ADRSupport Community  

Go Back   ADRSupport Community > General Discussion > New Member Introductions

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.


Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 07-01-2017, 09:14 AM
dorian dorian is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 80
Default new Member Considering Disc Replacement

Hello All,

I am a 44 year old male been suffering from DDD for about 13 years now. Used to be an very active sports person, playing racket sports daily, gym, swimming, runner, golf, hockey and the list goes on.

13 years ago I started to get tightened back after sports and would need to walk and stretch the next day. Saw many doctors in Canada at the time all telling me my discs were failing and to do stuff like physio, Chiropractic and so forth.

I have spent years strengthening the core, trying to keep off it and eventually gave up most sports except controlled movements like some weightlighting(nothing involving back or legs to much so stuff like deadlifts etc are not even considered), swimming and walking.

It has got worse every year and this year I really have had about about enough. Things I can't do anymore.

1. Can't sit, I never sit anymore unless I have too, have good days and bad days but usually can't sit more then 20 minutes to 2 hours, doing so causes my lower back to get super tight and I get a lumbar lateral shift where my body is shifted to the side, to remove it I have to walk and swim to straighten back out, it can be painful a lot while other times just a little painful, one thing for certain is daily I have some pain all the time. Sitting on the toilet is the worse, I actually got to sit on an angle

2. I can't do anything that involves to much twisting, bending down, putting on shows and socks are brutal, have to get on the floor to do it, often that motion of bringing my feet towards me can blow my back instantly, that is why all sports are out now, same problems as above
3. I sleep on the floor now for the last two years, I have to sleep on side or my back, stomach is not an option. I can't sleep on a mattress anymore, even the hard ones are still not hard enough to not wake up with the pain and the lateral lumbar shift
4. I feel like I am going to snap in two almost all day, going to the movies, dinner, gettign on airplanes all that stuff so difficult

It is very frustrating for me as I am very sports minded, in pretty good shape considering my disabilities and am depressed about it a lot.

I have seen many specialists and they all say I am lucky and unlucky. Unlucky to have such crappy discs at my age but also lucky the discs presently are not pressing into my nerves etc. I have issues with L4-5 L5-S1 and L3-4 everything else is in good shape. Doctors I have talked to are mostly fusion doctors and have all told me to keep on doing what I am doing, stretching, walking, swimming being careful and in 10 years when my discs are completely terrible or if I wake up one day screaming in pain then I will be a fusion candidate, but they all tell me it is coming.

I am the poster boy for trying to take care of my back but every year it gets worse and I am tired of living like this. I decided to check out Artifical Disc Replacment as most of the fusion doctors mention it as an option but tell me not such a great idea, well I decided to do my own research and though it is somewhat scary it seems like a possible solution for me.

I been in touch with Dr Clavel in Spain, he thinks I am a great candidate for three level ADR and I am seriously considering it. I plan to get the melissa test in August to check for metal allegeries and if all checks out I am seriously considering going under the knife and getting these replacements.

I hope this forum can offer me advice and help connect me with those that might have experience in ADR and how it worked out for them. I am kind of at the point of how can the surgery be worse then I am now, perhaps it would be worse, perhaps it will be the best decision I ever made.

Thanks all for those that read my story, I could talk about it for hours but this is the shorten version

My whole life revolves around my back I have to walk 60 minutes once or twice a day and swim, every single day, that keeps me somewhat straight and less pain, brings me to about 50% of my back. Even if I miss just one day, like a day where I want to be lazy and not exercise my back quickly falls apart which pain, tightness and shifts..
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-05-2017, 02:34 PM
Blizzaga Blizzaga is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 130
Smile Welcome!

Hi Dorian and welcome to the forums,

Reading your story is tough. What you are living is no life and I know it, since I was in your position a year ago. I had the two lowest discs out and could not sit or do most activities. You think about your back all the time, so it is very difficult to enjoy life.

I took the leap of faith and went for ADR surgery. At the moment of writing this, it feels like the best decision of my life. Can't know the future, but hoping for the best! I very rarely think about my back and feel like I am free to do almost anything. I hope you could have a similar outcome.

By the way, you are not at all young for this problem. I am in my 20's and so are many on this forum that had ADR. It seems that it can hit people at almost any age (depending on genetics and lifestyle).
__________________
2015 Lost ability to sit
2016 Gradually worsening despite conservative treatment
2016 L4-L5, L5-S1 activ L success!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-07-2017, 03:24 AM
dorian dorian is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 80
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blizzaga View Post
Hi Dorian and welcome to the forums,

Reading your story is tough. What you are living is no life and I know it, since I was in your position a year ago. I had the two lowest discs out and could not sit or do most activities. You think about your back all the time, so it is very difficult to enjoy life.

