I have been going to chiropractors for 25
years to relieve lower back pain caused by
deteriorating disc' between 1st & 2nd
vertibre and 2nd and 3rd. I have now
reached the point that it is bone on bone.
When I walk I can feel the bones rub with
each step. I was told 20 years ago that I
would reach this point someday. I do not
want to fuse the disc but I don't know if
they have come out with a disc replacement
that works and will alleviate the pain.
Can anyone give me info on disc
replacement?
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yogahoneybunny
Supporter
Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 886 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
Posted: 09-13-07 06:30am
From my brief reading, I learned that
spinal fusion candidates may not
necessarily be artificial disc replacement
candidates. It is not an ideal procedure
for people experiencing instability,
spondylolisthesis, degenerative scoliosis,
or people with many levels of disease.
Artificial disc surgery has two major
advantages to spinal fusion:
1. You can directly treat the diseased
disc segment that creates pain and
disabling symptoms
2. Preserving motion with an artificial
disc replacement may prevent mechanical
problems experienced by other discs,
although the procedure may not totally
eliminate these
Does that help?
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Job13
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 5
Posted: 01-16-08 18:34pm
Hi Kathy,
I had artificial disc replacement in
lumbar L4/5....done by one of the "best"
doctors in the world...so advertised.. I
spent entire year after ADR in bed,
couldnt sit or stand, in horrific pain. My
surgeon (in Germany, Straubing) said that
he doesnt see any problem...while all
other doctors from USA, France,
Netherlands, UK and even Germany-clearly
could see that the disc that was put in me
is almost 2X too tall and prior to the
surgery I had a collapsed disc (bone on
bone) and degenerated hyperthrophied
facets-which are absolute
contraindications to the ADR. I had a
revision done 3 months ago and it was the
most horrid surgery that anyone could
imagine...Having hard time recovering.
Before going for ADR, please, research as
much as possible about contraindications
and your conditions. I am posting on a
different forum and there are number of
people there who either had a revision
after ADR or are still searching for
answers there...My username there Job13
and the topic name 'One year hell ADR in
Germany. Revision Prodisc to fusion'.
It might be useful to learn more before
going into the surgery! I dont want anyone
ending up like me, at 33 y.o.... The
problem is that according to published
studies, ADR causes facets degradation...
