Posterior cervical fusion c5-c6 on top of prodisc-c

[SISSYJOC]

Well surgery is scheduled for September 9th at 7 am. I hope I made the right choice. I chose posterior cervical fuzion c5-c6 on top of adr or he was going to take out the adr and fuse c4-c7. I got 3 different opinions and they all said to do this so I am going forward with it. At least they are doing something, right? I am ready to have my life back I am 35 I want to act like I am 35 not 90

Your opinions would be appreciated. What would you do? Does this make me a hybrid? Anyone else have this done?

[Maddie]

sissyjoc, I am not familiar with your situation at all. Do you mean that you will be leaving the ADR in and fusing over top of it?

Has the surgeon discussed what was actually causing the pain? Facets, etc.? I'd be curious to know if they have narrowed that down before having the surgery. But it sounds like you have put a lot of research into this, and must go with your gut.

I had an ADR without any keels put in at C5/6 in March 2010, so if anything went wrong it hopefully wouldn't be so hard to take out. I also had fusion at L4/5/S1 and am happy with the results of this as well. It is a big decision, and I hope the best for you.

[SISSYJOC]

Yes I have a prodisc-c at c5-c6 with keels so in order to take it out he would have to fuse c4-c7 because of the bone loss from the keels. I wish I would have known that before I got the adr.. So he is fusing the top of my adr where there is non-union the bottom is fine and its in perfect alignment. He said the pain is from the top of the adr moving around the only thing holding it in place is the bottom.

[Maddie]

I don't know the answer to this, so please excuse my question. I would really like to understand the reasoning behind these decisions.

If your ADR didn't grow enough bone to secure it in the first place, why does the surgeon think that trying to fuse it will work? Again, this is a serious question. The fusion will involve growing a lot more bone than just solidifying the keel of the ADR into the vertebrae.

And if the ADR is still moving, what will happen after the new fusion? Won't everything keep moving and possibly be worse than the current situation? Even if they put in a lot of hardware, if the 'base' of the whole thing is not solid, it seems like there will still be instability there.

And if this doesn't work, then what? Push them for these answers. I saw your other thread and someone posted about having the ADR removed and having a successful fusion...what are your reasons for not going this route? Again, I'm not trying to be hurtful, but to understand your decision.

I wish I would have known that before I got the adr.

Can you find the answers to the questions above before having to say this about another failure? Sometimes the surgeons seem to tell you what you want to hear, without taking the time to give you the honest truth. Can you ask the other surgeons the same question and see what they say?

I'm not trying to give you grief, but to prevent any more possible problems. This surgery may be exactly the right thing to do, but I'd want the answers to the questions above first.

You seem to be unsure about your decision and questioning if it is the right thing to be doing. This is very personal but is impossible to do if you don't have all the answers to make an educated choice. It took me almost five years to find the answer to my problems, and was quite the roller coaster, but I felt 100% confident in the end.

[SISSYJOC]

I appreciate all the questions thanks for taking the time to ask them.
I am to wear a bone growth stimulator after surgery I dont know for how long. The base of the implant is perfect secure and in correct alignment he is using the fusion to secure the top of the implant into place while my bone grows into it. He doesnt want to do a four level fusion on me becuase of my age. I am 35 My first thought was to just take this "thing" (adr) out of me, but after speaking to the drs and getting advice from my surgeon who I really like, and being on here I decided to try this first. If it doesnt work than we will try something else which i guess would be the 4 level fusion. I am just nervous and afraid of the pain but more afraid of doing nothing and getting worse. I have no life right now and the impact on my family breaks my heart. Thank god I have a supportive and caring husband and my son is 15 but he shouldnt have to be taking care of his mom I should be taking care of him. So i am going to try this and pray it works and I wont need any more surgerys

[JKDE302]

I agree with Maddie 100% Probally the best spine surgeon in my area told me to get a fusion or wait for the new ADR's to get fda approval and not get the pro disc b/c of the large keels. But what did my dumb *** do, I went to another surgeon and got the pro disc anyway. All b/c I did not like the first surgeons bed side manor. What I learned from that is just because I like a doctor does not make him good at surgery. Sissy how many times has your doc fused a pro disc in thru the back of the neck and it turned out good? If you don't know the answer to that make sure you find out. I have never seen anything on any spine forum or other website that leads me to believe that fusing a pro disc in the neck is a good idea. Sissy at least wait 2-3 more months until Dustin says his surgery was a success. Everytime I talk to Dustin on the phone he is in pain and on pills. We gotta love dustin for being a ginny pig for this revision for us. Give him more time. Wait at least till November.

[Maddie]

I am to wear a bone growth stimulator after surgery

Sissy, I'm not all that familiar with the workings of the stimulator, but if it is expected to work for this fusion, why not try it to get a solid connection with just the ADR in the top, as per:

he is using the fusion to secure the top of the implant into place while my bone grows into it.

Sorry, but I'm on the same page as JK here. I'd be asking for better answers and would have even more questions...but that's just me.

[SISSYJOC]

I appreciate all the opinions but I dont want to wait any longer. I am barely hanging on as it is now and still have 16 more painfully long days to go. I swear I can feel the adr moving around. If the adr was in the correct place on the top I would try the bone stimulator but its not so I do need surgery again to make it right. The thought of having bone grafts and 4 levels fused scares me to death so I am willing to try this first-- just think of me as guiney pig #2 and I would really appreciate your support thats what we are all here for right? I am already an emotional basket case from living with the pain and the not knowing what was wrong with me for so long so the decisions been made surgery is set insurance approved now just the waiting game and trying to keep my sanity

[JKDE302]

I had my pro doc put in April 15 2010 and can relate to your pain. I can relate to you not wanting the bonegraft also ( that's why I went with the implant) you got my full support. When you say you can feel it moving around what does it feel like? I had little fear when the doctor cut my pro disc in thru the front, but I have terrible fear of having someone cut the back of my neck. I respect your heart for that, same with Dustin you both have a lot of guts to try that. I guess I just don't understand the logic of why a doctor could only do 1 level thru the back yet need to do 4 levels thru the front. I just didnt understand, I'm sorry, I wish you the best of luck with this as well as everyone else who had a pro disc make them worse. For some reason I always think the implant itself is my biggest problem which is why I wish I could get mine out. I always say to myself is my adr so unnatural to my body that mentally I want it cut out, but idk what is wrong with my neck. Anyway best of luck with your surgery my friend.

[SISSYJOC]

Originally Posted by JKDE302

I had my pro doc put in April 15 2010 and can relate to your pain. I can relate to you not wanting the bonegraft also ( that's why I went with the implant) you got my full support. When you say you can feel it moving around what does it feel like? I.

Thank you for your support I desperatly need it. When the adr moves it feels like a slow wobble for lack of a better word. I can feel it when I move my head to the right ( i try not to do that ) Usually I feel it on the left side, my hearing in my left ear goes blank for a sec and the side of my face goes tingly and then I feel it move back its really slow though
I usually get a lovely muscle spasm in my neck after that its so much fun NOT