At the stage of conviction

[Juan]

First I want to thank the creator of this forum which helps both those we lost and desperate for information. I have to say that I am from Spain, specifically Barcelona. I do not speak English, so I use the google translator. I want to share my story with you.

From about age 40, I am suffering pain in my lumbar spine. At first they were brief and far between back pain over time, of which not give them importance and that with a little rest, warmth and antiinflammatory passed soon. Then came the typical "hooks" that lasted a few days and often semi-annually at the beginning and soon.
On visits to the doctor, you said that were visible on radiographs some wear, but everyone from this age suffer a greater or lesser extent, this natural process. A little back school, rehabilitation and new. But there comes a time when you begin to notice that this malaise does not leave you, always near. Some days are punctures, other cracks, some stiffness when you wake up, when you take other pain prolonged sitting. But you heat are going under, or with your ibuprofen, and follow your normal life.
Until one day drop the cup overflows ...
Pain, punctures, the stiffness, the hooks, and do not quit. Not sure why, but the remedies are not working. But how is that possible? What is ...
Low back pain becomes chronic, and your whole life takes a 180 degree turn.
Start the tour doctor, specialist visits, x-rays, MRIs, CT. Degeneration has entered the second phase and the discs are losing altitude.
Begin tour all alternative therapies, homeopathy, chiropractic, magnets, acupuncture, massage, diet, etc. Nothing.
Just find relief in the pool, and slowly. And without giving the medication. But your life is already starting ...
Then come more aggressive interventions in case the pain is in the posterior joints: infiltration, resorption, locks.
And one day an emergency physician, after the umpteenth intramuscular, I suggest you see a neurosurgeon.
So the wait is eternal public, so looking for the private. When you see all your history and your age, 46, concludes that the only solution is the fusion or spinal fusion. But at this age is almost a sentence can not lead a normal life, because, apart from the bending stiffness and loss, is the possibility of expanding to secure the adjacent vertebrae and the cessation of your work activity. It recommends that the pain clinic, when no regular medications take effect, and hope that, over the years, or decades, fused vertebrae end up naturally!
You try to find other reviews, but most agree. No more.
But in one of those pilgrimages, call it chance, fate, providence, the doctor says, "Well, we here disc prosthesis implanted." How? What's that? Is this, look!
What's in your hand, you turn, you look in amazement. The doctor applies rotational force, money, compression, a kind of model of two vertebrae with the implanted prosthesis.
The doctor says you 100% simulates natural movement, which is implanted with a less invasive method, which is a lifetime in a few months and you are leading a normal life.
You get home and start a research, via the Internet, it takes sooooo days. So you think you have all the information (which is great).
Back to start a round of doctor visits to see what they think of this. And, disenchanted, you would see that all discouraged. Not enough studies about the durability, effectiveness, rejections, side effects, etc..
Deeply into the study of global prosthesis. The appearance of the first, the faults they had, the percentage of failures. See the second generation, and are improving, they still have flaws. And finally see who is the third generation, the M6L, take only about three years on the market, and are a result of M6C (cervical) carrying nearly three years older than these. Studying its composition, technical tests that have passed, the graphs compare the natural disc, the amount you have been around the world,. You discover a website, ADRSupport, one American and one British, in which talks specifically about this issue since 2004, with many comments, reviews, case studies, different models, doctors in the world that place. Know facts about economic, political, etc.
I try to collect all your questions, and come back to this doctor (which you have known your journey online, study, work, research, places, which have for years know that patients coming from the U.S. so that he will put these prostheses, everyone talks of doing good to his praise, which no doubt hear no failures, the permanent loa). You ask all your questions, as to why the rejection of public medicine, why this fear, every moment of the intervention, post-op, the possibilities of reoperation, etc. And I answered all the basis, with credibility, with confidence.
In the end, says, "the question is how much longer you stand the pain?, Do not hurry, think and you answer me."
And there I am, at this point. I think I'm about to reply ... And why not?

[jss]

Juan,

It sounds like you've gone through the usual progression that most every one of us has been through. As you've become debilitated, I can't think of a reason to give you to the question, "Why not?" Certainly no one wants to rush into spine surgery, but there are also known issues with waiting too long to undergo that surgery.

