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[Terry A]

Hi my name is terry and i live near las Vegas. I appreciate all the information that I have received via this board, A little about myself and my condition.
I was injured in an ATV accident in November 2003. I landed on my right hip and had a sharp pain. This pain has continued for the last 3 years. I had some minor back issues before the injury and now seem to have hit the lottery of problems. I had a large collection of fluid on the hip called a seroma. I had 2 different plastic surgeons remove the fluid thru an incision including taking out the tissue pouch to stop the fluid from collecting. I still had pain and the muscles surrond ing my L4-5,l5-S1 are always sore and stiff.
I went to Beverly Hills for a micro diskectomy after doing some studying on their site and others WWW.spineonline.org. After their procedure I felt great until about 2 weeks went by and the pain meds wore off. I did not get any better with therapy and time. I then went to a Pain Management MD and went thru the usual injections and even a razotomey(sp). Finally with little relief I went to see Dr. John Thalgott in Las Vegas. After MRIs and consultations we decided to proceed with a laminectomy(sp). This was done 9-2004. This procedure stopped the sciaitca and helped with the hip pain although it has reamined constant since the accident.
Pain in the hip now has increased to a point where i cnnot make it thru the day without a couple of vicoden and a sleeping pill to get to sleep. It appears that L4-5 is dehrydiatindg and Dr. Thalgott is suggesting a fusion of L4-5. I asked about ADR but BCBS will not cover it. I am currently asking them to make an exception thru my employer. I also had a diskogram done 9-27 and will get the results net week when I see Dr. thalgott again. Diskogram was not bad but I am very sore and stiff from the procedure yesterday and today.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have reserched both of the procedures and am still not decided which one makes sense for me. Sorry to be so long winded.

[chasswen]

terry
welcome to the board. i am very sorry to hear of your on going pain. did the discogram produce pain?
and you may win blue crap with the prodisc because the studies were more apples to apples but not likey blue crap reads from a book.
i had a prodisc done 8 weeks ago and so far i can say im happy with it. but i am having alot of leg pain in both legs but it is improving and hope to return to work just under the 12 week mark.
chuck

[Terry A]

The diskogram wasn't bad as much as I remember. I faintly remember feeling some pain and pressure but it's kind of fuzzy. I am hoping to find out next week when I see the back MD. I believe my Dr. is a charite guy but if prodisk is available I will talk to him about it. Hope you continue on the road to recovery.

[Alastair]

Terry,
loads of info in the FAQ`s
Best
Alastair

[Harrison]

Welcome, Terry. I hope we can give you the support you need...lots of things to learn, tough choices to make...

I sent you a PM.

[Terry A]

Well I saw the spinal surgeon today and after 30 minutes of talking we have decided to fuse L4-5 instead of ADR. Due to a couple of things 1) BCBS has refused to pay for the surgery and I can't handle waiting 9 months to 2 years for them to change their minds about this surgery. 2)because I have had previous surgery in L4-5 he feels that the nerve scaring and the facet joint it may not be as good as the fusion. I know reqoup time is longer but I am comfy with this decision. He tells me I am a perfect example of who this surgery should be performed on.He is expecting a very good result. Surgery is scheduled for 11-13-2006.

Harrison I got some info on the questions you asked me to ask him.He said the 5 year was as positive as we had hoped for and that Chaite is using the hydroxyl appetite in the US. Hope that helps you.