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  #1  
Old 11-14-2012, 10:31 AM
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Spiritwalker42 Spiritwalker42 is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 26
Default Previous Prodisc-C...now in need of S1-L3 surgery

Where to start? First off I have been a very active and competitive person over the years. I wrestled in high school, college and in the Navy. I started competitive bike racing in '89.
In '02, while at work one day, I was in a precarious position holding something over head exerting myself pretty well... felt a burning in between my right scapula and spine. From there that's all she wrote. Stayed in great pain for a few weeks until seeing a surgeon and found a badly herniated disk at C6-C7. At this time I was working alot and not cycling much. I ended up getting a ti cage fusion in Nov '02.. In '04 got a job that enabled my to start focusing on my cycling training and racing again. It had always been a dream of mine to eventually race at the Professional level. After getting married in '05, my life style really leveled out and at the age of 38 started racing better than ever before. In the summer of '07 I did well enough to upgrade to Semi-Pro... Later that summer I was hit by a car while on a training ride and after months of trying to get a good diagnosis, found myself at John Hopkins who gave me a referral to Yale... The Yale Neuro was by far the best I had seen. The doctors I saw in VA were terrible. They didn't properly look at all my symptoms to assess what was going on. One symptom I had that I got tired of telling people b/c of the blank stares I got back when telling them was this intermittent left foot pain that was very bad. When I got to Yale and gave the surgeon my MRI, (I didn't tell him about the foot pain) he took one look and told me that he wouldn't be surprised if I had left foot or leg pain. I about fell over!! wth?! You have to be your own advocate. I learned more about the spine and body than I ever bargained for going through this. Anyways, wanting to get back to racing and maybe eventually turn Pro, I got a Prodisc-C. It took a year and a half but I got back to racing and turned Pro. 2011 was a good active year of racing. I brought up the rear end of the Pro races but I was living the dream, relatively pain free.

Now I am dealing with bad decision making and lower back issues. I was doing big stupid snowboard jumps in '04 and had a very bad wreck where I landed on my left pubis.... I felt my whole back crack from tailbone to neck... my butt hurt for months.... eventually is leveled out and was manageable.

Now b/c of that wreck my bodily injury has manifested over time.. The last 6 months I have been limited from activities and in quite a bit of pain and of course a bit of depression... I have seen a pain management specialist.. had SI joint injections, L3-L5 bi-latteral injections and eventually L3-L5 medial nerve branch ablation which has given a bit of relief but there are many layers to the pain.

I have a 3.5 year old and a 7 month old... My little girl wants me to teach her to surf one day... I used to be a very active surfer... and dream of doing this... I know I have made bad decisions in what I did with my body, especially with the snowboarding thing. That wreck was by far the greatest/worst impact I ever felt on my body. I now have DDD from S1-L3 as a result. I am in hopes of getting my health back and would like to hear what some others dealing with similar issues have done.

I flew up to Yale recently and I am considering LDR ALIF at S1-L5, L5-L4 with Prodisc-L at L3-L4. I have also been researching other options... Considering M6 work.. and have contacted a place in Germany where Dr. Chavel is... also looked into Stem Cell therapy but I think I am to far advanced DDD to get real benefit...

Please don't flame me for being an idiot and putting myself in this position, I beat myself up enough over it....
I will try and include some pictures of my lower back so you all can see what I am dealing with...

Thank you, Ken
__________________
-Started competitive Cycling in '89
-Ti Cage Fusion @C6-C7 in '02,
-Bad snowboard accident in '04.
-'04-07 picked up cycling training and racing frequency
-upgraded to Semi-Pro MTB in '07
-Got hit by car from behind while on training ride in '07... Herniated C5-C6
-Got Prodisc-C in '08 @C5-C6
-Back to Racing in '10-'11, Raced Elite/Pro classes...
-2012 Major issues lower lumbar from wreck in '04...
-Dealing S1-L3 DDD.
-Pain,Limited activities, loosing sleep

Last edited by Spiritwalker42; 11-14-2012 at 03:49 PM. Reason: clarity
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  #2  
Old 11-14-2012, 10:35 AM
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Spiritwalker42 Spiritwalker42 is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 26
Default Here are a couple pics....

Front view and side view of lumbar...

Ken
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMAG3549.jpg (86.1 KB, 31 views)
File Type: jpg IMAG3550.jpg (88.5 KB, 34 views)
__________________
-Started competitive Cycling in '89
-Ti Cage Fusion @C6-C7 in '02,
-Bad snowboard accident in '04.
-'04-07 picked up cycling training and racing frequency
-upgraded to Semi-Pro MTB in '07
-Got hit by car from behind while on training ride in '07... Herniated C5-C6
-Got Prodisc-C in '08 @C5-C6
-Back to Racing in '10-'11, Raced Elite/Pro classes...
-2012 Major issues lower lumbar from wreck in '04...
-Dealing S1-L3 DDD.
-Pain,Limited activities, loosing sleep
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  #3  
Old 11-17-2012, 12:57 PM
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jss jss is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,411
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Ken,

Congratulations on making your dream of professional cycling! That's quite an accomplishment. And darn, too bad about not landing the ski jump. For someone in your excellent physical condition, you must have been waaaayyyyy up there to do so much damage on a botched landing. And congratulations on finally finding a doctor that identified your problem. I can only imagine how frustrating that must have been.

