Hi everyone,
I am new here. My name is Cindy. Not quite sure how to do this, or create a signature, but this is a start anyway. I am scheduled for 3 level lumbar adr on April 17th, 2007 with Dr. Bertagnoli. I am very excited to finally have a date. Nervous of course. Quick summary of my story: I was involved in a bicycle accident June of 2001, that left me with two compressed fractures, T12, L1. In September (yes it took them three months to figure out what was wrong with me) of 2001 I had vertibroplasty of those two levels. It was right after 9/11 so in addition to being wildly in pain, I thought the world was ending. Over the years since then, my back has not been the same. I have run the gamut of epidurel injections, facet rhizotomies, nerve blocks,orthotics, etc. My surgeon here in my home state finally recommended considering adr. I have DDD and herniations at mutiple levels, and probably things deteriorated more rapidly due to my vertibroplasty. Since my doctor has not performed alot of adr's,(especially multi-levels) he recommended Dr. Bertagnoli, who he knows personally. I do feel I am going to be in the best hands with Dr.B, having researched so much on him. A question I do have for anyone is: is it possible to have cervical adr at the same time as lumbar adr? I have multi-level degenerative spondylosis with my C4-5 and C6-7 being the worst. My C6-7 has severe foraminal stenosis, and that reads from a two year old MRI. My neck has just over the past few weeks, really been bothering me. Very tight, headaches, almost nauseated on and off, and a throbbing pain down front of my leg when I lay down. I've had numerous injections in my neck, including percutaneous rhizotomies, which gave me some relief. Just wondering. I would hate to get all the way over there and not deal with this if adr could be a reasonable solution for me cervically, as well. Thanks for listening.

First answer, yes you could get lumbar and cervical ADR. Second answer, three level lumbar ADR is serious surgery, adding cervical ADR to it is probably too much of a challenge for you to handle. I'd suggest having Pro-Spine do the evaluation for your C-spine when you get your lumbar ADR then plan a second trip.

Thank you Anna for your advice. I appreciate it. And Mike, firefighter, I noticed you're in Minnesota. I am too. Where are you? I am in Wayzata.

Cindy

Hi CindyLou:

I bicycled the trails around the Lakes for years and did numerous centuries and metrics when I lived in Minneapolis. I lived in New Hope, Plymouth, Minneapolis, St. Paul. Graduate of U of M.

Also injured in a bicycle accident in 2004 and had 4 level ADR surgery November 2006 (see post below for levels). I was in excellent condition prior to surgery. Rode almost 2,000 miles prior to and did a significant amount of fitness walking.

Distraction pain is an issue if you gain height. It is tolerable for me and my recovery has been a roller coaster but worth it.

I am living proof that multiple level ADR can be done successfully.

You may PM me for additional details.

Terry Newton

Terry,

Just exactly what is distraction pain?

Cindylou

CindyLou, glad you found us OK. I look forward to catching up next week...

Distraction pain is your body trying to adjust to your vertebrae being pulled apart to get the implant in, as well as the permanent restoration of disc height. Nerves especially have to lengthen to span that new height, and don't especially like it. Some think the severity of it has to do with the amount of lost/restored disc height, or the amount of time you've been without that height. I don't know of a way to predict accurately who will have it and who won't. I didn't, and had very little disc left... Just be aware of it, it can be decreased some with nerve pain meds, but it will pass if you get it. Even those who've had it bad said it was well worth it. Don't borrow something else to worry about though, just be aware. http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...icon_smile.gif good luck!

Michelle, thanks very much for that information. I kept hearing the term thrown around, and as much as I googled it, I couldn't get a satisfactory answer. You're right. Don't borrow trouble! Looking forward to getting on the other side of my 3 level lumbar adr.

Cindy

Hi Cindy Lou,
You sound as if you're going to the right place if you're going to have three level ADR, the only other place would be the AlphaKlinik in Munich with Dr Zeegers.

If you are seriously thinking about having cervical ADR at the same time as lumbar ADR, then you need to be sending e-mails to Dr Bertaganoli and presenting him with the query, and the possibility of doing this. As one of the other members has quite rightly said, three level lumbar ADR is a huge surgery.

I think if you spend 10 minutes looking in the FAQs, you would find a lot of information that would help you, including your query about distraction. There is a link here

http://adrsupport.org/eve/forums/a/frm/f/7011036081
Best,
Alastair http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...icon_smile.gif

CindyLou,

I am a Firefighter for the city of Coon Rapids and I live in Andover. I am familiar with the ILNBC , I worked Security for 5 years at Abbott Norhwestern. I may seek a third opinion with them.