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The Big File All issues not easily categorized in the above forums are here. Comments on general health, diet, "getting comfortable," and more are here.


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  #1  
Old 03-15-2014, 10:56 AM
mcjagger mcjagger is offline
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Default Scuba Diving

Has any gone scuba diving since have adr surgery.....specifically m6-L....any thoughts or concerns on either side of the question.....I used to dive often before my surgery and my wife and I are off to Tahiti in June and I am thinking about diving there but not if there is a significant risk to my new disc....thanks in advance for your replies
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2009-2011-multiple Rx-acupuncture-chiropractor- pt-2Nd Dr. Opinion= mri=ddd L4/L5
2010-steroid injection-facet injection- rhizotomy
2011-3rd Doctor opinion=mri=ddd L4/L5-pt- 4th Dr. Opinion=ADR
2012-5th & 6th Dr. Opionion=ADR
Dexa Scan
Metal Alergy Test
May 17, 2012---L4/5 ADR, M6-L, Dr. Clavel
Barcelona Spine Center
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  #2  
Old 03-15-2014, 12:35 PM
annapurna annapurna is offline
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There was a discussion here as to whether or not the M6L annulus would serve as a place for nitrogen bubbles to form and be trapped if you're pushing the decompression tables or come close to getting bent. I don't remember whether or not it ever got resolved but you should be able to search for it here. Other than that, many people have been diving with many types of ADRs without problems.
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Laura - L5S1 Charitee
C5/6 and 6/7 Prodisc C
Facet problems L4-S1
General joint hypermobility

Jim - C4/5, C5/6, L4/5 disk bulges and facet damage, L4/5 disk tears, currently using regenerative medicine to address

"There are many Annapurnas in the lives of men" Maurice Herzog
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  #3  
Old 03-15-2014, 04:07 PM
RobertM RobertM is offline
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I don't think anybody has every found out.

When you go diving give us a report on how your disc feels after then we can resolve it. Have fun on vacation.
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L5-S1 Herniated Disc
nerve compressed

6 months of PT
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3 L5-S1 injections
6 facets injections
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  #4  
Old 03-15-2014, 06:24 PM
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jss jss is offline
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MC,

I've been diving three times with my two M6's, but never deeper than 33ft.

My concern was that at recreational depths that we'd absorb enough N2 that by the time we surfaced, if the M6 weep holes became plugged, would the N2 in its now gaseous state cause the M6 sheath to expand enough to push on a root nerve or the spinal cord.

I contacted Spinal Kinetics and posed my concerns about SCUBA with my M6's to 'Larry'. He didn't know and said they had no plans to test my hypothetical scenario. At the time there was a poster on the site with the handle MDE (medical device engineer). His opinion was that at the worst case a 0.5mm N2 bubble could form. If his calculations were correct, that would not be enough push the M6's sheath into the spinal canal or neural foramen.

Take that as something you read on the internet. I'm spending two weeks in Puerto Moreles in the Mexican Caribbean this summer and after my research I'm planning on diving the Santa Rosa Wall at 105ft. If you decide against diving please post some pictures of yourself pipelining Teahupoo.

Jeff
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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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  #5  
Old 04-03-2014, 02:32 PM
Optimistic Optimistic is offline
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Default Diving with ADR

I am a volunteer diver with the local aquarium, and dive with tiger sharks regularly. I used to dive at least once per week, which is not the case as I await finalizing surgery. I also am interested in knowing the effects of ADR on newly implanted discs. Do you think the docs and/or manufacturers have any info on this? Also, how long after surgery do people typically start diving again, even in shallow depths, say <30 feet?
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  #6  
Old 04-03-2014, 08:49 PM
annapurna annapurna is offline
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Personally, I'd believe that the doctors have opinions without facts and the manufacturers have CYA statements. On a more useful note, most people are delayed more by the need to heal from the surgery enough to carry the tanks than by osteointegration or similar ADR-specific concerns. Basically, if you can carry the tank to the water comfortably, odds are pretty good that you can dive without problems.
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Laura - L5S1 Charitee
C5/6 and 6/7 Prodisc C
Facet problems L4-S1
General joint hypermobility

Jim - C4/5, C5/6, L4/5 disk bulges and facet damage, L4/5 disk tears, currently using regenerative medicine to address

"There are many Annapurnas in the lives of men" Maurice Herzog
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  #7  
Old 04-04-2014, 07:20 AM
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jss jss is offline
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Optimistic,

I dove Manchones Reef (30 ft) off Isla Mujeres Mexico six months after cervical ADR. If you're having lumbar ADR, you might be able to do that, but I'd recommend putting your gear on after you're in the water. As you're diving with tiger sharks, a known man eater, once you hit the water I'm guessing that your ADRs won't even enter your mind. (hope they feed those things before you get in)
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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 04-04-2014, 09:34 AM
Optimistic Optimistic is offline
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Annapurna/Jeff, Thanks for the responses. I do put on tanks after I am in the water but still need to carry tanks and gear to the dive site. It is now limiting my diving to do so and one of the many reasons why I am looking into the right surgery - multiple levels. After surgery, that will be the criterion again....whether I can actually carry the tanks.

At the Florida aquarium, we have well-fed sharks where there is always a "shark tender" on duty to guard the other diver against "abnormal" behavior. It can be intimidating at first but still cautious every time I dive.
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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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  #9  
Old 03-20-2015, 08:20 AM
Surprised 1 Surprised 1 is offline
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Just want to express my gratitude for those who posted information on diving post surgery on this thread. I am happy to say that I am 18 months post surgery and am now resuming diving after a 10+ year absence. Freestyle swimming is going better than I've ever experienced and suiting up for a pool dive yesterday and experiencing the weightless feeling once again was thrilling. I'll be going on a trip that will include some diving soon and will be happy to report how that goes in hopes that it might help someone else. Thanks again.
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MRI shows C5/6 & 6/7 DDD along with lower cervical kyphosis
Recent onset of some arm numbness
9/03/13 2 level M6 ADR's C5/6 6/7
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  #10  
Old 11-03-2015, 05:31 PM
Optimistic Optimistic is offline
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I started diving ~6 months after surgery, after I obtained clearance from my surgeon. I now dive almost every week and have had no issues. The rule of thumb is that if something is uncomfortable, you probably should not do it. I am glad to be diving again and thankful for my surgery to enable me to once again enjoy the beautiful experience of diving.
__________________
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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