[WPKat]

Laurel,

I share your problem.

In March of 2009, I had a laminectomy on L3/L4 and laminectomy with disectomy on L4/L5. This operation failed; I was left disabled and in 24/7 pain. I was given no options in Alaska or anywhere else the United States aside from a lifetime of pain management. I broadened my search worldwide for relief and in June of 2010, I had a double artificial disc replacement using M6-L, which was done by Dr. Ritter-Lang in Germany.

My severe facet degeneration existed prior to ADR. Despite this, my condition improved immediately. Before ADR, I could barely walk with the help of a cane; a short walk around one aisle of a grocery store spiked my pain beyond tolerance and sitting was even worse. After ADR, I retired the cane, stood upright and walked with a normal stride. Although it took a lot longer to improve and I am still limited, I can sit for longer periods as well.

I was told that the M6-L artificial discs would restore proper disc space, reposition my facet joints and that they would calm down so I could live a normal life. But unfortunately, I am still plagued with powerful muscle spasms, intense body aches, a deep, burning pain on the left side, leg pain and numbness, periodic "ice pick" jabbing pains, abdominal swelling and exhaustion. The intensity of which is associated with activity; the more I do, the higher my pain levels and the more problematic my symptoms become.

If I micro manage my activity beforehand and maintain a physical therapy routine (avoiding trunk rotation and back extensions), I can make it through a grocery store, drive short distances and sit for longer periods then before ADR. The bottom line: I am better off then before ADR despite an imperfect outcome.

I attempted to return to work from June 13, 2011 to December 2, 2011. It did not take long for my pain levels to rise significantly with little relief from pain medication. Four days after I quit work, I had a medial branch block done on both the sides of my lumbar. While I have had this procedure done twice before with no procedural pain, when the numbing medication was injected, I experienced lightening bolt pain down my leg along with my leg muscles seizing up twice ... once on both sides. My pain specialist said my facet joints were super inflamed.

Once I stopped working, it took over 2 months of high pain levels and little activity for my pain levels to subside. I am still recovering as my pain levels still rise higher and quicker with activity then before I tried to return to work.

At my pain specialist's office, I have the following options:
(1) Epidural Steriod Injections
(2) Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation (i.e., RFA)
(3) POSSIBLE Stem Cell Injections (not yet scheduled)

Aside from option 3, I already tried the other two with limited relief. In part because only half of the affected area was treated with RFA (before ADR) and only one epidural steriod injection was tried (after ADR). I could opt for a total of 8 epidural steriod injections (a distinct possibility) or 8 RFA's (no thanks, the healing process from 4 was excrutiating). I would love to try Stem Cell Injections. However, the technology is brand new to our area, the focus so far has been on cervical patients and I would be the first lumbar recipient (I offered) ... my pain specialist is all for it, but it's up to the head of department.

My pain levels and limitations have brought me back to the place of searching for a more permenant solution ... this time for my facet joints. So far, I have contacted 5 surgeons abroad. My case has been evaluated and approved for 2 different facet resurfacing devices (which currently are under clinical investigation and not approved medical devices in Europe). I just recently contacted 3 other surgeons outsite of the U.S. as well. Before I go forward with any surgical intervention, however, I need to do more research into available facet technology and have all my questions about each answered first.

If you have any questions about what I learned so far, or you know of other solutions, please let me know.

K