Re: New disk replacement for neck problems

[Guest guest]

This procedure has been around for some time now. The lumbar artificial disc was

approved by the FDA in 2004 I believe. I was supposed to get an artificial disc

hybrid surgery in 2006 one level artificial disc and one level fusion when I had

mine done then I was told my scoliosis had progressed to the point that it would

not work for me.

These artiifical discs have been done in Europe since the 80s and have had

really good results with them by some of the German surgeons who have years of

experience with them.

There are some good people to talk to about this on the artificial disc mesage

board. If anyone is interested I am still a member and can give you the link to

the board to find out more. There are links to all kinds of info from that board

on the procedures both lumbar and cervical plus lots of people who have had it

done.

Kim

New disk replacement for neck problems

CLEVELAND: MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio is offering a new

option to people suffering from herniated discs in the neck.

Melinda Hild's neck problems started three years ago while she was moving a

couch.

It slipped and dropped right on top of her head.

She developed a herniated bulging disc in her neck that made simple tasks like

spreading peanut butter difficult.

" I couldn't turn my neck. I'd get bad shooting pains down both of my arms, "

Melinda says.

As the degeneration became worse, she eventually lost her mobility.

She went to MetroHealth where Dr. Roseanna Lechner is performing disc

replacement surgery.

" You do the same procedure that you would for the fusion, removing the disc,

but you replace it with an artificial disc and the idea behind that is to

maintain motion at that segment [of the neck], " Lechner says.

After the surgery, Melinda could get around by the next day.

She didn't even need a neck brace.

Lechner says neck fusion surgery typically causes degenerative problems above

and below the fusion site, eventually requiring more surgery years later.

She hopes disc replacements avoid that problem.

" If you maintain normal motion, hopefully you maintain normal motion above and

below it as well. " Lechner says.

Melinda has small bone structure and believes that's probably why she still

has some pain, but she says it's improving.

She can finally move around without difficulty and play with her children.

The FDA approved the disc last July.

Currently, the surgery is not covered by most insurance plans because it's

still considered experimental.

But Lechner says a two-year study showed disc replacement patients had less

neck pain than fusion patients and returned to work faster.

[Guest guest]

Kim, I am interested in the link! I would like to get more info etc. I had heard

of it before but told it wasn't yet approved.

Deanna

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 15, 2008, at 3:35 PM, " kimleach " <kimleach@...> wrote:

This procedure has been around for some time now. The lumbar artificial disc was

approved by the FDA in 2004 I believe. I was supposed to get an artificial disc

hybrid surgery in 2006 one level artificial disc and one level fusion when I had

mine done then I was told my scoliosis had progressed to the point that it would

not work for me.

These artiifical discs have been done in Europe since the 80s and have had

really good results with them by some of the German surgeons who have years of

experience with them.

There are some good people to talk to about this on the artificial disc mesage

board. If anyone is interested I am still a member and can give you the link to

the board to find out more. There are links to all kinds of info from that board

on the procedures both lumbar and cervical plus lots of people who have had it

done.

Kim

New disk replacement for neck problems

CLEVELAND: MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio is offering a new

option to people suffering from herniated discs in the neck.

Melinda Hild's neck problems started three years ago while she was moving a

couch.

It slipped and dropped right on top of her head.

She developed a herniated bulging disc in her neck that made simple tasks like

spreading peanut butter difficult.

" I couldn't turn my neck. I'd get bad shooting pains down both of my arms, "

Melinda says.

As the degeneration became worse, she eventually lost her mobility.

She went to MetroHealth where Dr. Roseanna Lechner is performing disc

replacement surgery.

" You do the same procedure that you would for the fusion, removing the disc, but

you replace it with an artificial disc and the idea behind that is to maintain

motion at that segment [of the neck], " Lechner says.

After the surgery, Melinda could get around by the next day.

She didn't even need a neck brace.

Lechner says neck fusion surgery typically causes degenerative problems above

and below the fusion site, eventually requiring more surgery years later.

She hopes disc replacements avoid that problem.

" If you maintain normal motion, hopefully you maintain normal motion above and

below it as well. " Lechner says.

Melinda has small bone structure and believes that's probably why she still has

some pain, but she says it's improving.

She can finally move around without difficulty and play with her children.

The FDA approved the disc last July.

Currently, the surgery is not covered by most insurance plans because it's still

considered experimental.

But Lechner says a two-year study showed disc replacement patients had less neck

pain than fusion patients and returned to work faster.

[Guest guest]

Deanna

Lumbar has been approved Cervical was in the process of being approved. There

were several clinical trials being done in different areas of the country on the

cervical areas. I know Dallas at Texas Back they were doing one arm of the

study. A group in Washington or Oregon were doing another arm. A group in

Baltimore were doing a trial too. I would look at the Prodisk C and there are a

couple more Mobi Disk has a cervical disk available too.

