Hello
 

Hi, just introducing myself. I am 28, diagnosed with DDD L4-L5 and L5-S1. Neurosurgeon can only offer fusion because FDA hasnt approved multilevel TDR or hybrid TDR/fusion. Started searching and found these forums chuck full of information about multilevel TDR. Lucky I can work from home, hating living laying down.

Oh I didnt see the new member section, maybe the moderator can move this msg.

Moved, no worries. Welcome, Nick. Tell us a bit more about your situation. And where are you located?

Well, it's been almost 8 years since I originally said hi back in 2010 when I
was first diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and herniation at L5-S1

I live in KS. In 2010 I had visited several neuro and orthopedic
surgeons in the area. I was only offered 2 level fusion at L4-S1 and L4-L5.
These forums were a great find for me. I kept searching and ended up going to
Los Angeles to see Dr. Rick Delamarter as I had seen he had done a number of
multi-level disc replacements.

He recommended and performed a micro-discectomy with the hope that it would get
me by for about 10 years. The 2 hour surgery ended up taking 5, and after my
surgery he said he wasn't sure how I walked in. It looked like I jumped off the
empire state building.

The micro-discectomy helped a lot, but was no cure. I travel internationally for
work and it always seems to be the return flights that kill me. About 2 years
ago my back flared up after a return flight from Europe. It calmed down with an
epidural.

Late last year the pain became constant again and started to increase. A
flare up would take me down for a few days to a week. I called to schedule with
Dr. Delamarter but found that he has now retired from active practice. So I
needed to do more research and decide on a new physician. I did some research,
but I also was dragging my heals. I was functional, and I didn't want to think
about having back surgery again.

After a flight in March I was down for a week and had an epidural. Then in April
my symptoms became unmanageable on a trip to Europe. I ended up visiting an E.R.
in Germany for pain management.

Since I returned from that trip things have degraded further. I can walk for
minutes at a time, but unpredictably can have a pain onset and be taken down. I
have only left the house 3 times in the last 4 weeks.

Now I am pursuing a hybrid L5-S1 Fusion, L4-L5 ADR with Dr. Huyn Bae (worked
with Delamarter) from The Spine Institute. Date unknown, trying to schedule.

Surgery scheduled. June 18th. 4 long weeks.

best of luck

yeah make sure if u have discogenic pain that your surgeon is removing entire disc as delmarter advertises that he onky removes enough for the disc amd leaves some in thats bad. but that was a few years ago n that was delmarter just saying.

Thanks for the info. I'm pretty sure that Dr Bae said completely remove the disc, but I'll be sure to put this in my list of things to check.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sDNiQkSfKzeYBjml2




https://photos.app.goo.gl/sDNiQkSfKzeYBjml2
From my mri a couple weeks ago

Plans changed heading to california tomorrow.


I had a visit with an orthopedic surgeon locally. He was concerned about waiting to treat the decompression. He wanted to operate on me next week.


I don't think Dr. Bae had yet looked at my new MRI because when I contacted his assistant to ask about my progressing symptoms Dr. Bae called me back later that night. He said that it can not wait, it needs to be treated before the 18th of June.


I'll start the drive to California tomorrow, sounds like I'll be having 2 surgeries next week.