Lumbar Back surgery Disc replacement?

[Chubby]

Any one on here a surgen lower back ? I have been batteling this for 25 years and now I believe its time . Disc replacement has come along way and I will not be fused!!! I have a report attached here. I have a current mri too. I will need multi level disc replacement that as of now can not be done here in the USA. Joel

 

[PJ-Hunter]

If it cannot be done in the USA, where can it be done? I have herniation at the L4 and L5 and had 3 spinal injections this spring/summer. As of right now, no pain. We will see what happens this season of riding.

 

[winter brew]

Chubby, what discs are you having trouble with and what specifically is the diagnosis and symptoms? I'm no surgeon, but have done ALOT of research the last 7-8 years, had just about every non invasive treatment as well as 2 discectomys.....looked into fusion and replacement also. Fusion and disc replacement are THE last options....lots of complications and side effects.

 

[Chubby]

Easy Just read my reports... Here are some links I have done alot of research on this....http://www.stenumhospital.com/back/index.asp http://www.bitanmd.com/ The reason it cant be done here is it hasent been aproved. I feel this is the way but there allways is a risk. I think too lot of the people that fail have weight problems or think that the sugery will do it all ! I have been working out for th last 20 trying to keep my back in shape to not have fusion, from 12 years ago i am down 50 lbs!!!! I also as said in the report have nervs on one level that cant be seen !!!!!!

 

[winter brew]

My issue was at 2 levels, had the lower back pain, pain extending down the hamstring, calf and numb foot....couldn't lay on my back for 6 months as it was just too painful.
We talked about disc replacement, the Dr I went to has done them.....they are FDA approved in the US, just not often covered by insurance, but if that is the best option a Dr can often get it approved (according to my ins co.).
The problem with fusion on multiple levels is the loss of some flexability and the % of success is not that great. The thing about disc replacement that turned me off was the lack of statistics of success and the fact that there is a HUGE % of impotency because they have to sever a large number of tiny nerves to gain access to the lower back (they come in from the front and lay your guts out) and these tiny nerves are aften damaged and then your pecker doesn't work. .....maybe over time they will get this perfected.
I went for a discectomy where they removed the bulging portion of the disc and also removed as much bone as possible to make more room for the nerve root to move away from the disc.....so far I am about 90-95% pain free....just need to be careful not to do any stupid lifting.
Spinal decompression has worked miracles for alot of people also......send a PM to Anthony Oberti on here, he does spinal decompression and can offer some good insight. Good luck, I know it sucks!!

 

[EricW]

I sent e-mails back and fourth with this guy years ago. Very professional and seemed to know his stuff. He made reccomendations that kept me from having surgery. Might be worth a try. He also reviewed my MRI's and sent me his conclusions along with a referral to another Doc for a procedure called Nucleoplasty.

He was in Pheonix if I remember right. Take a look. Dr. Anthony Yeung Good luck man, hope ya find something that works. EW

 

[ne1cadrgn]

I have had 2 back operations first was discectomy at L5S1 then 6 months later discectomy at L3 and L4 cut the lamina bone out on both sides at all three levels and re-routed the nerve. Things are OK now though Doctor gave me 3 permanent restrictions no sitting or standing for any length of time, No forward Backward bending and max lifting of 40lbs, no prolonged exposure to vehicular bouncing. I choose not to listen to his advise. Because in my opinion I had a choice to get busy living or get busy dieing. I am very healthy now. workout all the time. And things are good, saying that I dont do manual labour anymore. I work for the City as the Chief Building Inspector.A neurosurgeon did the surgery in Kamloops BC. Very sucsessful.

 

[JSCC]

My issue was at 2 levels, had the lower back pain, pain extending down the hamstring, calf and numb foot....couldn't lay on my back for 6 months as it was just too painful.
We talked about disc replacement, the Dr I went to has done them.....they are FDA approved in the US, just not often covered by insurance, but if that is the best option a Dr can often get it approved (according to my ins co.).
The problem with fusion on multiple levels is the loss of some flexability and the % of success is not that great. The thing about disc replacement that turned me off was the lack of statistics of success and the fact that there is a HUGE % of impotency because they have to sever a large number of tiny nerves to gain access to the lower back (they come in from the front and lay your guts out) and these tiny nerves are aften damaged and then your pecker doesn't work. .....maybe over time they will get this perfected.
I went for a discectomy where they removed the bulging portion of the disc and also removed as much bone as possible to make more room for the nerve root to move away from the disc.....so far I am about 90-95% pain free....just need to be careful not to do any stupid lifting.
Spinal decompression has worked miracles for alot of people also......send a PM to Anthony Oberti on here, he does spinal decompression and can offer some good insight. Good luck, I know it sucks!!

This is very similar to what I have found, and I had the same surgery. My personal Doc has had patients fly into Europe and get the replacement done with high success rates. Only you can tell how much pain you are in, and what you are willing to do about it. I have heard of good success with the replacement, but most of those success stories are from people that flew into Europe to get it done..
Good luck.

 

[Chubby]

Yes they are aproved here but not a multable levels. I have watched many on line surgerys and think that replacement is the way. I am too active to have fusion and will go with the replacement for sure. It costs 45000 for 3 levels with the newest disc, that is about what i paid for my truck so really If my life gets better its worth every penny. http://www.stenumhospital.com/back/index.asp

 

[winter brew]

I wonder how long until muli-level repl. is approved in the US? Would be nice to have a Dr closer to home for "warranty work" in the future. Hope it works out!

 

[Idaho Slim]

Any one on here a surgen lower back ? I have been batteling this for 25 years and now I believe its time . Disc replacement has come along way and I will not be fused!!! I have a report attached here. I have a current mri too. I will need multi level disc replacement that as of now can not be done here in the USA. Joel

Sorry to hear Chub, hope it works out for ya, so No riding this year?

 

[jcrjet]

I have a friend that had a double nickel-cobalt alloy replacement in a crude facility near Germany. Of course the cost was out of pocket. He thought he had made a huge mistake during recovery due to the intense pain and lack of strength in his legs. After a few month's of recovery, he said it was the best thing he ever did. He gained 1.5 inches in height and can now keep up with the 18 year-olds on the basketball court.

 

[Chubby]

Slim I may ride time will tell

 

[trikerider]

How close are you to Rochester? The Mayo Clinic is the best care/treatment you can get in MN.

 

[Duddin]

A lot of people are very close minded to back pain but if your not find a really good chiropractor and see what they can do for you. my dad had some herniations and several other things the dr said surgery and 9 months in bed. started going to the chiro and never felt better. I had severe knee pain and was told torn miniscus by several dr's started going to chiro and knee pain gone due to misalignment in lower back.

I'm very hesitant to just jump into surgery as it seems like a lot of dr's only look towards that and nothing else.

 

[Chubby]

Well I havent had a chiropractor in my Area want to do anything but wish me luck. So monday brite and early I get to see a doc at Abott Northwest and see what he has to say. I know they will want to fuse but that isnt in My plans at all

 

[Ultra]

Have you looked into the NUCCA method of Chriopractor adjustments. Might not be your answer but worth looking into. Google NUCCA, there is a wealth of info on this. I went to several chriopractor's over the years with little results. Then got turned onto a NUCCA doc in Spokane. Best move I ever did, still ended up with a discectomy which was another good move. Now I go over to spokane about 3-4 times a year just for periodecal adjustments and feel great.

 

[Chubby]

mri view on first post