There are 2 places that are invaluable for info on this

One is the ADR board

http://www.adrsupport.org

and the Global Patient Network which works with patients to get them hooked up

with doctors all over the world to get them surgery.

http://www.globalpatientnetwork.com/gbok/gbk2006.shtml

Here is info on Dr Gertagnoli one of the German specialists who has been doing

this since the 80's he consulted on my case when I was looking into this.

http://www.dr-bertagnoli.com/?gclid=COn17IG6xJcCFRqgnAodpCcxRQ

That will give you plenty to chew on for awhile! If yu get on the message board

and I do recommend it! Tell Rich (on on the board) Kim says HI

Kim

New disk replacement for neck problems

CLEVELAND: MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio is offering a new

option to people suffering from herniated discs in the neck.

Melinda Hild's neck problems started three years ago while she was moving a

couch.

It slipped and dropped right on top of her head.

She developed a herniated bulging disc in her neck that made simple tasks like

spreading peanut butter difficult.

" I couldn't turn my neck. I'd get bad shooting pains down both of my arms, "

Melinda says.

As the degeneration became worse, she eventually lost her mobility.

She went to MetroHealth where Dr. Roseanna Lechner is performing disc

replacement surgery.

" You do the same procedure that you would for the fusion, removing the disc,

but you replace it with an artificial disc and the idea behind that is to

maintain motion at that segment [of the neck], " Lechner says.

After the surgery, Melinda could get around by the next day.

She didn't even need a neck brace.

Lechner says neck fusion surgery typically causes degenerative problems above

and below the fusion site, eventually requiring more surgery years later.

She hopes disc replacements avoid that problem.

" If you maintain normal motion, hopefully you maintain normal motion above and

below it as well. " Lechner says.

Melinda has small bone structure and believes that's probably why she still

has some pain, but she says it's improving.

She can finally move around without difficulty and play with her children.

The FDA approved the disc last July.

Currently, the surgery is not covered by most insurance plans because it's

still considered experimental.

But Lechner says a two-year study showed disc replacement patients had less

neck pain than fusion patients and returned to work faster.

[Guest guest]

I had a Disc replace and Fuse C-5 2 yrs ago and then that created

problems on C-6 so I had to go in Last year to redo C-5 and they

replaced all C-5-6. Still have Pain and very limited to lifting. Now I

am having problems with C-2, when will it end. But I know I will never

be the same or do things I used to do. My life has changed very much

sence I had my first surgery. Good Luck

>

> This procedure has been around for some time now. The lumbar

artificial disc was approved by the FDA in 2004 I believe. I was

supposed to get an artificial disc hybrid surgery in 2006 one level

artificial disc and one level fusion when I had mine done then I was

told my scoliosis had progressed to the point that it would not work for

me.

> These artiifical discs have been done in Europe since the 80s and have

had really good results with them by some of the German surgeons who

have years of experience with them.

> There are some good people to talk to about this on the artificial

disc mesage board. If anyone is interested I am still a member and can

give you the link to the board to find out more. There are links to all

kinds of info from that board on the procedures both lumbar and cervical

plus lots of people who have had it done.

> Kim

> New disk replacement for neck problems

>

> CLEVELAND: MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio is offering a

new option to people suffering from herniated discs in the neck.

>

> Melinda Hild's neck problems started three years ago while she was

moving a couch.

>

> It slipped and dropped right on top of her head.

>

> She developed a herniated bulging disc in her neck that made simple

tasks like spreading peanut butter difficult.

>

> " I couldn't turn my neck. I'd get bad shooting pains down both of my

arms, " Melinda says.

>

> As the degeneration became worse, she eventually lost her mobility.

>

> She went to MetroHealth where Dr. Roseanna Lechner is performing disc

replacement surgery.

>

> " You do the same procedure that you would for the fusion, removing the

disc, but you replace it with an artificial disc and the idea behind

that is to maintain motion at that segment [of the neck], " Lechner says.

>

> After the surgery, Melinda could get around by the next day.

>

> She didn't even need a neck brace.

>

> Lechner says neck fusion surgery typically causes degenerative

problems above and below the fusion site, eventually requiring more

surgery years later.

>

> She hopes disc replacements avoid that problem.

>

> " If you maintain normal motion, hopefully you maintain normal motion

above and below it as well. " Lechner says.

>

> Melinda has small bone structure and believes that's probably why she

still has some pain, but she says it's improving.

>

> She can finally move around without difficulty and play with her

children.

>

> The FDA approved the disc last July.

>

> Currently, the surgery is not covered by most insurance plans because

it's still considered experimental.

>

> But Lechner says a two-year study showed disc replacement patients had

less neck pain than fusion patients and returned to work faster.

>

>