Hi klb -
I am also from NC (Chapel Hill) and will most likely be having the same thing done in Jan 2011. I am almost enrolled in the Freedom Disc study, one more visit with the study coordinator next week. My procedure would be with Dr David Musante of Triangle Orthopedics and done at the NC Hospital for Specialty Surgery in Durham.
My pain goes back to 1997 with a bulging disc at L5-S1, then herniated it in 2003. Had a nucleoplasty that did not work that same year, and have tried everything else (PT, meds, injections, alternative therapies, you name it ...). Luckily, the rest of my back is fine. Since surgery should be a last option, I looked at the clinical trial, and am very happy with my docs, facility, and hospital.
The place your going to is also very good. I think this is the same place, so I thought you might like to see a link about two of their surgeons rated as in the top 50 (this was found posted elsewhere on this site):
50 of the Best Spine Specialists in America
I will be interested to here about how your surgery goes!
Ken
Quote:
Originally Posted by klb28906
Hi, I've been reading posts on this site for months and figured it was time to post. My pain started in Oct. 2008 but I didn't start to do anything about it until a year later.
I've tried every therapy (outside of steroid injections) to remedy the pain in my lumbar spine: I started off seeing an orthospinologist (waste of time) and moved into physical therapy (again, waste of time because I'm incredibly fit and used to be active), massage therapy (a godsend!), yoga, chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, and finally decompression therapy and pilates.
I'm scheduled to have surgery on Nov. 30 as part of the Freedom Disc clincial trial in Charlotte, NC. It's being done by Dr. Dom Coric of Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates. Since the study is randomized, if I don't get chosen to receive the Freedom Disc I'll receive the ProDisc instead. I'm looking forward to getting back to an active lifestyle.
klb
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