Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Oxon, England
New to Ddd Posted: 01-28-05 01:17am
Dear all,
i got diagnosed with ddd about 2 years
ago, it has been coming on since about
'98. The physio then told me that I could
expect a normal life and shouldn't give up
the sports I love and that doing them
wouldn't make it worse. I just wanted to
stay fit and control the pain. The pain
has been getting steadily worse until last
dec when I got my 2nd mri. This showed
that it had progressed slightly and with
hindsight think I was pretty dumb to think
that impact sport wouldn't hurt it. My
doc now has banned me from all impact
sports etc..
Right now I am a firefighter but my wife
is screaming at me to give up because she
thinks i'll end up in a bad way. I keep
hanging in there and I know it isn't doing
me no favours but I think well one more
week won't hurt. I'd just like to ask you
guys, what can I expect from this
condition, is it going to get much worse
and should I possibly give up my job now
for a less manual one?
For the record, this is what it says on
my report disc degeneration at l2/3, l3/4
and l5/s1. There's disc bulges at all
these levels. There's a small extruded
disc hernia at the l3/4 centrally and
there is a central disc hernia at l5/s1
with no root compression.
Any information or guidance would be so
much appreciated.
Mark :?
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Tamadrummer
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 710 Location: Zephyrhills,Fl
Posted: 01-28-05 12:48pm
All three of those levels can be fitted
with the new artificial disc "pro-disc".
I am in the us and to date only pro-disc
can be used in more then one level of
degeneration. You will be out of work for
a short time (4 or 5 months) but you will
return to a full, normal life after. (as
long as all goes as planned)
you cannot concentrate on what the bad
outcome may be. You have to concentrate
on getting better and after having one
level of degeneration fixed with the
charite artificial disc, I can vouch for
the usefulness of the disc.
Please ask you doc about repairing those 3
levels at one time with pro-disc.
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Chunkyn
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Oxon, England
Disc-overy Posted: 01-28-05 14:38pm
Thankyou so much for your swift reply.
It is great to hear that there is a way of
repairing discs and its not all doom and
gloom. I'm delighted to hear that your's
was successful.
I did ask my doctor about inserting a new
disc, because of an article i'd read but
he didn't seem very optimistic about that
and said there was no way of it happening.
I think its because in england we may be
a little behind america as far as cutting
edge procedures go.
Has 'pro-disc' just come out then?, where
did you have this done?
Thanks again
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Tamadrummer
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 710 Location: Zephyrhills,Fl
Posted: 01-28-05 21:43pm
Actually france and spain are where the
cutting edge spinal therapies are being
developed. Also in germany. I cannot
remember the name of the clinic in germany
but it is the most cutting edge out there.
Pro-disc is the next on the plate for the
food and drug administration (fda) to
approve. This should happen this year
around april or may. Charite was approved
on oct 27, 2004 and so it was really early
into its approval that I received it.
Charite is only used in one level in the
us but in europe I believe it is being
used in 2 or even 3 levels. Pro-disc is
being used in 3 levels from l1/l2 all the
way to l5/s1. If your doctor isnt looking
at this new technology, you should look to
another authority for orthopedic spine
surgery. "old-school" medicine isnt
always good when it is your spine. :)
fusion isnt a terrible prognosis, it has
been the standard for many years. It
works for thousands each year and so if
you are a candidate for fusion, go for it.
Florida spine institute does do surgery on
many people each year that are from europe
and so if you are interested, you may want
to go to the website and email them. Dr.
Scott webb is my surgeon and I would trust
my entire life in his hands, he is a
fantastic doctor! Great bedside manner as
well as well versed in all that is spine.
shoot man, you could have back surgery on
holiday here in the us and let your wife
and children (id you have them) have fun
in the florida sun. Clearwater florida is
where the doctors are located. About 4 or
5 minutes from the beach and 15 minutes
from the airport. (tampa international)
