Considering ADR Lumbar
 

I'm both thankful and fearful now that I've stumbled upon this forum. Reading all the stories provide both hope and fear, but this seems to be the best place to help research surgeons and outcomes.

A little history... I've had "pulled" back problems for many years after hard weekend Lowe's warrior type stuff until the spring of 2009 when it didn't get better after a week. Went through PT; tried injections; eventually had micro discectomy when I started losing feeling in my right foot.

That provided relief until New Year's eve, 2012. It let go again drying my toes after a shower, herniated L5/S1 again, but on the left side this time. Same treatment regimen as last time - PT, injections, surgery.

Herniated right side of L4/5 in January 2014. Same treatment ending in micro discetomy in October of 2014.

Well, I've done it again - herniated the L4/5 disc on the right side again. Images show DDD up to L3/4 so far. For this reason I'm considering ADR. My local doctor mentioned Stenum and London. I've submitted paperwork to Stenum. I'm 41 years old and am certain a 2-level fusion will have me back in the hospital for the same problem sooner rather than later. I'm reading up on other surgeons through this site trying to pick the best option. Any feedback you can give would be great!

Hi,

I would steer clear of Stenum... Do some goggling Ritter-lang and you will find some horror stories.

There are many other great surgeons I would recommend prior to Ritter-Lang.

Dr Zeegers, Dr Clavel, etc..

Hi, I agree with Karger. There's an entire section in this forum devoted to horror stories at Stenum with Dr Ritter-Lang. Dr. Clavel is excellent, but don't try to get him through Ritter-Lang's website. He has his own website. I'm sure someone on here will give it to you. Dr Zeegers, Dr Bierstedt, and Chistopher Dare (UK) are among those that come highly recommended.

Btw, you might want to save money and consider fusion at L5/S1 in the U.S. That level seems to have minimal complications with fusion and a higher failure rate with ADR. Most people do fine with ADR at that level, but there are nightmares from the small percentage of people with complications. I would look to do ADR at L4/L5 in Europe.


Best of luck!

Gene

Olds,

Condolences on your condition, but welcome.

If you want to stay in the US, I'd highly recommend Jack Zigler at Texas Back in Plano, TX. He manages a steady stream of successful outcomes with the ProDisc-L; he's put four of them in one guy on this forum. While I wish he used a different implant, I believe that you're as likely to have a good outcome with him as with anyone.

Out of curiosity... You have a 455 in something? As a classic car buff, I'd like to see a picture.

Same dilemma as mine: it is easy (and cheap) to do a fusion in the United States, but when you have two or three levels, does it make sense to do a fusion in the United States and then do another surgery in Europe? Both Dr. Clavel and Dr. Bierstedt recommend 2-level M6, but as many people in the stories here suggest, l5-s1 may not be best for ADR.

The new L5/S1 M6 is beefier, keels larger too. Wish I could show a pic.

But hybrid can work too.

Adr
 

Drew where are you seeing this new m6? Why can't u show pic?

Boxer, just had one installed on Tuesday and it was the updated version for l5-s1 via Bierstedt. Also had cervicals and lumbars done in same surgery.
Will post outcomes later when mind is clear.

I've been lurking for a couple of weeks, so I've already pretty much ruled Stenum out. I initiated contact with Clavel and plan to do so also with Zeegers and Bierstedt. The UK would certainly be an option as well.

I would LOVE to have a hybrid done in the US. I'm fairly confident I could get insurance to cover it. However, I'm a bit hesitant in using the ProDisc since it provides no shock absorption. Motion isn't as critical at these 2 levels. But, with degeneration already occurring at L3/4 I feel it's important to maintain the shock absorption as much as possible. I'd be willing to wait a little longer if the Activ-L is approved this year as has been suggested.

Jeff - The 455 was actually in a '65 GTO. It belonged to my dad, I brought it down here to do some body work and painting, and now he's got it back. He bought the car when I was a kid and I just latched onto the torque. He recently moved to a new house a little closer and, once he's settled in, we plan to finish the car. I'm trying to talk him into putting an LS motor from a late-model GTO. The Olds actually served in a project my F-I-L worked on for a little while - a '74 Saab Sonnet that was heavily modified. It was a FREAK!

I received my recommendation from Stenum. They're suggesting M6 at L4/5/S1 and "NucleoFix" at L3/4. I've never heard of that, so much more research is in order.