Complications during or after ADR?

[TXTony]

Just read Florian's amazing story of her complications resulting from her surgeries. And I thought I had it bad! Dear Florian, you have sooo much more to complain about than I do, so you go ahead and do it.

So my question is "Did you have surgical complications? and, if so, "What were they?"

My complication during the surgery was that the access surgeon had some difficulty excising some of the blood vessels anterior to the spine right where the ProDiscs were to be installed. According to the sugical report, it added about 1 hour of surgery time. Viewing my X-rays, they show my spine with numerous vein clips.

Post-surgical complications include the almost auto-fusion of one level, development of facet syndrome, and the pain that comes with that.

BTW: If anyone has any ideas about how to hasten the auto-fusion, please post it here.

[Harrison]

Tony, leaving the clips inside is common, though it sounds weird. I am confused by the use of the term auto-fusion; before my surgery, I had bone on bone with L5-S1 starting to auto-fuse or grow together. Are talking about the your vertebra growing over the end plates of your device? If so, that takes a while...

[TXTony]

Harrison,
Yes, I do have bone growing over the prothesis endplates. It's called peri-prosthetic ossification. My L5-S1, which does not currently have that growth, has about 20 degrees of motion between the flexion and extension positions; the L4-L5, which does have it, has about 3 degrees of motion due to the overgrowth of bony material.

I'm thinking that if the extra bony material can't be removed/resorbed, it would be better for me to have it to completely fuse over. So, I just started taking supplemental calcium citrate in the hopes that it will speed up the process and further reduce my pain.

[Harrison]

Tony, I am sorry to hear about this. If you are willing to share more details about the reasons behind the HO, I'd be interested.

I read that NSAIDs (most types) will partially prevent, hot hasten, bone growth -- but you probably already knew this.

How do you know that the HO will grow on an "anatomically correct" manner, so that your spine will be aligned correctly? Do you have to wear a brace?

Again, I am sorry. I wish there was something I could do to help.

[florihupf]

Hey Tony,

ok, I promised Harrison so many times, so I will finally write my complete story, since it seems some people are really interested...

But for the record, Florian is a he!!!!

[TXTony]

Harrison,

I will write mine soon but I'm really tied up with year-end projects at work and don't have the time right now.

Apologies, Florian. Egg on my face! Guess I should have asked.

Tony, Toni, Tone

[ReachtheSummit]

Florian,
Out of curiosity since I see you are from S.F. where was your surgery done and by whom? Also I admire your strength to continue on after everything you have been through.

[florihupf]

Surgery was done by Dr. Zucherman in St. Marys. For the record, it wasn't his misfortune. It was the access surgeons mishap. Dr. Susan Baily also from St. Marys was doing the access in my case.

Today, the urologist took out the stent from the ureter. Puuuh, no more pain while doing business in the washroom...

[florihupf]

Tony: No problem... Those strange German names, eh? ;-)

[florihupf]

So, just got the results from this nuclear medicine kidney function test. Kidney still obstructed, slight loss in kidney function. Revision surgery scheduled for early next week.

Need open window.