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 03-12-2013, 03:02 PM
CurtM CurtM is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 20
Default New member, DDD 4 levels, 25years old

Like the title says, I am 25 years old and I have been in pain for as long as I can remember, I think it started around 15years old. I have been to a lot of doctors and several surgeons but none of them want to help me. I have recently gone to texas back Institute to get a new MRI and review from a surgeon and she diagnosed me with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, L4-L5, L3-L4, L2-L3, but she said that there is no fix for it and that I must "just live with it". I have been just dealing with it for years, but it has been getting worse and I now have nerve issues along with the pain, so I am considering an ADR surgery with Dr. Clavel in Barcelona.

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-12-2013, 03:13 PM
JeffR JeffR is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 356
Default

Curt,

Condolences on being here, but welcome. I can tell you that the diagnosis looks pretty sound in that you have clear DDD from L2-S1. TBI wouldn't really be able to help too much as I think 4 prodiscs on top of one another would be asking for trouble, and you are too young for a fusion. I am not going to sugar coat it - you are a challenging case given your young age and the number of discs involved, but I will say that it would definitely be a good idea to talk with Dr. Clavel and other foreign surgeons about your options as I think you would definitely have some - don't despair.

Good luck,

-Jeff
__________________
Lifelong history of back issues from a young age, spasms etc.
1995 - Weightlifting injury
1997 - Hip Injury
2009 - Trampoline injury (just bounced down on my butt)
2009-2011 Physiotherapy and medication, progress but no lasting pain relief
2010 - X-Ray DDD L5-S1, L4-L5, L4-L3
2010 - MRI Herniation L5-S1, Bulges L4-L5, L4-L3
2011 - Epidurals - No relief
2012 - Facet Injections - No relief
2012 - Discogram TBI - positive L3-S1

L3-S1 ADR M6-L w Clavel 11/28/2012
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-12-2013, 03:42 PM
newleaseonlife newleaseonlife is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 101
Default

Curt,

I'm sorry that you are here. There is a lot of information on this board, so you are in good hands. Like Jeff said, check out the overseas surgeons. They can be a bit more willing to do so many levels. A lot of people have had excellent outcomes with the European facilities. Feel free to drop me a PM if you want to ask questions regarding my overseas experience.
__________________
02/2010- Car accident resulting in C4/C5 & L5/S1 bulging and extruding discs.

06/2012- Successful ADR surgery for C4/C5 disc in Cyprus using PCM by NuVasive. Performed by Dr. Mark Peterson through the help of AIMIS.

09/2012- Successful Disctectomy of L5/S1also performed by Dr. Mark Peterson.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-12-2013, 04:07 PM
Boxer78 Boxer78 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 393
Default Adr

Clavel, bierstedt, pimenta
__________________
L5 S 1 herniation burning feet groin pain. Undisgnosed for months finally getting answers.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-12-2013, 07:42 PM
Lillyth's Avatar
Lillyth Lillyth is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 679
Default

Curt,

I think you are doing the right thing going overseas. I have been in pain since I was 15 too. (That is now 20 years for me). Do not wait any longer.

I am having six levels redone by Dr. Clavel next Monday.

My prognosis by American docs was a lifetime of pain and a wheelchair.

I won't sugar coat it either. Use your college fund, have your parents mortgage their house do whatever you need too do, but get to Europe to get yourself fixed. The discs above the four major ones aren't looking so great either. Likely from all the strain of the four bad ones underneath. Get this done before those get stressed even more.

Was this the result of an injury?
__________________
Multiple traumas to spine starting age 13.
1st American to have 6 ADR's in one surgery. C3-4 - C/7, & L5-S1 - L3-4.
Surgery w/ Dr. Clavel, 3/18/13, M6.
Before surgery: severe spinal stenosis C5/C6 (cord "flattened" per stateside doc), + for Hoffman's & Babinsky's.
At time of surgery: 5 yrs MAX before ending up in wheelchair.
Clavel found L5-S1 partially fused. Had to cut it apart to put in M6.
Please excuse brevity - SEVERE carpel tunnel.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-12-2013, 07:47 PM
Harrison's Avatar
Harrison Harrison is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,010
Question

Sorry about your suffering...I recommend a radical, nutritional approach (like the Gerson Therapy). This can only help you regardless of your surgical choices. To what do you attribute such an advanced state of generation? What does your gut tell you (no pun intended)?
__________________
"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
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-12-2013, 07:53 PM
Lillyth's Avatar
Lillyth Lillyth is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 679
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Harrison View Post
Sorry about your suffering...I recommend a radical, nutritional approach (like the Gerson Therapy). This can only help you regardless of your surgical choices. To what do you attribute such an advanced state of generation? What does your gut tell you (no pun intended)?
Good call Harrison! (She says as she stuffs her mouth full of kale salad).

I was wondering the same thing, about how it got that way.

Oh, and don't forget to create s spine signature Curt. It will help us help you.
__________________
Multiple traumas to spine starting age 13.
1st American to have 6 ADR's in one surgery. C3-4 - C/7, & L5-S1 - L3-4.
Surgery w/ Dr. Clavel, 3/18/13, M6.
Before surgery: severe spinal stenosis C5/C6 (cord "flattened" per stateside doc), + for Hoffman's & Babinsky's.
At time of surgery: 5 yrs MAX before ending up in wheelchair.
Clavel found L5-S1 partially fused. Had to cut it apart to put in M6.
Please excuse brevity - SEVERE carpel tunnel.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-12-2013, 08:15 PM
newleaseonlife newleaseonlife is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 101
Default

MMM...kale salad. I bought some kale today to juice, but that sounds yummy!

I second what Harrison said. Eating healthy will only help you.
__________________
02/2010- Car accident resulting in C4/C5 & L5/S1 bulging and extruding discs.

06/2012- Successful ADR surgery for C4/C5 disc in Cyprus using PCM by NuVasive. Performed by Dr. Mark Peterson through the help of AIMIS.

09/2012- Successful Disctectomy of L5/S1also performed by Dr. Mark Peterson.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-12-2013, 08:49 PM
annapurna annapurna is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,668
Default

To retell an old story, a man had his whole C-spine reconstructed a few years back with a mix of ADRs and fusions. He was incredibly fit going into the surgery, far more than was the usual. He was photographed by a long-time medical advocate eating pizza at a restaurant several days after his surgery. The incredibly fast recovery time was attributed to his pre-surgery health. Basically, the healthier you are going in, the faster you'll get back on your feet.

On a side note, I've mentioned that Laura sees a prolotherapist regularly. Each trip includes purchasing a pound of kale salad from the local Whole Foods. I don't know which she looks forward to more, the treatment or the salad.
__________________
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 03-12-2013, 09:50 PM
Harrison's Avatar
Harrison Harrison is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,010
Question

OK, all this kale talk is getting weird!

I made red kale tonight for the first time in a few weeks and I didn't like it. I used another variety last time and it was yummy. I need to get smarter on super greens....since I nag you all about it so often! I usually juice it...a great way to cheat. Which varieties are more tender?

Curt, how are you dealing with the pain? Cause of all this DDD?
__________________
"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
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
ddd, disc replacement, jucing, lyme disease, spinal pain, spine disease

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
Anyone that has had 2 levels approved please Help! Kim The Big File 12 08-27-2006 03:16 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:38 PM.


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