New Member Intro= WakesurfMike
 

I had a Microdisectomy at L5//S1 back in 2011. It worked very well and pain was down to a 1-2 and off of pain meed except for flair ups until June 2016 when pain has returned been getting worse.? Now sitting , standing, walking , for more than 30 minutes the pain increase.

I switched to a remote support position with my company back in 2009. Even though I work from home I have not been working for the last month. I have spent about $150 buying a used zero gravity chair, keyboard with touch pad, monitor mount trying to set up something I could work from on my back. It is just not comfortable enough for all day of working . I just don't want to spending a lot money on a zero gravity workstation since I will probably spend money on ADR. Hopefully the disability insurance I have been paying for for 17 year will start paying me soon.

I do have and appointment with Dr Dom Coric and Carolina neurosurgical in Charlotte on Dec 2. He is listed on the Active L website.

I do have Blue Cross and I know the don't pay for lumbar disk. I have been thinking about going all the way through the process of getting a denial letter so I might win an appeal. I have been reading and heard of many people getting them covered by insurance.

I can take a 401k loan or Medical withdrawal to cover and an Adr in Germany. Part of me wants to get in replaced Asap, the other part says wait and try to get BlueCross to pay.

I have been in contact with Dr Zeegers (big user of Active l), he actually gave like to Facebook post about the Freedom lumbar disk patient the ran the Boston maraton last year. He then sent me a message the next morning that he did a little more research on the Freedom disk and had made an appointment to have a demonstration of their new instruments.

I have not paid Dr Zeggers a consulting fee yet. I told him I wanted to wait and see what Dr Coric says. So far he has been real nice and has reponded to all questions I have asked. He is even quoting a $25k-29k plus travel cost for a single level Active L if that is what I need. He has not even seen MRI yet. He would need to make sure I was a Candidate/ medical history and review, and I need loose 15lbs.

Sounds bad, I am in somewhat similar position. One likes to think it may just get better, but is reminded by the pain that tells you it is not going away.

You mentioned Freedom disc. Have you already decided Activ or Freedom, or are you still weighing options?

If your case is any similar to mine, those special chairs are not going to give a permanent solution. Perfectly horizontal in bed with laptop is the only way that works "acceptable".


Wish you luck and fast lane to decision.

still weighing option but those are my top two for L5-S1.

Mike, if I recall, Dr. Coric has been doing ADR for appr 16 years. That's valuable and almost unusual for an American surgeon (at least in the Carolinas).

Keep us posted. :wiggle:

Paid someone today to drive me 6 hours to pick up a used Perfect chair. It was a deal $425 a brown suede leather.

What really suprized me was how good the guy that sold it to me seem to be doing with his 4 level fusion he had 5 years ago. His back wasn't pain free but he say it was not that bad. He has a bum knee now and bought a Lazy boy recliner because it was more comfortable for his knee.

Dr say I am a candidate for ADR
 

I saw Dr Coric on Dec 2, 2016 and he said I am a candidate for ADR. His office will try to get authorization but was pretty sure it would be denied.

overdue update-
 

I wanted to update everyone. This Adrsupport forum has been so helpful. I started a video blog on youtube to document my story. I am creating a documentary to help other with back problems.

Here is the link to all my interviews with Prof Rischke about the various disc and endplates and what happened to me. I ended up having to have and emergency ballon kyphoplasty because of my soft bones.

https://youtu.be/J5Wfcvl2_hc?list=PL...y1YxMEa1XahQYU

Hi Mike, how are you doing lately? I have been following you and also getting LP-ESP soon. Did your surgeon said, will you able to lift any weight between 15-20kg after recovery? I am worry as my surgeon said some may not able to do so and some maybe able to get back to everything in life. So what is your limitation on your lifting now? Hope to hear from you soon and bless you speedy recovery. Cheers Don

3 month update 2 level LP-ESP and Kypoplasty
 

I was limited to 10 lbs for first 3 month and now am at 25lb for at least the next 3. They say it takes a full 6 months from bone to grow into implant and reach full strength.

I finally started back to work part time from a standing desk on Sunday June 4,2017. On Sunday I went about 3 hours before back pain reached a 4 and I moved to zero gravity chair to finish the last hour my 4 hour day. For the last two days pain was a 2-3 after a couple hours and I was able to stand for my 4 hours shift. My sitting tolerance has improved as well. I can easily sit for a dinner out with friends pain does go up to a 4 after sitting 30-45 minutes but a short walk to bathroom and back allows me to sit for another 30 minutes. I haven't experienced any sciatica pain in the last couple of weeks.

Hi Mike, great to hear that you are doing better! I got worried when I heard about the kyphoplasty. Seems like the rescue surgery was a success then? Recovery after a double-surgery like that will sure take some time, but the fact that you can already work part time sounds good. I wish you all the best, hopefully at the end of this year you won't even remember having ever been in pain :)