Drewrad,
I consulted with 2 ADR specialists in UK, 3 in Germany, 2 in Spain &1 out of Cyprus. They are all the same names that are posted so often on this site. I saw another US doc yesterday, Dr. Thomas Roush, named one of the top 100 in the country. He also indicated that I am not a good candidate for ADR, even though he has performed many cervical & lumbar ADRs.
One German doctor Dr. B recommended 3 level ADR (from anterior) plus 2 level posterior stabilization (for the facet joints). While he indicated that mine is a very complex case, I wonder if this might be too extreme in terms of risks, potential failure, recovery time, etc. Has anyone had any experience with multi-level, anterior & posterior procedures in one surgery?
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1989 – herniated disc at L5-S1
1992 – L5-S1 broad bulging; right L5 nerve root compression; impingement on S1 root within spinal canal;
2006 – DDD L3-S1; disk bulge at L3-L4 and mild facet/ligmentous hypertrophy; L4-L5 large herniated disc; facet/ligmentous hypertrophy with stenosis; disc herniation & dessication at L5-S1;
2013/2014 – Dessication and significant disc height loss at L4-L5 & L5-S1; L3-L4 disc bulge with hypertrophy; mild spinal stenosis; Grade 1 anterolisthesis (3mm); L4-L5 - marginal spurring and moderate hypertrophy causing neuroforaminal narrowing; L5-S1 - moderate-severe neuroforaminal narrowing; lumbar lordosis is straightening.
New pains & functional limitations in late 2013 led to exploring ADR procedures. Consulted with 8 surgeons domestically and 9 in Europe.
May 2014 – Anterior and posterior incisions in a 5-hour surgery resulted in 2 M-6s and one facet joint prosthesis (dynamic stabilization system). On the road to full recovery.
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