Re: Any Artificial Disc receipients?

[Guest guest]

Ken,

I had the Charite artificial disk put in at the L5-S1

area in 2005. They had to take it out two weeks later

because it was bent, and pushing into my spinal cord.

I still think that you should go with it. What

happened in my case was a 1 in a million occurance.

Al

--- wa3kf <-mail@...> wrote:

> Hi All,

> I have been trolling the group for quite a while. I

> have a history of

> disc herniation at l4/l5 since 1996. A year ago this

> past July, I had

> a major herniation occur. Since then, I have been

> suffering with

> constant back pain and also I get a fair amount of

> leg pain when

> walking. I have had multiple epidural injecttions.

> The back pain can

> wake me up at night. I can not tolerate NSAIDs or

> oral steroids

> (stomach issues), so that puts me at a disadvantage.

> May main problem

> is that the pain limits what I can do (I am and have

> always been a

> very active person).I recently had a discogram which

> confirmed the

> disc at l4/l5 is hot. It caused massive pain with

> only minimal

> pressure being put into it. So the options I was

> given was fusion

> (which I want to avoid) and artificial disc

> (prodisc-l). The surgeons

> I have been seeing are Drs Rushton, Balderston, and

> Maurer at

> Pennsylvania hospital. I am certainly leaning toward

> the artificial

> disc, but have not totally made up my mind. The

> approach to the disc

> replacement is through the front, so you do wind up

> with a major wound

> and about a week hospital stay (probably not much

> different then

> fusion). Any comments out there? Anyone have or know

> anyone that has

> the prodisc?

>

> Thanks,

> Ken

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

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[Guest guest]

There is a great deal of compelling information regarding the artificial

disks and their superiority over fusion, which you can easily find on the

internet. Before you make your decision, please verify with your insurance

company that they will cover it-this is a very difficult procedure to get

covered because it is so new, and is an alternative to fusion, which is

considered the " gold standard " of care for back problems.

I joined this list to try to find people who had had the artificial disks

covered by their insurance company, as I am an insurance agent with a client

who very much needs one. I have yet to find someone to help me set a

" precedent " . Cervicals, like Charite, are easier, but lumbars are new and

so far unpenetrated territory.

From: spinal problems

[mailto:spinal problems ] On Behalf Of

Botts

Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 11:42 PM

spinal problems

Subject: Re: Any Artificial Disc receipients?

Ken,

I had the Charite artificial disk put in at the L5-S1

area in 2005. They had to take it out two weeks later

because it was bent, and pushing into my spinal cord.

I still think that you should go with it. What

happened in my case was a 1 in a million occurance.

Al

--- wa3kf <-mail@... <mailto:-mail%40florences.us> >

wrote:

> Hi All,

> I have been trolling the group for quite a while. I

> have a history of

> disc herniation at l4/l5 since 1996. A year ago this

> past July, I had

> a major herniation occur. Since then, I have been

> suffering with

> constant back pain and also I get a fair amount of

> leg pain when

> walking. I have had multiple epidural injecttions.

> The back pain can

> wake me up at night. I can not tolerate NSAIDs or

> oral steroids

> (stomach issues), so that puts me at a disadvantage.

> May main problem

> is that the pain limits what I can do (I am and have

> always been a

> very active person).I recently had a discogram which

> confirmed the

> disc at l4/l5 is hot. It caused massive pain with

> only minimal

> pressure being put into it. So the options I was

> given was fusion

> (which I want to avoid) and artificial disc

> (prodisc-l). The surgeons

> I have been seeing are Drs Rushton, Balderston, and

> Maurer at

> Pennsylvania hospital. I am certainly leaning toward

> the artificial

> disc, but have not totally made up my mind. The

> approach to the disc

> replacement is through the front, so you do wind up

> with a major wound

> and about a week hospital stay (probably not much

> different then

> fusion). Any comments out there? Anyone have or know

> anyone that has

> the prodisc?

>

> Thanks,

> Ken

>

>

__________________________________________________________

Be a better friend, newshound, and

know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

[Guest guest]

Al,

When you say they had to take it out.....what did they replace it

with? I've been doing some research on this and it seems like your

case isn't as odd as you might think. About 50% of the Charite's are

not working and from what I have read (and it could be being

overstated) the operation to fix it is very difficult. I would like

to hear more about your case and what they finally wound up doing and

how you feel now. I am really on the fence about what to do and have

to make my mind up quickly any any experience/advise is greatly

appreciated.

Thanks,

Lynda

>

> > Hi All,

> > I have been trolling the group for quite a while. I

> > have a history of

> > disc herniation at l4/l5 since 1996. A year ago this

> > past July, I had

> > a major herniation occur. Since then, I have been

> > suffering with

> > constant back pain and also I get a fair amount of

> > leg pain when

> > walking. I have had multiple epidural injecttions.

