One week to surgery

[JenDas]

Hello all!
I cannot believe that it is almost here. I am one week out from my two level ADR - L4/L5 & L5/S1. I am so lucky to have had the chance to lurk a bit on these boards and get a better idea of what to ask and what to expect, so I thought I'd finally get around to sharing my story in hopes of being of some help to others too.

I have had back problems off and on throughout the years, mostly chalked up to long hours working at a cutting table (theatrical costuming). A significant weight loss and increase in exercise seemed to be helping, but there were always lingering issues. Then on 16 February of this year I got up to go to the gym and I was having a lot of trouble just getting across to the bathroom. I decided to lay back down for a bit to see if my lower back would relax. Started having a lot of trouble shifting in bed or getting up and down. Couldn't do much without intense pain. Laid down all Saturday and Sunday, and when things were still pretty bad on Monday I called my doctor and decided to go to the local urgent care office. After some very uncomfortable sitting around, unbelievably painful x-rays taken while lying down, I was given two courses of IV anti-inflammatories and a prescription for muscle relaxants. I was in so much more pain as I left the hospital that I could barely move above a shuffle. I ended up taking the week off from work (my husband too as I could not get up and down without help), going in to see my doctor once more to discuss options. She helped me get an appointment with a Neurologist (Dr. Zink) the following week as the Orthopaedic/Spinal surgeon (Dr. Feil) I had been told about was booked until well into the following month. After a brief exam I was sent for my MRI, and one could see there were issues with my lower spine from across the room on the monitor. Findings were severe DDD L5/S1 (no space left between vertebrae) and moderate to severe L4/L5 with loss of height. Based on the findings Dr. Zink arranged for me to see Dr. Feil that same evening.
Dr. Feil had been in surgery all day but took the time to examine & talk to me, look at the MRI, send me for standing x-rays, and discuss numerous treatment options that very night. I left with a lot of information about surgical and non-surgical options and a prescription for physical therapy.
After a time it seemed clear that surgery was the way to go. Physical therapy was causing more pain and my quality of life was dismal. I am 33 years old, quite an avid runner (still quite literally dream about running!), living in Germany and missing the ability to drive and travel. So very tired of pain medication.
So, next Monday I will be having ADR surgery at the ATOS Praxisklinik Heidelberg. I have talked with numerous patients that have had ADR or other joint replacement surgeries with Dr. Feil and feel confident that I am in good hands. My only fears are the typical ones--my first in-patient surgery, knowledge that this may not "solve" the problem, etc.--but I am willing to give this a chance along with everything else.

Okay, I'm rambling. . .this is why I hadn't posted before. But, again, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

[Harrison]

Jen, welcome and thanks for posting! Wow, what an introduction! It's really great that you took the time to talk to other patients for reference points -- that helps so many people for obvious reasons. It helped me back in 2004 when I was deciding on ADR...before the FDA approval!

Regarding your surgery, do you have any insights into the artificial disc the doc uses and recommends? Are you an American living in Deutschland? Wie ist Ihr Deutsch Sprachkenntnisse?

Viel Glück bei Ihrer Operation!

[Terry]

Whatever Harrison said-------Yeah!

I wish you nothing but the best with your surgery. It will be good to hear about you going to the other side. Lord knows most of us have gone through the i8ntense agony phase.

Hang in there and let us know how things work out. It sounds like you've done your research and are in good hands.

Terry Newton

[JenDas]

Thank you for the welcome. I am indeed an Amerikannerin. We've been here for nearly 7 years now. My German is good enough to get by in most respects, but I have been blessed with finding great doctors that are either native English speakers or close to it (and most speak some English anyway). Nothing quite like language issues when you are in severe pain.
As for the disc, Dr. Feil's first choice is Prodisc, but he also uses Active-L.
One bit I'd rather not have found in my research, the too-helpful animated video of an ADR procedure in the Synthes website.

[Cirobi]

Wow, sounds like you've been on quite a roller coaster ride there. Welcome to the boards and thanks for sharing your story. Most of these folks make my own story sound like a walk in the park. It's good to hear you did plenty of research on it and with knowledge of ADR in Europe being so far ahead of the states, your doc can probably do these procedures in his sleep!

Keep us posted especially once you come to the recovery side. Everyone around here is awesome and will do their best to be supportive when you're down as well as celebrate with you on each little victory along the way.

~Sara