I took the leap of faith and went for ADR surgery. At the moment of writing this, it feels like the best decision of my life. Can't know the future, but hoping for the best! I very rarely think about my back and feel like I am free to do almost anything. I hope you could have a similar outcome.

By the way, you are not at all young for this problem. I am in my 20's and so are many on this forum that had ADR. It seems that it can hit people at almost any age (depending on genetics and lifestyle).
Thanks Blizzaga, which discs did you get replaced? and where did you get it done may I ask? I agree it is a total let down to have this life, right now I plan to get the Melissa test when I go back to Canada (living abroad at the moment) and from there seriously considering getting the procedure done, luckily this week so far has been a rare good week for me, but I know it wont last, it never does
__________________
44 Year old Canadian
Disc Degeneration (13 years)
L3-L4
L4-L5
L5-S1
Considering ADR Procedure This Year
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-07-2017, 04:30 PM
Blizzaga Blizzaga is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 130
Default

I got two levels done with Activ-L (see my signature). You can read my story in the surgical outcome section. It was a great success.
__________________
2015 Lost ability to sit
2016 Gradually worsening despite conservative treatment
2016 L4-L5, L5-S1 activ L success!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-02-2017, 10:00 AM
dorian dorian is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 80
Default

Hi again,
I am back, still wondering what I should do with my life.

I blew my back again the other day really bad which always makes me revisit my getting surgery. Contacted Dr Clavel said I was really close to getting this done. Then started reading about Dr Desai and the ESP disc and find him quite interesting as well.

I have this ongoing battle if I should do the operation at all. Yes I can't play sports that I used to love, yes I have to sleep on the floor , yes I have to walk and swim almost daily to keep things straight, Yes the fusion doctors are saying seeing you in a few years. However, I am not in constant pain like some, but I have to be careful and basically live my life revolving around my back, from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep it is on my mind and try ot do everything to keep it from going.

When it does go completely like the other day it is pretty bad, barely can walk at first, lumber shift really bad but I would grin through the pain and walked for 2 hours straight which gets me back up to normal straightness, next morning again woke up twisted and in pain so once again walk walk walk.. today feeling better with minor twisting so two days of hell but now kind of back to normal, at least normal for me.

I got this feeling if I do the surgery I could make things a lot worse, I am not in the screaming in pain daily phase, but I know every year things are getting worse, specially with the legs, they are sooooo tight, even stretching every day they get tighter and tigher, my hamstrings are so tight that when i stretch them I have to bite the bullet and hold from screaming out and that isnt even overdoing it.

Anyway I feel seriously lost, not sure what to do, just tired. Thought I vent here, thanks guys
__________________
44 Year old Canadian
Disc Degeneration (13 years)
L3-L4
L4-L5
L5-S1
Considering ADR Procedure This Year
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-04-2017, 10:44 AM
GKTM300 GKTM300 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 273
Default

Hey was just like u I think work construction crushed discs 04 still worked finally in 16 I went to bogen Germany n I’m a year out and I been racing motocross last few months I feel like it’s a miracle no one in usa would operate on me for which I’m glad. I met a Bertagnoli amp in my opinion I got lucky. I’m pretty sure he I saw considered best in the world and he is cheap his prices were the lowest. Do your research cause once u make the wrong one it’s multiple operaration. But in bogen it’s a cash deal
__________________
12/22/04 blew L4-5 and L5-S1 out lifting wrong
4/1/05 back to work thanks to Oxy
11/11/13 hurt back lifting again
6/6/15 last of many MRI L4-5 medium paracentral bulge with juice leaking and mid to left bulge on L5-S1
No invasive procedures except steroid shots that did nothing n hurt wicked bad
9/24/2016 Adr surgery Bertagnoli>1 year doing great
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-12-2017, 03:28 PM
Blizzaga Blizzaga is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 130
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by dorian View Post
Hi again,
I am back, still wondering what I should do with my life.

I blew my back again the other day really bad which always makes me revisit my getting surgery. Contacted Dr Clavel said I was really close to getting this done. Then started reading about Dr Desai and the ESP disc and find him quite interesting as well.