> > The back pain can

> > wake me up at night. I can not tolerate NSAIDs or

> > oral steroids

> > (stomach issues), so that puts me at a disadvantage.

> > May main problem

> > is that the pain limits what I can do (I am and have

> > always been a

> > very active person).I recently had a discogram which

> > confirmed the

> > disc at l4/l5 is hot. It caused massive pain with

> > only minimal

> > pressure being put into it. So the options I was

> > given was fusion

> > (which I want to avoid) and artificial disc

> > (prodisc-l). The surgeons

> > I have been seeing are Drs Rushton, Balderston, and

> > Maurer at

> > Pennsylvania hospital. I am certainly leaning toward

> > the artificial

> > disc, but have not totally made up my mind. The

> > approach to the disc

> > replacement is through the front, so you do wind up

> > with a major wound

> > and about a week hospital stay (probably not much

> > different then

> > fusion). Any comments out there? Anyone have or know

> > anyone that has

> > the prodisc?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Ken

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

> Be a better friend, newshound, and

> know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

>

[Guest guest]

I am covered by Aetna and my doctor, who was involved in the FDA study

of the Prodisc, has told me that my insurance is good for a single

level artificial disc replacement. While I have not verified that, he

assures me that he is correct. He apparently met with them and helped

them develop their policy and has done single level replacements on

Aetna covered patients.

Now if I can only get my mind 100% made up!

>

> > Hi All,

> > I have been trolling the group for quite a while. I

> > have a history of

> > disc herniation at l4/l5 since 1996. A year ago this

> > past July, I had

> > a major herniation occur. Since then, I have been

> > suffering with

> > constant back pain and also I get a fair amount of

> > leg pain when

> > walking. I have had multiple epidural injecttions.

> > The back pain can

> > wake me up at night. I can not tolerate NSAIDs or

> > oral steroids

> > (stomach issues), so that puts me at a disadvantage.

> > May main problem

> > is that the pain limits what I can do (I am and have

> > always been a

> > very active person).I recently had a discogram which

> > confirmed the

> > disc at l4/l5 is hot. It caused massive pain with

> > only minimal

> > pressure being put into it. So the options I was

> > given was fusion

> > (which I want to avoid) and artificial disc

> > (prodisc-l). The surgeons

> > I have been seeing are Drs Rushton, Balderston, and

> > Maurer at

> > Pennsylvania hospital. I am certainly leaning toward

> > the artificial

> > disc, but have not totally made up my mind. The

> > approach to the disc

> > replacement is through the front, so you do wind up

> > with a major wound

> > and about a week hospital stay (probably not much

> > different then

> > fusion). Any comments out there? Anyone have or know

> > anyone that has

> > the prodisc?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Ken

> >

> >

>

> __________________________________________________________

> Be a better friend, newshound, and

> know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

> http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

A link to Aetna's policy if you are interested.

http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/500_599/0591.html

> >

> > > Hi All,

> > > I have been trolling the group for quite a while. I

> > > have a history of

> > > disc herniation at l4/l5 since 1996. A year ago this

> > > past July, I had

> > > a major herniation occur. Since then, I have been

> > > suffering with

> > > constant back pain and also I get a fair amount of

> > > leg pain when

> > > walking. I have had multiple epidural injecttions.

> > > The back pain can

> > > wake me up at night. I can not tolerate NSAIDs or

> > > oral steroids

> > > (stomach issues), so that puts me at a disadvantage.

> > > May main problem

> > > is that the pain limits what I can do (I am and have

> > > always been a

> > > very active person).I recently had a discogram which

> > > confirmed the

> > > disc at l4/l5 is hot. It caused massive pain with

> > > only minimal

> > > pressure being put into it. So the options I was

> > > given was fusion

> > > (which I want to avoid) and artificial disc

> > > (prodisc-l). The surgeons

> > > I have been seeing are Drs Rushton, Balderston, and

> > > Maurer at

> > > Pennsylvania hospital. I am certainly leaning toward

> > > the artificial

> > > disc, but have not totally made up my mind. The

> > > approach to the disc

> > > replacement is through the front, so you do wind up

> > > with a major wound

> > > and about a week hospital stay (probably not much

> > > different then

> > > fusion). Any comments out there? Anyone have or know

> > > anyone that has

> > > the prodisc?

