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  #1  
Old 03-09-2007, 02:00 PM
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CindyLou CindyLou is offline
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Hi everyone,
I am new here. My name is Cindy. Not quite sure how to do this, or create a signature, but this is a start anyway. I am scheduled for 3 level lumbar adr on April 17th, 2007 with Dr. Bertagnoli. I am very excited to finally have a date. Nervous of course. Quick summary of my story: I was involved in a bicycle accident June of 2001, that left me with two compressed fractures, T12, L1. In September (yes it took them three months to figure out what was wrong with me) of 2001 I had vertibroplasty of those two levels. It was right after 9/11 so in addition to being wildly in pain, I thought the world was ending. Over the years since then, my back has not been the same. I have run the gamut of epidurel injections, facet rhizotomies, nerve blocks,orthotics, etc. My surgeon here in my home state finally recommended considering adr. I have DDD and herniations at mutiple levels, and probably things deteriorated more rapidly due to my vertibroplasty. Since my doctor has not performed alot of adr's,(especially multi-levels) he recommended Dr. Bertagnoli, who he knows personally. I do feel I am going to be in the best hands with Dr.B, having researched so much on him. A question I do have for anyone is: is it possible to have cervical adr at the same time as lumbar adr? I have multi-level degenerative spondylosis with my C4-5 and C6-7 being the worst. My C6-7 has severe foraminal stenosis, and that reads from a two year old MRI. My neck has just over the past few weeks, really been bothering me. Very tight, headaches, almost nauseated on and off, and a throbbing pain down front of my leg when I lay down. I've had numerous injections in my neck, including percutaneous rhizotomies, which gave me some relief. Just wondering. I would hate to get all the way over there and not deal with this if adr could be a reasonable solution for me cervically, as well. Thanks for listening.
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CindyLou
bicycle accident 6/19/01
2 compression fractures, T12, L1;
vertibroplasty @ above levels, 9/15/01
4/06 hip labral tear repair
4/07 Lumbar ProDisc replacement by Dr. B., 3 levels; L3-6
7/2/08 ALIF of L6-S1
7/30/08 Removed bone cement.
8/7/08 Diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, pleurisy, pleural effusion.
3/10/09 right SI Joint Fusion; seeing light at end of tunnel, for first time in 8 years!!
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  #2  
Old 03-09-2007, 04:23 PM
annapurna annapurna is offline
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First answer, yes you could get lumbar and cervical ADR. Second answer, three level lumbar ADR is serious surgery, adding cervical ADR to it is probably too much of a challenge for you to handle. I'd suggest having Pro-Spine do the evaluation for your C-spine when you get your lumbar ADR then plan a second trip.
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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 03-10-2007, 06:47 AM
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CindyLou CindyLou is offline
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Thank you Anna for your advice. I appreciate it. And Mike, firefighter, I noticed you're in Minnesota. I am too. Where are you? I am in Wayzata.

Cindy
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CindyLou
bicycle accident 6/19/01
2 compression fractures, T12, L1;
vertibroplasty @ above levels, 9/15/01
4/06 hip labral tear repair
4/07 Lumbar ProDisc replacement by Dr. B., 3 levels; L3-6
7/2/08 ALIF of L6-S1
7/30/08 Removed bone cement.
8/7/08 Diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, pleurisy, pleural effusion.
3/10/09 right SI Joint Fusion; seeing light at end of tunnel, for first time in 8 years!!
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  #4  
Old 03-10-2007, 08:37 AM
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Terry Terry is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,210
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Hi CindyLou:

I bicycled the trails around the Lakes for years and did numerous centuries and metrics when I lived in Minneapolis. I lived in New Hope, Plymouth, Minneapolis, St. Paul. Graduate of U of M.

Also injured in a bicycle accident in 2004 and had 4 level ADR surgery November 2006 (see post below for levels). I was in excellent condition prior to surgery. Rode almost 2,000 miles prior to and did a significant amount of fitness walking.

Distraction pain is an issue if you gain height. It is tolerable for me and my recovery has been a roller coaster but worth it.

I am living proof that multiple level ADR can be done successfully.

You may PM me for additional details.

