Success rates of ADR?

[Justin]

Here are my questions:
0) How long were you in pain prior to surgery? (question added, 10/20)
~1 year (bedridden)
1) What level(s) did you have done?
L4/L5 and L5/L6
2) How long ago was your surgery?
5 years and 1.5 months
3) Who was your surgeon?
Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
4) What disc(s) did you get?
ProDisc®
5) Was it successful?
Yes, I was pain-free for 4.5 years.
6) Did you get instant relief?
Yes.
7) Did you get relief after a certain time period? If so, how long before you got relief?
Even though I woke up in the recovery room knowing my leg pain was gone, I continued to see improvements in both pain and flexibility for 1.5 years after surgery.
8) Did you never get relief?
NA
9) If you did get relief, did it last? If not, how long did it last?
Pain-free for 4.5 years. I am currently struggling with bilateral leg pain since 4/08 that may be related to another disc (I am still in the process of working this up.).
10) What was your pre-surgery pain level and what is your current pain level?
Pre-op pain level: usually 7-9 // Current pain level: 8 (new pain looks to be unrelated to ProDiscs)
11) What other surgeries/procedures have you had done on the operated level, if any? EDIT: What surgeries procedures have you had done on the operated level, after having ADR, if any? (question clarified 10/20)
1997: L4/L5 Laminotomy at 17 years old // No surgeries post-ADR
12) What other spine problems has this caused at the operated level or any other level, if any?
My current issues look not to be related to my ProDiscs.
13) What do you wish you would have done different, if anything?
Nothing, as my two options with Grade V annular tears were ADR and fusion at the age of 23.
14) What do you wish you would have known before surgery, if anything?
Nothing.
15) If you could go back, and knowing what you know now, would you still choose ADR?
Yes, with no reservations at all.

[rhatzy]

ADR vs Fusion. As it pertains to multi level ADR or Fusion, I would definitely choose ADR as I did. I know 3 people with multi level fusion who are doing terrible. One has had that pain thing implanted and it is not doing the job. Another had a 3 level lumbar fusion and is going back for a revision and another lady has already had a 3 level revision done on her previous fusion and is still in a lot of pain. Those three people were the deciding factor for me to get a 2 level ADR. The only level I would consider getting a fusion done at is L5-S1. I'm sure there are many different outcomes as there are studies to show one way or another. You just have to make the decision that is right for you. So far, my decision for a 2 level ADR with the Maverick has worked for me. I am back flying as a captain for American Airlines. As for the facet problems, the Maverick is more posreiorly positioned with a poserior center of rotation that is supposed to be easier on the facets.

Mark

[OsteoRach]

Here are my questions:
0) How long were you in pain prior to surgery? (question added, 10/20)
18months non stop, on and off flare ups for 10yrs prior
1) What level(s) did you have done?
L4/L5 (A-Mav) and L5/S1 (ALIF)
2) How long ago was your surgery?
May 08 (ummm, 6.5months)
3) Who was your surgeon?
Mr Peter Robertson
4) What disc(s) did you get?
A-Mav
5) Was it successful?
Yes, no drugs fo ages, able to play a bit of golf, tennis, cycle, beach cricket...
6) Did you get instant relief?
Yes, asides from post surgical pain which improved continually through to about 3 months
7) Did you get relief after a certain time period? If so, how long before you got relief?
Still having improvements in functionality and flexibility (was able to play beach cricket on New Years Day, bowling, batting, the works...)
8) Did you never get relief?
NA
9) If you did get relief, did it last? If not, how long did it last?
Still going good
10) What was your pre-surgery pain level and what is your current pain level?
Pre-op pain level: usually 5-9 // Current pain level: 0-2
11) What other surgeries/procedures have you had done on the operated level, if any? EDIT: What surgeries procedures have you had done on the operated level, after having ADR, if any? (question clarified 10/20)
only discogram and 2 esi // No surgeries post-ADR. Discectomy was not indicated
12) What other spine problems has this caused at the operated level or any other level, if any?
NA
13) What do you wish you would have done different, if anything?
Nothing. Had run out of options and wanted to get on with my life. I can now say im able to do that
14) What do you wish you would have known before surgery, if anything?
Nothing.
15) If you could go back, and knowing what you know now, would you still choose ADR?
Yes, with no reservations at all.

