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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.


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  #1  
Old 06-11-2011, 02:05 PM
christinlal christinlal is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 103
Default Hello....another ProDisc c

story. I had the adr surgery on 09/30/2009 after 8 spinal edpidurals, 2 different attempts at pt, one call McKenzie (specifically for herniated discs), chiro - one swung my neck around and made my pain worse for a while there.

I could not stop the pain so I opted for the adr at C6/7 this was the worse level, and I begged not to be fused at C5. I am now hoping to have the proDisc revised, or replaced as it may have migrated.

I am in Florida and in misery. I have bcbs, any thoughts? And, thank you.
__________________
12/2008 early am gym class-something very wrong
2/2009 DDD 4 herniated cervical discs
3/3009-8/2009 8 spinal epidurals, pt
09/2009 C6/7 Prodisc C ADR
11/2010 facet joint inj 12/2010 Rhizotomy TBI Dr. Cottingham months of relief
05/2011 facet Joint Inj 06/2011 Rhizotomy
7/2011 Dr. Zigler TBI, facet block and Discogram
11/18 surgery with Dr/Mr. Boeree..Thank God.
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  #2  
Old 06-11-2011, 09:47 PM
Harrison's Avatar
Harrison Harrison is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,010
Question

Hi Christin, sorry for your pains. Please tell us (much) more about the diagnostics you had pre and post-operatively, including the report from the radiologist describing the placement of the artificial disc. When you can, please take the time to add a signature too.

I have many more questions for you about how your spine got to that point of requiring surgery, but I don't want to detract from your motivation to share more information. I am just trying to better understand your condition, which also helps other members here too.

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"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
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  #3  
Old 06-11-2011, 09:55 PM
Harrison's Avatar
Harrison Harrison is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,010
Wink

Wow, thx for fixing your signature! You've been through a lot. I hope we can help.
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"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
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  #4  
Old 06-13-2011, 02:45 PM
christinlal christinlal is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 103
Default Hi Harrison,

You have as well. As have we all.
I have a chance to see zeegers, and am in tears this has been my wish for a long time.
__________________
12/2008 early am gym class-something very wrong
2/2009 DDD 4 herniated cervical discs
3/3009-8/2009 8 spinal epidurals, pt
09/2009 C6/7 Prodisc C ADR
11/2010 facet joint inj 12/2010 Rhizotomy TBI Dr. Cottingham months of relief
05/2011 facet Joint Inj 06/2011 Rhizotomy
7/2011 Dr. Zigler TBI, facet block and Discogram
11/18 surgery with Dr/Mr. Boeree..Thank God.
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  #5  
Old 06-26-2011, 05:40 PM
christinlal christinlal is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 103
Default Now

I know what is causing all this relentless pain since 09/30/09, my c6/7 prodisc is too far forward and the c5/6 is narrow and also will need an adr. I do not have the insurance prepayment okay to go overseas (big shock), and am going to beg and plead a US surgeon to fix this, I cannot imagine a 2 level fusion and a bone graph, that was the last US surgeon's suggestion.

I am currently in Tampa and I am running out of time....any suggestions, thoughts, or information is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Christine
__________________
12/2008 early am gym class-something very wrong
2/2009 DDD 4 herniated cervical discs
3/3009-8/2009 8 spinal epidurals, pt
09/2009 C6/7 Prodisc C ADR
11/2010 facet joint inj 12/2010 Rhizotomy TBI Dr. Cottingham months of relief
05/2011 facet Joint Inj 06/2011 Rhizotomy
7/2011 Dr. Zigler TBI, facet block and Discogram
11/18 surgery with Dr/Mr. Boeree..Thank God.
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  #6  
Old 06-26-2011, 08:09 PM
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Harrison Harrison is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,010
Exclamation

Woh, wait a minute: your disc replacement has subsided? How did you learn about this? Who did the surgery? Why did it subside? Can you tell us more information from your post-op visits and radiologist reports?
__________________
"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
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  #7  
Old 06-27-2011, 10:33 AM
winecaptain winecaptain is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 22
Default

How was the diagnosis confirmed that your Prodisc-C had migrated forward? The only way that I know would be an A/P and Lateral Xray confirmation that was compared with the same X-rays when the disc was placed. What you would see at that point would be the CoCr plate of the disc sticking out in front of the spine. It is possible (and unfortunately a potential weakness of the keeled design) as the product is held in place by bony ingrowth to the superior and inferior aspect of the plate. The advantage of this is no screws, however the disadvantage appears to be that the device can "slide" in the keel space if one was jarred enough prior to it completely healing into place.

