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New Member Introductions If you just joined, please introduce yourself here. Please add a signature describing your spinal history (use the "User CP) and ask us how we can help you get started. |
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#1
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This forum is awesome. I fell down icey steps in January 2004 and my life has changed dramatically ever since. I had an MRI and was told that my L4-L5 disc was bulged. I tried medication and physical therapy for a couple months and then had a steroid injection, which didn't help at all. So I kept on doing the exercises that the PT gave me at home for the past year and nothing was getting better, just worse. I had my second MRI and was told that the disc was bulged and that it was DDD. I was supposed to get a discogram in January 2005 but chickened out. Finally I got the discogram in May 2005 and boy was it painful. The disc was definitely the cause of my pain.
On my follow-up appointment my doctor told me that I could either get a fusion or and ADR and that I am a good candidate for the ADR. I'm going to have a consultation with Dr. James Yue from Yale New Haven Hospital July 21, 2005. I've been reading everyones posts on this website for the past few months, and since I'm getting close to making a decision as to what surgery to get, I thought it was time to say Hello to everyone and share my experience with everyone as time goes on. Everyone's experiences have been very informative and hopefully my experiences can be informative for others as well. I look forward to conversing with you all. I'm only 22 but am hoping for the best so I can get my life back. Thanks for reading my post.
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-Fell down icey steps Jan. 2004 -First MRI revealed bulged disc L4-L5 -Injections in Arpil 2004 -Second MRI revealed L4-L5 bulged disc and DDD -Discogram May 2005, confirmed L4-L5 as pain generator Fusion L4-L5 Oct. 2005 SCS implanted July 2006 |
#2
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You�re Welcome and Welcome!
Glad you've made it out of the closet and said hello. As you may well know I'm an open book around here and it is a safe place to do that. It sounds like you�re in good hands. Dr. Yue is well respected around here. Again welcome and chime in anytime.
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Paulette ProDisc L5-S1 W/Dr Delamarter Aug 23, 2005 L5-S1 DDD Diagnosis 12/04 T-12 Compression Fracture 10/04 C-7 Spines Process Fracture 5/99 http://prodisc2.blogspot.com/ You are my Rock God in you I can do anything |
#3
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Yup Dr Yue is a good surgeon and a good guy
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ADR Munich 26th July 2002 L5/S1. Aged 82 now Your best asset is your health My story is here http://www.adrsupport.org/alastair.html Thank goodness for Dr Zeegers I am painfree I am here to help,I live in the UK I now run the UK spine site and can be contacted at www.adrsupportuk.com/ |
#4
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Jay, I can relate to your story! Mine has a few things in common with yours:
http://www.adrsupport.org/content.asp?cid=191 I hope we can help you. Pls let me know if you are not getting the right answers or support...
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"Harrison" - info (at) adrsupport.org Fell on my ***winter 2003, Canceled fusion April 6 2004 Reborn June 25th, 2004, L5-S1 ADR Charite in Boston Founder & moderator of ADRSupport - 2004 Founder Arthroplasty Patient Foundation a 501(c)(3) - 2006 Creator & producer, Why Am I Still Sick? - 2012 Donate www.arthropatient.org/about/donate |
#5
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Jay
Welcome, and sorry you're having to deal with this at such a young age. The good news is you've connected with one of the best surgeons around and your age is working in your favor in terms of healing. Maybe we should be doing a statistical analysis of icy falls, Rich? Thought that sounded familiar...
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03/09/26 - Ruptured L5-S1. Years of pain, discectomy, research into anatomy, hardware, clinical trials, facilities, surgeons, techniques, insurance. Attempts at ProDisc, Activ-L trials. Now, low bone density. D'oh!!! At 61 years, no longer qualifying for trials due to my age (chronological, not physical or mental). 2009 - Working on improving bone density or getting rich so I can go to Germany, where medicine and insurance have gone beyond the Stone Age. |
#6
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Welcome to the forum and you willlearn so much from everyones experiences here. I am also from Connecticut and Dr. Yue is my follow up doctor. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me.
Judy
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Surgery Vienna by Dr. Bertagnoli Oct. 16, 2004 ADR L3/4 Fusion L4/5 ADR L5/S1 Diagnosed with Arachnoiditis 11/06 |
#7
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Welcome,
Dr. Yue is excellent....he is my husbands pre and post op doctor. His dedication to "helping" patients feel better is reminiscent of Dr. Bertagnoli, they work often as a team..... We are also in Connecticut, and here to help. Anita
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We "Refused to Fuse" Husband had triple ADR L3-4 through L5-S1. Pro-Disc February 14th, 2005 in Germany, Dr. Bertagnoli Bio-active bone cement used at all three levels in Germany after osteoporosis was discovered in OR. (false negative bone densit |
#8
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Thanks for all the replys everyone. I'm looking forward to seeing Dr. Yue and knowing that he is highly respected as well. Hopefully he will be able to do the surgery not too long after he see's me, as I feel I'm not living but only just existing at this point.
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-Fell down icey steps Jan. 2004 -First MRI revealed bulged disc L4-L5 -Injections in Arpil 2004 -Second MRI revealed L4-L5 bulged disc and DDD -Discogram May 2005, confirmed L4-L5 as pain generator Fusion L4-L5 Oct. 2005 SCS implanted July 2006 |
#9
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Welcome Jay,
I am so sorry you are having to deal with spine problems at such a young age, not that dealing with it when you are older is any easier! It just really doesn't seem fair when you are so young. I am glad you found the forum and hope you find it helpful. Again, welcome. Linda
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Linda 10-02 - ProDiscs L4/5 and L5/S1 - FDA study - disks placed incorrectly which caused problem at L3/4 and L2/3 01-05 - ProDiscs at C5/6 and C6/7 in Germany - seems to be working fine so far Bedbound from 09-06 until 10-08 due to severe pain and weakness 09-08 - Had Fibrin sealant done at L3/4 and L2/3 After 6 weeks - much success! Hoping and praying that the lumbar revision surgery that was scheduled with Dr. Regan can be indefinitely postponed |
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