Hi Rich

Sounds like a good programme ... perhaps suggest this to your surgeon, and be insistant on him looking into this deeper for you, as you don't want to be limited in your bending.
I've had my lower 2 discs fused, and one removed, and although I'm still recovering, it hasn't limit my flexability bending that much, but then I was subtle before my back trouble anyway.
Good luck Rich, and may I say .... I hope I'm as active as you when I hit my 70's too !!
Ginger

Hello Ginger,

Thanks for your thoughts, I really appreciate your response.

I hope that your recovery from your extensive surgery goes well. I will be most interested to learn how things progress for you. Please do give me an update now and then.

May I ask a few questions - When did you have your surgery? How large/small were the incisions. What did your surgeon use in place of the disc he/she removed? Thanks

Regarding telling my doctor about TOPS - I'm going to give that some thought. I get mixed signals from the spine institute I go. On the one hand they promote themselves as being on the "cutting edge", and the president of the institute (my doc) started a spine research foundation. On the other hand he and another doc that I have seen there seem to be really "tied" to the old techniques. Actually the one I feel most comfortable talking with is my PM doc.

I already told him I'm a gardener, and I don't want to be limited in my movements. His response - "most of your bending is at your hips". That may be true, however, the back still has a lot of movement from bending to twisting, etc.

Hope you have a WONDERFUL Day!

RichT

Hi Rich

I had this all done on the 6th June last year ... easy to remember 6/6/06 !!!

My scar is thin and it runs the same way as my spine, and it's about 3 - 4 inches long ....can't harly see it now .

I had nothing to replace the removed one, as it was 'bulging' anyway, and it my nerves were all twisted in with it ... I lost a lot of blood, cos the surgeon cut into one of the nerves by accident, so I did loose BP and nearly died, but, I'm a fiesty fighter and it will take more than that to kill me ...

Every day I progress, but then I do have the odd day, when I take a backwards step, as when I feel good and energetic, I overdo it, which I know is a really really daft thing to do when recovering ... but I hate being sat in a chair watching the world go by, when I wanna get out there ...

I think I may have lost about half inch in height, cos I can't bloody reach the top of the cupboard anymore Joke ...... it's cos I can't stand on tip-toes at the moment ..he he he... My chances of being a ballerina have been dashed too .... Joke .... like I'd wear a tutu.... he he he

Hello Ginger,

You are an Amazing lady. Your positive attitude is helping you through I know.

My computer has a hardward problem, so I'll probably be down for a few weeks.

Take care.

RichT

No problem Rich....
Our PC is slow, we may need to get something sorted here too ...
I could put this PC in a race with a snail, and the snail would win ...

Gotta stay positive, although I do have the odd day crying under a duvet !! but feeling sorry for myself isn't me really ....

SPeak soon .... take care

Ginger

My doc says it will be a three inch scar, as non-invasive as it can be for a two place fusion, L4,L5 im going in on Sep 26.

Good luck with that, and take it easy afterwards.... recovery time is a great healer ....

Hello Comalhk,

Is your fusion getting to be the "traditional" one or will your doc be using the TOPS system?

My thoughts and prayers are and will be with you. I truly hope your surgery will be a success and that your recovery is also successful.

Take care.

RichT

Hi All

I'm back --PC is up and running, I hope you all are ok, and doing fine ..

Ginger

RichT,

It's easy to see from your post's that Gardening is your passion in life. Would I be safe in assuming that you have had to eliminate some if not all of your gardening activities?

I'm unfamiliar with the TOPS system, although I will be doing some research on the subject, I am intimately familiar with spinal fusions but before I speak on the subject or provide any possible advice, I need to ask what levels of your spine are we talking about?

Tyton

Hello Tylon,

Thank you for your post, and welcome to the back pain forum.

Gardening - The fact that I can still enjoy gardening is mainly why I want to keep the knife away as long as possible. In the past few weeks I have planted six shrubs, dug out a dead 12' J. maple and 6' dogwood. And then to keep the gradens green there are several days of watering and pulling hoses around. Tylon, as long as I keep moving my back does very well. What I can't do is stand in one place but for a few minutes. And uncomfortable chairs are also a NO NO.

Okay, on to my MRI report as to what is wrong with my back. Disc bulges from T12 to S1. The worst is at L3/L4, and L4/L5. At both L3/L4 and L4/L5 there is moderate to severe foraminal narrowing. At L5/S1 the vertebra have slipped some. Hope that helps.

"I am intimately familiar with spinal fusions" - Do I understand correctly that you have had spinal fusions?

Take care.

RichT

Hi RichT,

OOPS, I hit the wrong key

Thank you for welcoming me to the forum.

I'm guessing based upon your radiological findings that you either have or are developing some mechanical instability in the S1 segment and they are considering fusing L3/4 through L4/5?

Following my post to you yesterday I did some research on the TOPS system. Originally refered to by the manufacture name, prior to FDA approval in the US, I too looked longingly as this system. And yes, in answer to your question, I have had several fusions. Four surgeries, four levels (L4/5 through L5/6 & C4/5 through C5/6) and more hardware then you'll find at True Value. As exciting as this new improved hardware is I would be pelting my doctor with questions regarding his/or her experience with this surgical proceedure, how many has he or she preformed and what has been their short and long term success ratios. The information that I reviewed indicated less than appealing long term success ratios that concerned me a bit.

I too like to garden, but have found through the course of time that I've had to modify my approach and contain myself to indoor container gardening. I can however say with some certainty, that given your obvious drive, desire determination and most important of all your passion, regardless of which surgical approach you select you will find new ways to do old things. You will however require some assistance with moving trees and other heavy objects for awhile following your surgery.

Best Wishes,
Tyton

Hello to all of you. I want to commend you all for doing extensive research regarding your back problems. With knowledge comes power. I just wanted to pass along a little bit of advice regarding FDA trials. When you do an experimental procedure, you must realize that there are no longitudinal studies regarding the outcomes of such things. You really must consider "what happens if this approach fails"? For example, with disc replacements, there have not been many studies performed regarding the long-term safety and outcomes of this procedure. Should the artificial disk fail what would be the result? You would no longer have any kind of disc there at all, hence requiring a fusioin at that level. With the impliant device, what would happen if it were to fail? I am notr sure how many levels it is designed to cover, as I am completely unfamiliar with this particular device, but you really do need to think about the possible repurcussions and then ask a physician about them.

Best wishes to all of you.

Sillyakchick

I couldn't agree more or said it better myself. All excellent points. The information that I found at Medscape indicated that the limited information available (US research only) regarding longterm studies over one year in duration aren't available. I was however alarmed to find that unless I'm reading the information wrong (and that's certainly possible), they are only showing a 57% success rate (1 level fusion) post-op to 6 months and 27% with declining conditions at the 12 month mark.

Absolutely tons could be said on the subject and I agree that more questions need to be asked before this options is given any serious consideration, of course that's just my opinion.

With Regards,
Tyton