[kimmers]

KBear,

I sent you a PM early this morning.
keep the faith.

kimmers

[Kirk]

0) How long were you in pain prior to surgery? 1986-1993, periodic; 1993-2008, near-constant
1) What level(s) did you have done? L3-4 and L4-5
2) How long ago was your surgery? 11 months ago
3) Who was your surgeon? Dr. Zeegers
4) What disc(s) did you get? Active-L
5) Was it successful? Yes
6) Did you get instant relief? Yes
7) Did you get relief after a certain time period? If so, how long before
you got relief? N/A
8) Did you never get relief? N/A
9) If you did get relief, did it last? If not, how long did it last? It has lasted the entire 11 months since surgery.
10) What was your pre-surgery pain level and what is your current pain
level? Depended on the day. Anywhere from 2-10. Now, it is 0.
11) What other surgeries/procedures have you had done on the operated
level, if any? EDIT: What surgeries procedures have you had done on the operated level, after having ADR, if any? (question clarified 10/20) None
12) What other spine problems has this caused at the operated level or
any other level, if any? None
13) What do you wish you would have done different, if anything? Nothing (except non-stop to Munich, rather than using frequent flyer miles and doubling the time of the trip)
14) What do you wish you would have known before surgery, if anything? Nothing more than I already knew.
15) If you could go back, and knowing what you know now, would you
still choose ADR? Absolutely

[Harrison]

I just wanted to bump this topic up for some new members who were asking about the issues discussed in this topic. It may help to print this topic. To do so:

- Click on thread tools, then
- Click on Show Printable Version
- Print this topic out in a printer-friendly format
- Then realize you are out of paper or toner!

[CutieKat]

0) How long were you in pain prior to surgery? 3 months and 16 days

1) What level(s) did you have done? c-4/5

2) How long ago was your surgery? 8-26-10

3) Who was your surgeon? Doctor Richard Polin/ Kaiser

4) What disc(s) did you get? c-4/5

5) Was it successful? They think so

6) Did you get instant relief? Instant numbness and tingling in arms and hands went away- pain did not

7) Did you get relief after a certain time period? Not yet-almost a year later

8) Did you never get relief? My pain level has remained the same. Some days it is a 3-4 and somedays a 6-7

9) If you did get relief, did it last? If not, how long did it last? Relief doesnt last long.

10) What was your pre-surgery pain level and what is your current pain
level? Exactly the same some days a 3-4 and some days a 6-7-8

11) What other surgeries/procedures have you had done on the operated
level, if any? EDIT: What surgeries procedures have you had done on the operated level, after having ADR, if any? (question clarified 10/20)-
I've had a cortisone shot into my upper arm joint area, but no additional surgeries

12) What other spine problems has this caused at the operated level or
any other level, if any? no additional problems

13) What do you wish you would have done different, if anything? I didnt really have a choice. They were worried about me being paralized.

14) What do you wish you would have known before surgery, if anything?
Their statistics of success rate are skewed! The surgery can be a success however, you might be in as much pain as you have been in.....

15) If you could go back, and knowing what you know now, would you
still choose ADR? I really dont know if there would be a better choice for me? It was presented to me as "you need surgery now to avoid being paralized"! So I elected to do surgery of course. I did get a second opinion and was told the same information by both neurosurgeons.

[lkkoh]

0) How long were you in pain prior to surgery? 2-3 years of neck aching
1) What level(s) did you have done?c3/4 and c4/5
2) How long ago was your surgery? April 2010
3) Who was your surgeon? Dr Pablo Clavel
4) What disc(s) did you get? M6s
5) Was it successful? Yes
6) Did you get instant relief? Gradual
7) Did you get relief after a certain time period? If so, how long before
you got relief? Gradual
8) Did you never get relief? N/A
9) If you did get relief, did it last? If not, how long did it last? Time will tell
10) What was your pre-surgery pain level and what is your current pain
level? Pre-surgery - 3-4, Current - 1-2
11) What surgeries procedures have you had done on the operated level, after having ADR, if any? None
12) What other spine problems has this caused at the operated level or
any other level, if any? N/A
13) What do you wish you would have done different, if anything? ADR and fusion are my only options to prevent paralysis
14) What do you wish you would have known before surgery, if anything? more info heterotopic ossification. But this will not change my decision
15) If you could go back, and knowing what you know now, would you
still choose ADR? Yes

[Vicki_in_Florida]

This is the info I was after when I asked about doing a poll.

Thank you so much, this info is unmeasurable to those of us who haven't crossed over yet.