area. All of the doctors said that ADR was not a good choice for someone with fusion at so many levels above it. However....those same doctors were enthusiastic in recommending ADR for C4-5, 5-6 and 6-7. Apparently, ADR in the neck works well because the artificial discs only have to carry the weight of your head vs the entire torso, arms, neck and head when artificial discs are put in the lower back.

I'm sorry to hear that the surgery you had at 38 has caused so many problems for you. That is not the way it is supposed to work! Have you consulted with scoliosis revision specialists to see if there is anything that can be done to improve the quality of your life and health? I am 47 years old and fused from T-2 to S-1.....as I said in my previous post, I also now have 3 artificial discs in my neck. I don't feel disabled at all. I have 2 grandchildren...in fact I am babysitting them right now! They are 2 and 4 years old and with the exception of a few weeks following my last 2 surgeries, I have always been able to pick them up and play with them. I would really encourage you to seek additional medical opinions to get help to be able to enjoy your life as much as possible!

If you have any questions, please email me. I hope things get better for you soon!

Melody

Re: Artificial cervical discs-Prodisc C X 3 instead of fusion

Melody, Yeah, Im so happy for you!!! I have been waiting & waiting to hear when the people with previous fusions will be able to get ADR's. I know they are so much better than fusions. I also have been thinking of going to Germany & cashing in my IRA. But now my IRA went way down & I can't afford it. Im in the same boat except my bottom 2 discs are bad. I refuse to have them fused as I alreay am as stiff as cement!! And I don't want screws into my iliac bones like my doctor wants to do to me. It's about time to move forward on ADR's!!! Once again, Im so happy to hear they approved you here in the U.S. Is there a way to contact other people here in the data base? I see a Caryoln M, who was 57 when she had surgery and I would so love to talk to some one who is close to my own experience. Most people have had the rods put in young. I was 38 years old when I had my operation for 91 & 78 degrees. It changed my life forever & pretty much disabled me, even my arms don't work right still. It's depressing for sure!! I feel only 1/2 of a human being. I'm a bent over hunchbacked old lady & Im 55 years old. I could never pick up or play with my grandchildrn even as newborns. Usually when you have an operation you look forward to feeling better, not in my case. That's why I just can't imagine being fused to my sacrum.Still, I'm happy to see the ADRs are gaining & you got them!!!Sandy >> Greetings and Happy New Year!> > It has been some time since I have posted or been involved with this > group. So long that I had to "re join".....Anyway.....a year or so > ago I promised that I would let this group know when I had > a 3 level cervical ADR (Artificial Disc Replacement)surgery. IT IS > DONE....YEAH!!! I am home recovering after a very successful surgery > performed by Dr. Jens Chapman at the University of Washington > Medical Center on December 29th, 2008. > > Due to previous scoliosis and revision surgeries, I was already > fused from T-2 to S-1. When the discs in my neck started > degenerating, I was determined to avoid further fusion. Life > without being able to bend or twist from T-2 to S-1 was already > challenging enough! When I began searching for solutions to my > chronic and constant neck pain in 2005, I learned about ADR surgery, > but at that time it was not approved by the FDA. Patients from the > U.S. had to go to Germany or other foreign countries to have the > procedure done. I came close to cashing in our retirement savings > and flying to Germany....but in the end I was too chicken to have > such a serious surgery performed by a dr. that (although he had an > excellent reputation and has performed more ADR surgeries than any > other dr.) I didn't know, wasn't covered by our insurance, would not > be available for my post op care, was so very far from home, etc. > > Lucky for me, I found an excellent surgeon closer to home. Although > I had to wait for 3 years, eventually the FDA approved ProDisc C for > use in the U.S. There were more hoops to jump through....FDA's > approval was for single level disc replacements and I needed 3 > levels (C4-5, 5-6 & 6-7). My surgeon was willing to perform the > multi level operation "off label"....but as you can guess, my > insurance company balked at the idea of paying for something they > could call "experimental". Negotiations with insurance took several > more months (Initial denial, appeal, second denial, second appeal > and then serious negotiations began). The whole issue of payment > has not been completely resolved, but we came close enough to an > agreement that the surgery got the green light from the hospital and > dr.'s office! > > I can't tell you how happy I am that my persistance finally paid > off! My neck pain is gone! Yes....there is some normal surgical > pain to contend with....but it is minor and I am ready to begin > tapering off of the narcotic pain meds that I have been taking for > the last several years! Best of all, my neck is more flexible now > than it was before surgery! If anyone has any questions, I will be > happy to try to answer them. Many scolio patients with Harrington > Rods will experience degeneration of the discs above and below the > fused area of the spine. If my experience is typical, I would urge > anyone with degenerated cervical discs to explore this option with > their Dr. > > Thanks for reading this long post! I hope it helps someone!> > Melody>