Is Yale suggesting two fusions and one ADR because that's what your insurance will cover? Or because you're not a candidate for multilevel ADR? If you are a candidate for multilevel ADR and want that, you'd better be prepared to pay out of pocket as it is very unusual for anyone to report that their carrier has covered that. I don't know of any studies on the effect of lumbar fusion on the adjacent segments when subjected to the kind of acute lumbar flexion experienced when perched on a TT bike; but I have to think that in that case that ADR would be more forgiving than fusion to those adjacent segments. Will the threat of fusion induced adjacent segment disease preclude you from returning to competitive cycling? That would be a great question for your doctor(s).

You will find many successful multilevel lumbar ADRs on this site. The poster that goes by davidj8121 had a four level ProDisc-L with Dr Zigler at Texas Back and reports to still be doing great (multiple years later). The posters that go the handles Dingie and Vimish are both multilevel M6-L recipients. Vimish is back to doing 100+ miles a week on the bike and both of them have resumed running. So there is at least hope that you will be able to resume doing what you love (provided that you keep the snowboard on the ground - where most other 40-somethings keep them).

Good luck, Jeff
__________________
C4/5 - ACDF in 2000
C5/6 - ACDF in 2002
C3/4 & C6/7 - M6 ADR, Nov 2009, Barcelona
Conceded defeat to a manifestly disingenuous BCBS-TX in my quest for reimbursement, Jan 2011
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  #4  
Old 11-18-2012, 11:56 AM
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Spiritwalker42 Spiritwalker42 is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 26
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Hello Jeff and thank you for the kind reply...
I am not sure if my surgeon at Yale thought I would be a candidate for multi-level adr or not. Judging by the images, I figured I needed some major stability that the Prodisc-L may not be able to provide. At the L4-L5 and the S1-L5 levels I have some crazy bone spur/growth… “elongated osseous foramina” as noted in my CT report… this might have something to do with the suggestion for fusion at the S1-L5 and L4-L5 levels. Maybe some stuff on my back side should be cleaned up?? Not sure. Being that the work proposed to me by my doctor at Yale would be done from the front, might make doing cleanup work on the backside a problem. I don’t know. Your question, proposes a few more for me now. Thank you!
I think that possibly the M6 may give me enough stability to go with 2 levels possibly 3. I am very interested to see what Dr. Clavel and Ritter-Lang have to say. I have been in contact with both and will be uploading images for Clavel today.
Thank you again for your replay, V/R, Ken
__________________
-Started competitive Cycling in '89
-Ti Cage Fusion @C6-C7 in '02,
-Bad snowboard accident in '04.
-'04-07 picked up cycling training and racing frequency
-upgraded to Semi-Pro MTB in '07
-Got hit by car from behind while on training ride in '07... Herniated C5-C6
-Got Prodisc-C in '08 @C5-C6
-Back to Racing in '10-'11, Raced Elite/Pro classes...
-2012 Major issues lower lumbar from wreck in '04...
-Dealing S1-L3 DDD.
-Pain,Limited activities, loosing sleep
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  #5  
Old 12-08-2012, 01:51 PM
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Spiritwalker42 Spiritwalker42 is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 26
Default

Dr. Clavel has taken a look at all of my MRIs, CTs, Xrays and is suggesting a 2 level BalanC surgery vs. adr..

I was surprised and now researching this device and technique. I think that because of the damage to facets, instability, ossifications on the backside, and crazy bone spurs on the Superoir Articular at two levels he is suggesting this rod/fusion at L4L5 with flexible deal extending up to L3L4...

Does anyone have any experience with the BalanC system? I am currently working on getting a video consult scheduled to discuss a few things with Dr. Clavel.