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > > Ken

> > >

> > >

> >

> > __________________________________________________________

> > Be a better friend, newshound, and

> > know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

> > http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

When they took out the Charite disc, the Dr. had to do

a full fusion from the L4-S1. I was surprised when I

read your posting. When the Dr. told me that he

suggests the artificial disc he said that , in Europe,

they were having a 90% success rate. I do know that

if I had the fusion in the first place, I probably

would have been fine. But, by having a bad artificial

disc, left me with problems that I will have to live

with. I would list them, but the list would be very

long. Thanks for the information.

Al

--- ljw75010 <ljw75010@...> wrote:

> Al,

>

> When you say they had to take it out.....what did

> they replace it

> with? I've been doing some research on this and it

> seems like your

> case isn't as odd as you might think. About 50% of

> the Charite's are

> not working and from what I have read (and it could

> be being

> overstated) the operation to fix it is very

> difficult. I would like

> to hear more about your case and what they finally

> wound up doing and

> how you feel now. I am really on the fence about

> what to do and have

> to make my mind up quickly any any experience/advise

> is greatly

> appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

> Lynda

>

>

> >

> > > Hi All,

> > > I have been trolling the group for quite a

> while. I

> > > have a history of

> > > disc herniation at l4/l5 since 1996. A year ago

> this

> > > past July, I had

> > > a major herniation occur. Since then, I have

> been

> > > suffering with

> > > constant back pain and also I get a fair amount

> of

> > > leg pain when

> > > walking. I have had multiple epidural

> injecttions.

> > > The back pain can

> > > wake me up at night. I can not tolerate NSAIDs

> or

> > > oral steroids

> > > (stomach issues), so that puts me at a

> disadvantage.

> > > May main problem

> > > is that the pain limits what I can do (I am and

> have

> > > always been a

> > > very active person).I recently had a discogram

> which

> > > confirmed the

> > > disc at l4/l5 is hot. It caused massive pain

> with

> > > only minimal

> > > pressure being put into it. So the options I was

> > > given was fusion

> > > (which I want to avoid) and artificial disc

> > > (prodisc-l). The surgeons

> > > I have been seeing are Drs Rushton, Balderston,

> and

> > > Maurer at

> > > Pennsylvania hospital. I am certainly leaning

> toward

> > > the artificial

> > > disc, but have not totally made up my mind. The

> > > approach to the disc

> > > replacement is through the front, so you do wind

> up

> > > with a major wound

> > > and about a week hospital stay (probably not

> much

> > > different then

> > > fusion). Any comments out there? Anyone have or

> know

> > > anyone that has

> > > the prodisc?

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > > Ken

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

> > Be a better friend, newshound, and

> > know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

>

http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

> >

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

http://www./r/hs

[Guest guest]

If my doctor was offering the Charite I would not even be thinking

about it. This ADR seemed to have a lot of problems. It " seems " that

the Prodisc is a pretty solid ADR, but with anything, complications

could leave you wishing that you had left things well enough alone!

Although the same applies to fusion.

Ken

> > >

> > > > Hi All,

> > > > I have been trolling the group for quite a

> > while. I

> > > > have a history of

> > > > disc herniation at l4/l5 since 1996. A year ago

> > this

> > > > past July, I had

> > > > a major herniation occur. Since then, I have

> > been

> > > > suffering with

> > > > constant back pain and also I get a fair amount

> > of

> > > > leg pain when

> > > > walking. I have had multiple epidural

> > injecttions.

> > > > The back pain can

> > > > wake me up at night. I can not tolerate NSAIDs

> > or

> > > > oral steroids

> > > > (stomach issues), so that puts me at a

> > disadvantage.

> > > > May main problem

> > > > is that the pain limits what I can do (I am and

> > have

> > > > always been a

> > > > very active person).I recently had a discogram

> > which

> > > > confirmed the

> > > > disc at l4/l5 is hot. It caused massive pain

> > with

> > > > only minimal

> > > > pressure being put into it. So the options I was

> > > > given was fusion

> > > > (which I want to avoid) and artificial disc

> > > > (prodisc-l). The surgeons

> > > > I have been seeing are Drs Rushton, Balderston,

> > and

> > > > Maurer at

> > > > Pennsylvania hospital. I am certainly leaning

> > toward

> > > > the artificial

> > > > disc, but have not totally made up my mind. The

> > > > approach to the disc

> > > > replacement is through the front, so you do wind

> > up

> > > > with a major wound

> > > > and about a week hospital stay (probably not

> > much

> > > > different then

> > > > fusion). Any comments out there? Anyone have or

> > know

> > > > anyone that has

> > > > the prodisc?

> > > >

> > > > Thanks,

> > > > Ken

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

> > > Be a better friend, newshound, and

> > > know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

> >

> http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

> Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

> http://www./r/hs

>