Saw surgeon today scheduled for ADR Pro-Disc L L3-L4

[DaddyO]

I saw my surgeon today. It's been over a year since I last saw him, I was just too scared to go ahead with the surgery last year. He is going to schedule me for the ADR Prodisc-L with Dr. Michael Janssen in Denver Colorado in July. Has anyone had surgery by him here?

He recommended him the most, he said he also trusted someone in Texas, Then I want to say he may of said a Dr. in Boston as well and also somewhere else, but he has trained with this surgeon and said several surgeons have. And I found this article today http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/he...in-denver.html

I live in Florida. My doctor may possibly assist. He has done some but lets his patients decide whether they want him or another surgeon who has done more.

I hadn't read enough on here prior to today to see that at least a few of you have gone to Texas and I bet that is the other place my dr. recommended. And I wonder if he did say Boston and wonder if that is the same surgeon Harrison had.
I'm kinda kicking myself for not getting on this forum more now.

I am so nervous I feel like throwing up. Am I going with the right Doctor? I don't want a fusion. It hurts to even stand for more than a few mintues...it's hampering my active life I want to live and I want to be off pain meds! Doctor says my pain should improve by 60-70% but likely not 100%.

[tigerpaw75]

The guy in Boston could be the surgeon or group that worked on Harrison (the moderator of the site). The Texas group is Texas Back Institute in Plano, Texas (www.texasback.com). My wife had hybrid fusion/ADR about 3 weeks ago and is doing well (you can look at the surgical outcome forum - tigerpaw's spouse). We actually considered going to India to have this done. I haven't read anything specifically about Dr. Janssen in Denver, but I think I've seen him mentioned on this forum several times.

Let me know if I can offer some advice...

[DaddyO]

I appreciate your response Tigerpaw. Glad your wife is doing well.

[2 Young 2 Hurt Like This]

Hey,

I understand how you are feeling. I drove myself bonkers before I had my surgery. I am now 12 days post op and doing well. I have what I think are the normal aches and pains from the surgery. Today has actually been a tough/frustrating one. I have my 2 week follow up with my surgeon on May 5th.

I feel like I might have over reacted some before the surgery and blew it way out of proportion. In a way I'm happy I freaked myself out but at the same time I wish I would have been able to relaxed some.

There are plenty of great docs that can do ADR for you. I did tons of research and got 3 opinions before making up my mind. I notice in your post you mention that the doctor you are seeing now trust who he is recommending you too. People and doctors can tell you what they think about a certain doctor but you can't base your decision off what someone else thinks or feels. You have to make sure you do plenty of your own research, make your list of questions no matter how silly some might be, see how comfy you are with the doc and if you feel you can trust them with your life. Stay on this site! The people on here have 1st hand experience and are extremely helpful.

What kinda helped put me at ease with the whole situation was knowing I was having my surgery done by one of the top docs in LA and I fully trusted him.

You have to realize no matter how scary this may seem you are the only one who has control. You are the boss man and its up to you to figure out what will work best for you and your life style. The doctors are there for medical advice, guidance, and will give you options but in the end its up to you.

I've been hurting for 4 yrs and ever since my accident I've listened to what my lawyers/docs had to say and have done everything and anything they've asked of me. Once I found out I needed this huge surgery I took things into my own hands to insure I would make the right choice for me. At the time it was what to have done then it turned into who I felt most comfy and could trust with my life. Therefore I feel the prior paragraph is important. I was told that by a good friend of mine. Once she told me that it's like everything came into the light and I knew what I needed to do.

As far as your job I've been in a car 3 times since my surgery on 4-20 and hated every min of it. With every bump in the road and turn I could feel it in my back and incision site. It doesn't help that what started this for me was a car accident so my anxiety levels go through the roof cuz I've lost all trust in other peoples ability to drive.

The 1st thing they taught me post op was no BLT Bending, Lifting, Or Twisting. I assume this is for the 1st 3 months. I've caught myself slightly doing all of these at one time or another and I do not recommend it at all. Especially after all the pain/stress you are going through preop you're not gonna wanna risk aggravating your back/nerves anymore then they already are post op.

Post surgery is tough and you can't do much as far as being active. Loads of walking does wonders. That's about as active as it gets for awhile. It's also a lot different when it comes to pain and limitations. It's a good healing pain and feeling great knowing it is only temporary pain. Rest now, take it easy, slow and steady to win the race to recovery but in the end you will have your quality of life back. That for me is whats keeping me going and my spirits up.

This too shall pass... Keep that in mind, take it one day, one doc, and before you know it you will be on the other side with the rest of us.

Let me know if there is anything I can do to further help you. I wish you the best and I am here if you'd like someone to vent/talk to on those frustrating, confusing, painful days or night.

~Liz

[Harrison]

Liz, that's good thinkin'... be your own advocate! DaddyO, I had my surgery in Boston with Dr. Banco in 2004; next month is my six year anniversary. I am one of the lucky ones -- zero spine pain after recovery and I enjoy regular physical activities.

I'd be happy to speak with you on Friday or Saturday if you think I can help. Stay plugged in here and keep reading, writing and asking.

Commentary: It never ceases to amaze me of how transitional this community is; but how wonderfully supportive people can be to help others.

[CharlesinCharge]

I think you meant 6 year anniversary Richard---congratulations! You are very very lucky in my opinion to have absolutely zero pain and be completely as you were before your spine issues started. I had 3 levels operated on, and while I am MUCH better than I was before my two surgeries, I will never be 100%. I had to give up certain physical activities (can no longer golf or run), I still get stiff and achy at times, and long periods of sitting can get uncomfortable. But, overall I am so much better than per-op (where I was in agony and could not sit for more than 10 minutes) that I am very grateful. But, it must be nice to be completely 100% recovered---if you were hit over the head and given amnesia, you would not even know you had spine surgery (except for the scar I guess). I will never know that feeling, so I envy you!

[Angintx]

I also had my ADR surgery at the Texas Back Institute with Dr. Blumenthal if you have any questions. He is a fantastic doctor and I believe he has done more ADR surgeries than anyone in the US.

[davidj8121]

I have had three prodisc's put in from l3 to s1 by Dr. Jack Zigler at TBI. I feel like i never had a lumbar back problem in my life. The guy is amazing. Can't say enough.

Recently developed cervical problem and I'm going back to him. I live in Pittsburgh, PA.

Check him out. Meet with Dr. Blumenthal as well. I chose Dr. Zigler because I liked the Prodisc over the Charite. That is a personal choice. Both these doctors have done a ton of these surgeries. Your in good hands at TBI either way.

I would not have the procedure done by anyone that has not done a lot of them. A lot of room for error.

Good luck

Dave

[DaddyO]

Well...unfortunately my insurance still considered it experimental and won't cover it, so I won't be going to that doctor I thought I was or any of those others you all mentioned. I just can't go 50,000 into debt. I thought for a little while there I was going to have to get a fusion.
So my wife looked into clinical trials and found one.
I am scheduled for this clinical trial XL TDR® eXtreme Lateral Total Disc Replacement for the Treatment of Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov

the 27th of July. Thanks so much for all your advice. I will post after surgery.

Thankyou everyone for letting me hear what you've all gone through,what I should expect etc. I appreciate it.

[melson]

I looked into that trial for my husband also. He decided he didn't want to go that route. How do you apply for that? And best of luck to you!