Thanks All, Ken
__________________
-Started competitive Cycling in '89
-Ti Cage Fusion @C6-C7 in '02,
-Bad snowboard accident in '04.
-'04-07 picked up cycling training and racing frequency
-upgraded to Semi-Pro MTB in '07
-Got hit by car from behind while on training ride in '07... Herniated C5-C6
-Got Prodisc-C in '08 @C5-C6
-Back to Racing in '10-'11, Raced Elite/Pro classes...
-2012 Major issues lower lumbar from wreck in '04...
-Dealing S1-L3 DDD.
-Pain,Limited activities, loosing sleep
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  #6  
Old 12-08-2012, 04:30 PM
janaya3 janaya3 is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 124
Default

I am sorry but I have not heard of it but would interested in the information you find out. I did a quick Google search and didn't come up with anything. He may be recommending the use of this system due to what appears to be "scoliosis" of your spine. I am no expert and neither is my wife but that was literally the first word that came out of our mouths when we saw your avatar and your posted pics. Good luck and please keep us all updated.
__________________
36 YO male with L4-L5 DDD of idiopathic etiology
Successful Surgery w/ Prodisc L Aug. 25, 2011 (size Medium, 6 degree lordotic angle w/ 10 mm PE inlay)
CURRENTLY 85-90% IMPROVED!!!!!!!!!
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  #7  
Old 12-08-2012, 05:22 PM
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jss jss is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,411
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Ken,

Yale says ALIF at S1 through L4 and ADR at L3/L4. Clavel says BalanC fusion at S1-L4(?) with rods supporting an otherwise untreated L3/L4? If I have correctly interpreted your posts, the prescribed treatments, though not identical, look pretty similar. This is the first I've heard of BalanC, and I can't find anything on it with google. It will be interesting to see what prescription the Germans come back with. I hope you hear from them soon.

Merry Christmas and good luck, Jeff
__________________
C4/5 - ACDF in 2000
C5/6 - ACDF in 2002
C3/4 & C6/7 - M6 ADR, Nov 2009, Barcelona
Conceded defeat to a manifestly disingenuous BCBS-TX in my quest for reimbursement, Jan 2011
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  #8  
Old 12-09-2012, 02:54 PM
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Spiritwalker42 Spiritwalker42 is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 26
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Thanks for the replies you guys... here is a pic of the BalanC system... what Clavel is suggesting is pictured here.. he thinks sacrum to l5 is good... Trying to setup video consult with him to ask a few questions. and yes.. I am twisted every which way to Sunday. I have major instability which has progressed ever since the accident. I used to have a pretty straight lumbar.

Let you know what further I hear. I also have a local Neurosurgeon who I hear has a great reputation/smarts, etc. Going to see him Monday.

thanks all, Ken
Attached Images
File Type: jpg BalanC System.jpg (54.6 KB, 26 views)
__________________
-Started competitive Cycling in '89
-Ti Cage Fusion @C6-C7 in '02,
-Bad snowboard accident in '04.
-'04-07 picked up cycling training and racing frequency
-upgraded to Semi-Pro MTB in '07
-Got hit by car from behind while on training ride in '07... Herniated C5-C6
-Got Prodisc-C in '08 @C5-C6
-Back to Racing in '10-'11, Raced Elite/Pro classes...
-2012 Major issues lower lumbar from wreck in '04...
-Dealing S1-L3 DDD.
-Pain,Limited activities, loosing sleep

Last edited by Spiritwalker42; 12-09-2012 at 09:49 PM. Reason: add picture
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  #9  
Old 12-09-2012, 05:07 PM
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jss jss is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,411
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Ken, I may be the only one, but I don't see the link to which you're referring. And I hope you get another converging, if not identical, prescription from your local neurosurgeon. Jeff
__________________
C4/5 - ACDF in 2000
C5/6 - ACDF in 2002
C3/4 & C6/7 - M6 ADR, Nov 2009, Barcelona
Conceded defeat to a manifestly disingenuous BCBS-TX in my quest for reimbursement, Jan 2011
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  #10  
Old 12-09-2012, 09:55 PM
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Spiritwalker42 Spiritwalker42 is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jss View Post
Ken,

Yale says ALIF at S1 through L4 and ADR at L3/L4. Clavel says BalanC fusion at S1-L4(?) with rods supporting an otherwise untreated L3/L4? If I have correctly interpreted your posts, the prescribed treatments, though not identical, look pretty similar. This is the first I've heard of BalanC, and I can't find anything on it with google. It will be interesting to see what prescription the Germans come back with. I hope you hear from them soon.

Merry Christmas and good luck, Jeff
Hello Jeff, Dr. Clavel suggested BalanC fusion at L5-L4 with the flexible/stablizer level at L3-L4. He thought S1-L5 looked ok. It looks to me like I need more than straightening out at L3-L4 there are areas seen in CT that concern me with S1-L5.. This is why after hearing his initial proposed fix, I would like to talk with him. I have a bunch of questions.

Have a good one, I'll update, Ken
__________________
-Started competitive Cycling in '89
-Ti Cage Fusion @C6-C7 in '02,
-Bad snowboard accident in '04.
-'04-07 picked up cycling training and racing frequency
-upgraded to Semi-Pro MTB in '07
-Got hit by car from behind while on training ride in '07... Herniated C5-C6
-Got Prodisc-C in '08 @C5-C6
-Back to Racing in '10-'11, Raced Elite/Pro classes...
-2012 Major issues lower lumbar from wreck in '04...
-Dealing S1-L3 DDD.
-Pain,Limited activities, loosing sleep
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