Rgardless, if you have x-ray confirmation, then I would agree that you may be looking at a revision. I recently had my Prodisc-C done at UCH Carrolwood with Dr. Billys (Florida Orthopaedic). I had several physician reviews of my MRI and all confirmed my C6-C7 herniation. However, I had three local Tampa Bay based opinions and 2 of three said ACF over ADR. I did some research with some local spine reps and was lead to Dr. Billys. He suggested ADR over ACF, based largely on my age and activity level. He has been nothing but professional and great to deal with. I am 3 weeks post-op today and am now in physical therapy 3x per week. I want to do everything that I can to avoid future issues and realize that this may seem like more of an agressive path this early, however as a medical device rep (non-spinal related) and former surgical rep, I tend to side with agressive therapy choices.

Since you make a comment about the Tampa area, I would suggest a visit to Dr. Billys (unless he is the one who did your original case and you want to look elsewhere). A local spine sales rep suggested to me that there is also a high volume ADR operator in Orlando, although I do not know the name off hand, maybe someone on this board can help. After a few visits with Dr. Billys, I felt comfortable with his knowlege and experience as an enroller in several ADR studies (even offering to assist with getting me into the Discover study, or a new disc on disc study). He has also spoken on ADRs and ADR/ACF combonation procedures (which may also be an option based on your symptoms, assuming you want BCBS to financially support the procedure) at regional spine meetings.

Regardless, I wish you all the best of luck with alleviating your pain and finding a suitable solution for you... Feel free to PM me if you wish.
__________________
41 y/o Male, Successful Disc Arthroplasty Procedure (Prodisc C in Tampa, FL) with excellent outcome June 2011... January 2012 had 3rd episode of "throwing out my back", Lumbar Pain radiating down buttocks and into both legs, MRI shows centrally Herniated L5-S1, Bilateral S1 ESI scheduled beginning March 2012...
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  #8  
Old 07-26-2011, 12:55 PM
christinlal christinlal is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 103
Default Dr. Zigler

I was able to get to Dallas, TX and meet with Dr. Zigler, thank God. He viewed all my mri's, xray's, ct scan, as well as ordered more tests to see what was going on.

I had a facet block and a discogram, my C5 and C4 are both bad and have to be replaced. I am thanking God I did not go through a revision on the Pro Disc at C6 as Dr. Zigler let me know it is not too far forward and the alignment is ok. I cannot believe how close I came to making a mistake.

Now, I am waiting for Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield to approve whatever Dr. Zigler orders and hope I will be able to have my surgery with him and get my life back.
__________________
12/2008 early am gym class-something very wrong
2/2009 DDD 4 herniated cervical discs
3/3009-8/2009 8 spinal epidurals, pt
09/2009 C6/7 Prodisc C ADR
11/2010 facet joint inj 12/2010 Rhizotomy TBI Dr. Cottingham months of relief
05/2011 facet Joint Inj 06/2011 Rhizotomy
7/2011 Dr. Zigler TBI, facet block and Discogram
11/18 surgery with Dr/Mr. Boeree..Thank God.

Last edited by christinlal; 07-26-2011 at 01:29 PM. Reason: misspelling
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  #9  
Old 07-27-2011, 08:56 AM
jss's Avatar
jss jss is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,411
Default

Christina,

Everything I've read about Dr Zigler suggests that if he says that the ProDisc-C is correctly placed, then it is correctly placed. As one of the lead investigators in the Systhes ProDisc-C IDE, he possibly has more experience with and knowledge of the ProDisc than any other surgeon in the US.

Did the discogram suggest that C4/5 and C5/6 were also generating pain? Or had they just started showing DDD? Were the facet blocks done because Dr Zigler believes that they are pain generators? Or were they diagnostic?

I suppose that Dr Zigler is going to your insurance company with a surgical prescription of multilevel ADR? If so, is he planning to use two more ProDisc's? NeoDisc?

Good luck, Jeff
__________________
C4/5 - ACDF in 2000
C5/6 - ACDF in 2002
C3/4 & C6/7 - M6 ADR, Nov 2009, Barcelona
Conceded defeat to a manifestly disingenuous BCBS-TX in my quest for reimbursement, Jan 2011
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  #10  
Old 07-27-2011, 10:40 AM
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JKDE302 JKDE302 is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 236
Default

Please post your xray pics...
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C4-5: Mild disc height loss with central annular fissure. Small broad-based left paracentral disc protrusion. Moderate central canal stenosis-the disc protrusion abuts and mildly flattens the left ventral surface of the spinal canal.

C5-6: Disc desiccation with mild height loss.Diffuse discosteophyte bulge and uncovertebral joint hypertrophy, moderate central canal stenosis- Severe neuroforaminal stenosis bilaterally, right greater than left.
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artificial disc replacement complications, cervical ddd, cervical degeneration, lumbar arthroplasty, synthes prodisc

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