New member Hello!
 

Hi everyone!

My name is Stacy. I am officially one week post op ADR C5-6 with the M6 study. I herniated my disc 3 years ago and have suffered with radiculopathy down my left arm, shoulder, and neck since. I am extremely hopeful that I will finally get some relief and feel somewhat "normal" again. Fingers crossed!!!

;)

Welcome Stacy! Congratulations on getting into the Trial and being on the other side of your surgery. Which surgeon and where did you have it done if you don't mind sharing?

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

My surgeon was Dr. Phillips at Rush Chicago

Following in your footsteps....
 

Hi Stacy, congratulations on the courage to go through with the surgery, and glad you managed to get into the study!

I was just diagnosed a few weeks ago, and going through the phases. Researching possible surgeons here in Chicago as well as others, for example Texas Back Institute. I'm hoping to meet with Dr. Phillips over the next few weeks.

Was your experience with him positive?

Yes, dr. Phillips and his team were awesome. If you get the chance, look up his bio and credentials if you haven't done that already. Good luck to you with your future surgery. :p

I am so happy to hear your surgery went well Stacy. Please keep us updated on your recovery. God speed!

Dr. Frank Phillips?? The same Phillips who told me "Whoever is putting these things in (artificial discs)....pause, "It's a joke."

Literally, this is what he said to me.

wow
 

I'm kind of speechless here. I don't know what kind of experience you had with him, but your response was rather upsetting and unsettling to me. I just had surgery and am looking for some positive thoughts. Wasn't expecting this. :Dead:

Stacy,

Hang in there! I was kind of taken aback by the comment as well. Usually, everyone is very supportive and kind here including Bwink. I'm not sure why he shared it or what he meant by it but, I would just ignore the comment because it really isn't relative to your experience. The surgeon is apparently on board with ADR now and that's what matters. All of us continue to grow and change including surgeons. Just stay positive. It's an important part of your recovery process so you don't cause unnecessary stress and muscle spasms. Be as kind as you can to your body this first month and ....

Be well,

Cynlite

We've all had bad experiences with surgeons and we just need to remember that was our experience. As long as you have complete confidence in your surgeon and feel good about him/her, that's all that matters. :beer:

So true! Hang around here long enough and you'll find positive and negative comments about every surgeon. It's impossible for anyone to have a perfect track record plus, all of us have bad days, especially us patients.

Congratulations Stacy on the successful surgery, and feeling better since. Please keep us updated on your pain levels before and after surgery, this is helpful to those of us who have not had the surgery yet.
Thank you for sharing your experience & best wishes

post op day 11
 

Thanks everyone for your comments!

My throat pain is completely gone. No pain at all at the incision site or in the front of my neck period. Other than a lump swallowing occasionaly from moving my muscles around, that's pretty good. I am having nerve pain from my neck down my left arm. I'm hoping that is due to my nerves being set free after being compressed for 3 years. I am curious if anyone else had post op nerve pain and if so, when did it subside? Other than that, I'm doing well. I am taking my Nsaids and seem to really only need the pain meds at night due to lack of sleep and not being able to get comfortable. I'm a pretty active person so I think the hardest part of this is not being able to get up and do things. So, today I will finish watching shark week and probably eat a cinnamon roll, maybe go for a walk...:p

For a few months after surgery I would occasionally have a swallowing problem. It is normal but as I remember, it is scary.

Enjoy your cinnamon roll and walk. You're on the other side now and each day gets better. :)

how long ago
 

not that it matters.

1. question for Bwink: how long ago did Dr. F. Phillips say that to you?
2. like Cynlite said: may be now he's finally come around and done some research.
3. or it could be that he didn't think it should be used until fda approved, and the trial lead him towards another option...

Be well and stay positive Stacy.:)

after thought
 

I too had some doctors that wouldn't even see me that are now doing adr under fusions. it's just more money here; so that is why I went to Barcelona. At TBI I couldn't get past the patient coordinator to even see Dr. Blumenthal. I guess if I had schedule an apt and drove down; I could have talked to him.

Adr
 

I really researched before I opted for ADR. His credentials were impressive as well as all of the articles and lectures that he has done. I felt extremely comfortable with my decision. I guess timing is everything. In 5 years we will probably be doing what Europe has been doing for the past 10-15! With time comes knowledge.

I am now 19 days post op and doing well. I am so grateful to have this forum. I have learned so many things reading through posts. It's nice to know you are not alone in your recovery.

I am basically just down to taking my Nsaids daily with an occasional narcotic at the end of the day to help with sleep or breakthrough pain. I do still have a "pulling" feeling from my neck down my shoulder/arm as if my nerves are being yanked-stretched. The pain down my scapula/shoulder blade is gone...yay! No headaches, and incredibly, the pain that I used to have in my lower back pre surgery is gone! It's crazy how connected everything is.

1. He said this to me just one month ago when i was getting a second opinion on continued pain in my low back. Maybe he meant putting ADR's in the lumbar spine, but was OK with cervical? I don't know. All i know is what he said. Maybe he was put back by me going overseas to have it done, cuz he didnt seem to fond of European surgeons for whatever reason.

2. Seeing as this was recently, i doubt that is the case. He may have had ulterior motives for his comment, as i mentioned above.

3. Possibly.


I didn't mean to hurt feelings or anything. But some things shouldn't be swept under the rug. It appears his surgery was success and now the recovery begins, that i wish stacey well for. Single-level patients typically do really well these surgeries.