Prestige discs - any takers?

[cowboy]

I am a little confused by the plethora of discs out there

do the newer models mean they are built from lessons learned?

are older models tried and true?

Any clear favorites?

I am waitign for a multilevel cervical with prestige discs (3) - any comments?

[Trish]

Cowboy

Whoa there.....3-levels is a big job...both the surgery and recovery. I can only imagine the distraction pain from you spine being streched to accommodate 3 new discs instead of 1 or 2.

I would want a very good reason for not going with the only disc, which has study data for more than 1-level. That is ProDisc. I could be wrong though.

Why Prestige? Is Prestige better for multi-level ADRs or is your surgeon only trained in Prestige? How many 2 or 3-level surgeries has he/she performed? What kind of track record does Prestige have? Does it have any study data for 3-level? [I'd first do a word search for Prestige in the Forum. There is probably a ton of info here.]

However, you can do research til the cows come home......you won't find any absolute proof (speaking from experience), but I think you will find your own opinion.

But that's the only one that really matters anyway. Right?

Best of Luck,
Trish

[bob]

Hi Cowboy

I had 2 prestige discs at C5/6-C6/7 in the cervical a year ago and i was out of hospital in 3 days and back home.
I still have problems at T1 and C4/5 i wish now i had a 4 level done.
Do not worry you will be ok as the is very little trauma with the Prestige Lp discs.

Regards Bob

[Terry]

I had two level Prestige Disc C5-C6/C6-C7 on November 4th. I also had two level Maverick's S1-L5/L4-L5. If I would have only had the Prestige I would have been back to work in about a week. There was no pain to speak of. The only difficulty I had was swallowing for awhile due to the swelling. I have also been able to turn my head in complete range of motion which I had not been able to do in years. Good Luck. You should be fine.

Terry

[biffnoble]

Hi Bob:

Check your Private Messages please!

Thanks.

[cowboy]

just a follow up...

I had two new generation prestige discs (C5-6 and C6-7)inserted 6 weeks ago and I find I have minimal pain and a far better range of motion than I have had in years.

The new discs do not use screws and are attached with "keels" which I like because I feel that it is far less invasive, or damaging to the vertebrae (just my own sense) I also like the prestige because a) ther is no polystyrene to pollute my blood b) I believe simple is better c)they are a two part not a three part system d) they seem to allow for more movement than the more rigid pro-disc and bryant discs d) My original assumption was that the core on the bryant, or pro disc provided some cushion, but after physically handling them it is clear that they do not.

I still suffer minor distraction pain, but compared to what I had before it is insignificant.

I also have a cage fusion at C4-5 which I don't even notice.

So a 3 level surgery with no rigid brace that allowed me to go directly in to PT is a pretty good thing.

I am very conservative with my activities still (see other posts) but I am ultimately confident that I can return to most all of my previous activities.(well maybe not the kick boxing, bungie jumping, motocross riding and bull riding... but everything else...)