[firefighter]

First, thanks to all of you who are sharing your knowledge and expertise. My name is Tim. I am a former Marine (3 years) and a retired firefighter (33+ years). I have had back trouble for what seems like my whole life, until age 53. I am 61 now.

Messed up the back in 2007 doing God know what, its not like it was something new to be in pain again... it was however worse than my normal pains. Progressed rapidly to the point that I needed a wheelchair to get in to see my doctor. She ordered me to start using pain pills which I hate and avoided at all costs prior to that. Long story short, my wife found Stenum doing an on-line search for artificial disc replacements.

Went there in November, 2007. Had 2 M6-C ADR placed at C4/5 and C5/6 and 2 Maverick ADR placed at L4/5 and L5/S1. Surgery done Nov. 29th. Flew back hope mid December.

Recovery was slow but steady. I returned to work as a full time firefighter after 6 months with no restrictions at all. Knew it was a miracle for sure.

Jump forward to late 2013. I started having random pains in my left arm and shoulder. Along with that was getting numbness and tingling in half of my left hand. Had a few doctors try to figure if out. Did physical therapy, had trigger-point injections done, X-rays and MRIs taken. Saw specialists in Seattle with little help. Went back to a spine doctor in Spokane who had another set of X-rays and an MRI done. He believed there were bone spurs along C 4-5-6 which were causing the pain, numbness. Scheduled surgery to clean the spurs up on April 29, 2015.

Surgery started well, as in on time, and when he got into the c-spine he immediately found a piece of loose metal debris, which he removed and he then closed up the incision.

Good and bad of that. All the problems with the left shoulder, arm and hand were gone! The metal debris was believed to be from the M6 at C5/6. So, off for a CT scan. Results... both M6 are broken, the annulus of both appear to be gone. There is at least 1 more broken piece that can be seen on the CT that is still in the area. C5 and C6 both appear to have lost their density. Osteolysis I think it is called. They are not viable and will have to come out along with the ADR.

I get to talk to a surgeon at University of Washington Spine and Joint Center July 10th. Both Dr. Ritter-Lang and Dr. Bertagnoli have offered to do this revision surgery, but being retired, I am not sure I can afford either of them, so may just stay in the States and have a fusion of some type done.

Anyone who has been through this and has some ideas or suggestions to share, please let me know!

Thanks again for having this site here to offer help, ideas and sympathy for all the spine problem sufferers out there.