Any Success Stories with Fusing Over A Subsided Disc?

[jamie5136]

After all of my opinions and finding out a bone density was not done on my spine prior to my three level ADR with the Pro-Disc L in Germany with Dr. Bertagnoli, I have had a few doctors say in order for a full fusion to take place, the disc must come out and then the others say leave it in to fuse it, but, I have not heard one good story with this configuration. My level is L5S1, so the entry is easier and the disc is severely subsided (not sure if it is the cause of my sitting/laying/leg pain) so, indeed it would be ideal to do it this way, but I have also heard good/bad about this from not fusing to cutting veins, but again, mine is the lowest level and not close to the great vein....

Dr. B said to "start" with a a fusion over the ADR and "if" that does not work, then do an anterior approach, but from what I understand, if the posterior is a failure, trying to go in and remove the posterior hardware again to put new in and trying to remove a perhaps partially fused disc, is MUCH harder. I try to ask Tim, Dr. B's employee, but he is not much help in showing me if Plan A is a success. I even have friends in Germany where they have their own forums, such as this and have heard many failure stories of fusing on top of. Does anyone have any experience with this or know anyone? Also, if I do choose an extraction doctor, I know of only a couple, Dr. Leary and Dr. Regan. One is young and supposedly good, but has never removed a sunken pro-disc and one has a bit of a reputation. Ideas? I need to do something soon, but am super afraid I will end up worse than I am now.

I have a friend who did some Fibrin sealant with success, but that is more of a patch job, but she had success with it. So, minimally invasive is the best.

Thanks!

[Harrison]

Jamie,

In case you didn't see the FAQ on revision surgery, I aggregated a number of topics dealing with revision. I did this a while ago and may have to update it; but it includes five years of informative (and sometimes gut-wrenching) threads of discussion dealing with revision surgery.

Here's a few other comments and questions...

- I thought you stated in an earlier post that the subsidence was 2 mm? Is it now worse? I would want to know the amount & rate of subsidence. And the obvious challenge is to determine IF this is the pain generator.

- Will you be getting a DEXA scan of your spine in the near future? Also, some of the docs you mention may take another diagnostic approach that may help you further understand your condition. As well, Pauza's fibrin "patch" is more than a patch, IMHO. I studied the patent carefully; there's some interesting ingredients in the injected solution.

- Are you taking (or rotating through) various classes of natural anti-inflammatories? As you know, there are many: Bromelain, Quercetin, Hesperidin, Curcumin,Turmeric, Vitamin C and essential fatty acids. And these are just some of them! If your pain is inflammatory (that would be my guess), keep trying different classes of "stuff" that will bring the inflammation down. Maybe you could take these in addition to more powerful anti-inflammatories too - do you have a good pain mgt doc?

Hope this helps.