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#41
03-11-2013, 09:33 AM
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Amen to what you both said! As an educator of adults, I find that so many just take what the Doctors say and don't even question it! Then again, if you don't have access to scholarly work, as I do (work for higher education institution), then you are at the mercy of Joe Blows website.
This doc is ADR Pro Disc trained, so I'm hoping that IF the injections don't work, that he'll be willing to consider it. I'm better today. It's a new day and I'm thankful for virtual friends. 
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Deb ___________________________ 1988 diagnosed with DDD, bulging 2012 trauma lumbar following yard work Nov 2012 MRI Bulging discs L4,5, S1 Mild stenosis Dec-Jan PT Jan 2013 Discogram Results Level 5 Annular tears L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 Need 3 disc fusion Facet Joints injections, March 2013- no relief Transform.., Epidural Injections 4-23-13 Right L2-3 No relief 2nd ESI 5-14-13 L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1 No relief ugh. ADR L3-4, L4-5, Fusion L5-S1 Fusion Dr.Blumenthal TBI July, 2013 
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#42
03-11-2013, 06:07 PM
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I think of it like our justice system. All doctors are idiots until proven otherwise. But then, until recently, I had a really bad track record with them, including one doc who told me my allergy to Novocaine wasn't possible, then proceeded to inject me with it!
I am glad to hear you are better today. And yes, these virtual friends are LIFESAVERS!
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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.
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#43
03-11-2013, 07:43 PM
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Hi Deb,
I'm sorry to hear of your difficult times. I too am here to support you and help you out in any way I can. I recently had a 3 level ADR and am doing incredibly well! There can't be enough said about the power of prayer, I will also pray for you.
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 18 years of back pain. Numerous x-rays CT scans 2002 & 2010 showing disc herniation at L5-S1 MRI in 2012 showing DDD L3-S1 Scheduled for fusion here in Manitoba later in 2012 ( never did) Went to Germany for 3 level ADR (M6) L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1 in late Sept 2012 3 months later, I feel Awesome!
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#44
03-14-2013, 10:06 PM
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Thanks John. It's clearly a long term process. We'll be talking to people and they'll say how they need surgery, but they just take their Aleve and their fine.. And I'm like, "are you kidding me? I have an ice pack on my back constantly to deaden the pain, and I take 3 norco a day... With breakthrough pain!"
I have my next set of injections tomorrow. God I hope it helps. I've decided to go ahead and meet with a pain managemnt Dr. I'm afraid to tell my current Dr. That I sometimes have to take an additional 1/2 a pill.. I'm so paranoid about taking these damn pills, but it hurts so much. ugh.. Well, hope everyone has a good night. God Bless
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Deb ___________________________ 1988 diagnosed with DDD, bulging 2012 trauma lumbar following yard work Nov 2012 MRI Bulging discs L4,5, S1 Mild stenosis Dec-Jan PT Jan 2013 Discogram Results Level 5 Annular tears L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 Need 3 disc fusion Facet Joints injections, March 2013- no relief Transform.., Epidural Injections 4-23-13 Right L2-3 No relief 2nd ESI 5-14-13 L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1 No relief ugh. ADR L3-4, L4-5, Fusion L5-S1 Fusion Dr.Blumenthal TBI July, 2013
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#45
03-15-2013, 03:13 PM
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Lillyth,
I actually get a pretty good deal of "nerve" pain relief from the Lyrica. It did, however, take several weeks to be highly effective. If I remember correctly, 3 weeks was when it really started kicking in. I need to do a better job of recording things like this. Life is so busy that I forget to keep a journal on any of it.
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Mike 49 2006-2011 Chiro, epidural steroids, nsaids, PT for L4-5 bulge/annular tear April 25th 2012 35MPH rear end collision, blows out L4-5 and ADDS a tear in C4-5 Cancelled ADR to continue conservative therapies April 10th 2013: Insurance re-approved and I'm scheduling lumbar ADR for end of the month! *schedule* ADR Prodisc L April 29th 2013 5-2-2013 ADR using Prodisc L 7-10-2013 New MRI on neck. Surgeon DOES NOT recommend ADR for Cervical. "I'll be your Huckleberry"
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#46
03-15-2013, 03:47 PM
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Quote:
Why would you say the M6 is better than the Activ-L I am considering both options. Thanks, Walter
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intermittent back spasm acute injury, disc herniation. 3x root nerve block & caudal epidural discectomy (made pain much worse - back and leg) surgeon suggests fusion or ADR DEXA shows osteopenic (-2.1) in lower spine Discogram confirms L4/L5 & L5/S1 (L3/L4 is fine for now) Double fusion booked as not candidate for ADR Last ditch effort to get ADR Rejected hybrid using Prodisc April 2013 - hybrid L5-S1 (ALIF) + L4-L5 (M6) - Mr Lam
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#47
03-15-2013, 06:40 PM
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Quote:
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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
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#48
03-19-2013, 03:38 AM
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Deb,
I just wanted to say that I feel for you. I know how bad pain can be from degenerative disc disease and annular tears. Yes, it is good medicine to rule out certain pain generators. Facets can be a pain generator, in fact, you can have one pain generator or have multi-pain generators in your spine. L5/S1 is thought to tolerate fusion more than the upper discs. I know several people who have had successful fusions at that level. This has been a many year journey for me and I found the most important thing, IMHO, is to have the best, greatest surgeon you can get. You do not want having surgery with someone who is not trained in the technique they want to do. There is a learning curve for spine surgery and definitely with ADR. It is best to try more conservative methods before resorting to surgery. I do believe in discograms as they showed in each one I had, the pain generator, i.e. discs in my case. I also believe that the patient is the best judge of how they feel. I don't like doctors that don't listen to the patient, that is my two-cents. One of the sites, I used to gain information and knowledge was/is chirogeek.com. It certainly explains DDD and other aspects of the spine. But there are many sites and when I started my journey in 2007, that is what I did to figure what the heck was wrong with my back and the type of questions I had to eventually ask surgeons to figure out what the heck to do with my back. Just googling ADR will get you some sites, but be aware there is a very definite subgroup of surgeons who are not pro-ADR. And ADR is not for everyone because there are contraindications for the procedure and if for example, people do not follow them, there are real consequences. So be careful and happy hunting. Welcome to your journey. Kimmers 
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hurt back lifting, herniated disc at L4/L5. DDD
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