I have this ongoing battle if I should do the operation at all. Yes I can't play sports that I used to love, yes I have to sleep on the floor , yes I have to walk and swim almost daily to keep things straight, Yes the fusion doctors are saying seeing you in a few years. However, I am not in constant pain like some, but I have to be careful and basically live my life revolving around my back, from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep it is on my mind and try ot do everything to keep it from going.

When it does go completely like the other day it is pretty bad, barely can walk at first, lumber shift really bad but I would grin through the pain and walked for 2 hours straight which gets me back up to normal straightness, next morning again woke up twisted and in pain so once again walk walk walk.. today feeling better with minor twisting so two days of hell but now kind of back to normal, at least normal for me.

I got this feeling if I do the surgery I could make things a lot worse, I am not in the screaming in pain daily phase, but I know every year things are getting worse, specially with the legs, they are sooooo tight, even stretching every day they get tighter and tigher, my hamstrings are so tight that when i stretch them I have to bite the bullet and hold from screaming out and that isnt even overdoing it.

Anyway I feel seriously lost, not sure what to do, just tired. Thought I vent here, thanks guys
You should ask yourself: if the rest of your life is going to be the same as it is now, is it an acceptable life? If you think it maybe is, then surgery is not needed. If you think it is not acceptable, then surgery should be considered. Delaying the choice is probably not going to make it any better. Yes, it is a gamble and you can lose it. However, your probability of success is not improving with waiting, so if you feel that surgery is the choice, I would go for it. If it is successful, your only regret will be that you did not have it sooner.

This is just my opinion, but I hope it helps
__________________
2015 Lost ability to sit
2016 Gradually worsening despite conservative treatment
2016 L4-L5, L5-S1 activ L success!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-13-2017, 02:29 AM
dorian dorian is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 80
Default

I hear what you are saying. I hate my back, it is terrible almost all the time and no I do not think I should be living like this. The only thing that has held me back is will doing the operation make things worse, I don't want to be worse because it really sucks now

I am sending my info here shortly again to Dr Desai and will update you on his thoughts, it will be nice to hear two opinions on my issues.

Thanks!
__________________
44 Year old Canadian
Disc Degeneration (13 years)
L3-L4
L4-L5
L5-S1
Considering ADR Procedure This Year
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-13-2017, 11:45 AM
annapurna annapurna is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,668
Default

Something to think about: what direction is your back trending now? I understand your worry about surgery making it worse but if your condition is getting worse now, without surgery, the added risk of surgery might be less than you think.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-06-2018, 05:08 AM
dorian dorian is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 80
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by annapurna View Post
Something to think about: what direction is your back trending now? I understand your worry about surgery making it worse but if your condition is getting worse now, without surgery, the added risk of surgery might be less than you think.
I hear you, I sent off my info to Dr Desai on Dec 21st still waiting to hear back from him, being the holidays and all I am sure there was a delay.

Last week I started trying to sit more. I been avoiding sitting for last couple of years as much as possible but i wanted to see how bad things were from sitting. First couple of days I didnt have much problem but the third day on my back sitting really is terrible. I cant go more than 10 to 15 min without having to stand up and walk out the tightness and pain, the longer I sit the harder it is to get back out of the chair and walk it out.

So much tightness and kind of feels like my bones are grinding, just this constant pain in the middle lower back and often to the side.. obvious what it is haha but i spent last couple years not sitting I have forgotten the issues it causes me.

Mornings are still the worse, often wake up with my body slanted to the side still and go on a hour walk and swim for 45 min laps to break it out, I kind of have to do this these days, the walk and swim that is. Funny when people that dont have bad backs see you and say "hey I thought you said you had a bad back why are you walking, swimming? " They look even more puzzled when I tell them it is actually bad for me to not be moving, the more i sit around the worse.. as well

Waiting for Dr Desai, I really like this lp-esp disc,not so much because it has less failures documented, I like how it only has very small pins that push into the bone but has that special bonding liquid that bonds to the bone and not aggressive discs that could damage bone.. forgive me for not having the medical terms off hand.
__________________
44 Year old Canadian
Disc Degeneration (13 years)
L3-L4
L4-L5
L5-S1
Considering ADR Procedure This Year
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Three or Four Level Disc Replacement Lillyth Insurance Hell 3 12-08-2012 06:37 AM
Disc Replacement Kenya New Member Introductions 2 11-27-2006 10:26 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:55 PM.


© Copyright 2006-2023 ADRSupport.org All rights reserved.