Congratulations on your well done research. Do you have a date for surgery? Will it be done within the public Spanish system?

Good luck, Jeff

[Juan]

Hi Jeff,
I have not yet, but on the 15th I have the next visit with Dr. Clavel to give my answer and start the paperwork.
The public health system is not contemplated think prosthesis implantation in the lumbar disc, to my knowledge.
Fortunately private mutual insurance, if addressed, and cover it in its entirety. It is important for these savings, compared to the usual techniques which, eventually, are more expensive.

[Juan]

I want to ask a question,
Dr. Clavel me says that I can work in a month (my work is conductive), and that in three months I will be almost 100% recovered. But I'm reading in different post, which does not seem so. That pains, more or less strong, extending a few months, and not think about working in such a short time, knowing that there are two levels (L3 to L5) my case. What I can tell by your experiences?

[JeffR]

Originally Posted by Juan

I want to ask a question,
Dr. Clavel me says that I can work in a month (my work is conductive), and that in three months I will be almost 100% recovered. But I'm reading in different post, which does not seem so. That pains, more or less strong, extending a few months, and not think about working in such a short time, knowing that there are two levels (L3 to L5) my case. What I can tell by your experiences?

Everyone's healing is different. Everyone's circumstances are different. I would say Clavel tends to be a little aggressive on the back to work timeine but there are people with 2 levels who have gone back pretty quickly - look up the name vimish on this site to get an example of someone who went back quickly.

[Juan]

Hello again.
Today 15, I returned to the dr. Clavel. The surgery will be two levels, L3-L4-L5 prosthesis with M6. Apparently the L5-S1 disc already welded me naturally.
The surgery is scheduled for March 20.
As a precaution I have requested a bone density scan to rule out osteoporosis. The doctor has told me that I have no wear facets and I'm a right candidate for surgery.
I can only rely on their hands and pray that everything goes well. I am very nervous but at the same time very excited.
Once past the surgery I hope to discuss the results and my doubts with you all. Without your knowledge and experience, would have been very difficult for me to make a decision.
Thank you.

Juan

[Lillyth]

Juan, your surgery will be two days after mine, so we will get to meet in person! Hopefully I will have learned mucho Espanol by then and we can converse in both English and Spanish.

To answer your question from earlier, Dr. Clavel told me the healing is not 100% until a year, but that the three month marker is the biggest. As for going back to work, what do you do? I know I was told driving is restricted for eight weeks, but I don't know if that is because of my lumbar or cervical levels or both (I am having three levels in cervical and three in lumbar done).

I am very glad you have made the decision, and even gladder that I will get to meet you! Hopefully I will be coherent through the drugs. LOL!

[Juan]

Hello Lillyth.
As I live in Barcelona will come directly to the hospital at the time of the intervention, 9 am. So, as you walk two days before me, you'll be on 20 and retrieved. I hope your visit!
True, the doctor told me three months is a very important time to assess how the recovery.
My job is to train driver. I'm much time sitting, but luckily I do efforts, so, if all goes well, I hope to work soon joining.
My English is very low, but we certainly understand.
You have much courage and bravery to address surgery that volume, I admire you and I know that everything will be fine. We are in good hands!

Juan

[Lillyth]

Originally Posted by Juan

Hello Lillyth.
As I live in Barcelona will come directly to the hospital at the time of the intervention, 9 am. So, as you walk two days before me, you'll be on 20 and retrieved. I hope your visit!
True, the doctor told me three months is a very important time to assess how the recovery.
My job is to train driver. I'm much time sitting, but luckily I do efforts, so, if all goes well, I hope to work soon joining.
My English is very low, but we certainly understand.
You have much courage and bravery to address surgery that volume, I admire you and I know that everything will be fine. We are in good hands!

Juan

We will both be in the hospital for four days post op, we we will have two days overlapping.

Your English is better than my Espanol will likely be by the time March rolls around.

You may want to ask Dr. Clavel how long until you can drive, as opposed to how long until you can go back to work. That might give you some insight as well.

It's muey mallo that we need surgery, but you are right, we are in good hands!