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Old 04-17-2018, 11:12 AM
karmicmonk karmicmonk is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 7
Default Getting two level mobi-c, surfing life over?

Hi All,

First post here, I've been checking out many posts on here and found some great info to use and will be getting the surgery several weeks from now. Haven't found any experiences or accounts from any surfers on here which is what I’m most curious about, wondering if its something I’ll have to give up for life. I used to be an everyday surfer and its partly why I’m in this mess as 4 years back I took a fall headfirst into the ocean floor which I believe initiated the disc herniation. Currently can’t surf at all or do any activities for that matter, for the last months I can only sit on a recliner or in my office chair with head supported…FUN!

I’ve tried every pain management trick, did the epidural a couple times and even paid a chunk to get stem cells injected near the area. Nothing has worked and pain is getting worse so I’ve found a good doctor here in San Diego who has much experience with the Mobi-C device. I’m getting my final MRI and shortly after getting C5-C6 and C6-C7 implants. My Doctor Mark Nelson said that he will be cutting some cartilage in front of spine in order to get the discs in. Due to this permanent ligament subtraction my neck will feel too ‘weak’ to hold my head up surfing. Also if I replicate my previous injury of ramming head into ocean floor I risk disk cutting off either breathing or spinal cord if dis-lodged. Not all that comforting to hear. I believe the latter scenario is possible and will really be scaling back on the risks I take now navigating waves, that happening again is one in a million. The neck being too weak tho? With extensive PT and training can’t I get muscles in front and back of neck beefed up to supplement ligaments that taken out of the mix with this surgery?

My question for two level ADR recipients is: Does your neck feel “weak”? if you had to lay chest down on a board and swim could you not hold your head up slightly for bursts of 5-10minutes.
__________________
Age 37 male

C5-C6 mobi-c arthroplasty May, 2018
Stem cell injection to support surgery June 8th (not by surgeon, separate outpatient clinic)

Pre surgery Diagnosis: C5-6 and C6-7 - Disc protrusion intending ventral aspect of cord, moderate Neuroforaminal narrowing and canal stenosis. Disc osteophyte complex. Reverse lardosis (military neck). Pain and numbness down right arm. Pre-op mri showed improvement on C6-C7 so doc only replacing 5-6 disc
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