Terry Newton
__________________
1980 ruptured L4-L5
1988 ruptured SI-L5
1990 ruptured C5-C6
1994 ruptured C6-C7
1995 Hemi-Laminectomy C5-C6, C6-C7 Mayo Clinic
Bicycle Accident 2004
MRI, EMG, Facet Injections, Epidural Blocks, Lumbar Discogram.
Stenum Hospital Surgery November 4, 2006
Prestige Disc C5-C6, C6-C7
Maverick Disc S1-L5, L4-L5
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  #5  
Old 03-10-2007, 08:50 AM
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CindyLou CindyLou is offline
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Posts: 627
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Terry,

Just exactly what is distraction pain?

Cindylou
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CindyLou
bicycle accident 6/19/01
2 compression fractures, T12, L1;
vertibroplasty @ above levels, 9/15/01
4/06 hip labral tear repair
4/07 Lumbar ProDisc replacement by Dr. B., 3 levels; L3-6
7/2/08 ALIF of L6-S1
7/30/08 Removed bone cement.
8/7/08 Diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, pleurisy, pleural effusion.
3/10/09 right SI Joint Fusion; seeing light at end of tunnel, for first time in 8 years!!
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  #6  
Old 03-10-2007, 09:03 AM
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Harrison Harrison is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,010
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CindyLou, glad you found us OK. I look forward to catching up next week...
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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
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  #7  
Old 03-10-2007, 11:13 AM
Bionic Michelle Bionic Michelle is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 139
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Distraction pain is your body trying to adjust to your vertebrae being pulled apart to get the implant in, as well as the permanent restoration of disc height. Nerves especially have to lengthen to span that new height, and don't especially like it. Some think the severity of it has to do with the amount of lost/restored disc height, or the amount of time you've been without that height. I don't know of a way to predict accurately who will have it and who won't. I didn't, and had very little disc left... Just be aware of it, it can be decreased some with nerve pain meds, but it will pass if you get it. Even those who've had it bad said it was well worth it. Don't borrow something else to worry about though, just be aware. good luck!
__________________
Laminectomy L4-5 1998
Relief X 2 yr
Repeat L4-5 2001
Relief X 1 yr
DDD pain 2 1\2 years
13 Docs, 9 PT's, 3 Chiros, 8 Epidurals, many injections, and one child later...
Prodisc placement L 4-5 Sept 2006
Facet Rhizolysis L4-5,L5-S1 March 2007, Nov 2007, Jan 2009
Second child arrived Dec 2008!
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  #8  
Old 03-10-2007, 12:33 PM
CindyLou's Avatar
CindyLou CindyLou is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 627
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Michelle, thanks very much for that information. I kept hearing the term thrown around, and as much as I googled it, I couldn't get a satisfactory answer. You're right. Don't borrow trouble! Looking forward to getting on the other side of my 3 level lumbar adr.

Cindy
__________________
CindyLou
bicycle accident 6/19/01
2 compression fractures, T12, L1;
vertibroplasty @ above levels, 9/15/01
4/06 hip labral tear repair
4/07 Lumbar ProDisc replacement by Dr. B., 3 levels; L3-6
7/2/08 ALIF of L6-S1
7/30/08 Removed bone cement.
8/7/08 Diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, pleurisy, pleural effusion.
3/10/09 right SI Joint Fusion; seeing light at end of tunnel, for first time in 8 years!!
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  #9  
Old 03-10-2007, 02:25 PM
Alastair Alastair is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,391
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Hi Cindy Lou,
You sound as if you're going to the right place if you're going to have three level ADR, the only other place would be the AlphaKlinik in Munich with Dr Zeegers.

If you are seriously thinking about having cervical ADR at the same time as lumbar ADR, then you need to be sending e-mails to Dr Bertaganoli and presenting him with the query, and the possibility of doing this. As one of the other members has quite rightly said, three level lumbar ADR is a huge surgery.

I think if you spend 10 minutes looking in the FAQs, you would find a lot of information that would help you, including your query about distraction. There is a link here

http://adrsupport.org/eve/forums/a/frm/f/7011036081
Best,
Alastair
__________________
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/
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  #10  
Old 03-11-2007, 08:32 AM
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mikemcmanus57 mikemcmanus57 is offline
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Posts: 61
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CindyLou,

I am a Firefighter for the city of Coon Rapids and I live in Andover. I am familiar with the ILNBC , I worked Security for 5 years at Abbott Norhwestern. I may seek a third opinion with them.
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Mike McManus Firefighter/EMT-I
Coon Rapids, MN Professional Firefighters Local 1935
Diagnosed DDD L5-S1 2006 Told I need a Fusion
Researching ADR Currently
Prodisc L4 L5 - Fusion L5 S1 December 2007
BACK to work July 2008
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