MelodyL Cervical ADR Prodisc C X 3

[melodyl]

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SURGERY DATE: December 29th, 2008

AGE AT SURGERY DATE:47

SURGEON:Jens Chapman

SURGERY LOCATION/CLINIC:University of Washington, Seattle, WA

DEVICE(s), LEVEL(s):ProDisc C-3 levels, C4-5, C5-6 and C6-7

COST = not yet known
AMOUNT BILLED: not yet known
INSURANCE ALLOWED:insurance has agreed to pay for surgeon and hospital fee and the cost of one pro disc c implant. The cost of the remaining 2 implants is being appealed.
OUT OF POCKET: nothing yet except usual insurance deductables
TRAVEL:
EXPLANATIONS? Negotiations with insurance company has been ongoing for months. Things began improving when I contacted the Human Resources Dept. where I work.
ONSET OF LUMBAR PROBLEMS, DATE OF INJURY, CAUSE, ETC...:Scoliosis surgery at age 14 resulted in a fusion from T-2 to L-4. A revision surgery last year removed part of the Harrington Rods and fused down to my sacrum. I have had cervical pain for several years. With most of my back already fused, my cervical discs degenerated early. With the rest of my back fused, ADR was the only acceptable option for me.

PRIOR SPINE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES (IDET, ESI, etc...):See previous answer

PRE-OP MEDICATIONS: fentanyl patch, vicodin, oxycodone, skelaxin and variety of other muscle relaxing meds, ambien

PRE-OP DIAGNOSTICS (discogram, nerve root blocks, etc...):diagnostic nerve blocks, facet injections, steroid injections, CT mylograms, MRI's and x-rays

PRE-OP NEUROPATHIES (what, where, & degree of pain, numbness, tingling, sexual/bladder/bowel symptoms, etc.):

PRE-OP CONDITION (Please include %leg pain/% back pain, pain levels, type of pain, ability to work and function, disability status, etc.... be direct, but be as verbose as you need to):constant/chronic pain for the last few years. Pain mostly in my neck, left shoulder and down my left arm. I have continued to work, but reduced hours to part time. Social life was almost non existant....by late afternoon or early evening, my pain levels were usually too high to do anything besides lay on my couch or in bed.

TIME POST-OP AT ORIGINAL POST HERE: one week post op

DESCRIBE YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE:surgical experience was very positive. I have needed/wanted this surgery for years. I met with pain management team prior to admittance for surgery. Having the pain management team on board was a good choice. My oldest daughter is a registered nurse. She stayed with me at the hospital and was a wonderful advocate as well as care taker for me. I checked into the hospital at 6 a.m. Went to pre op area before 7 a.m. My family (mom, husband and 2 daughters) were all allowed to stay with me until after the anethesiologist started my IV and gave me what he called "happy juice". I woke up in the recovery room around 3:30 p.m. and was surprised to find out the surgery was over. The original estimate for surgery time was 3-4 hours and it ended up taking about 5 1/2 hours because of bone spurs and other pre implant clean up the surgeon did. My family was kept informed of the progress by nurses in the OR room. My family was able to join me for short visits in the recovery room until I went to my post op room where everyone could stay as long as they wanted. My post surgery pain took a few hours to get controlled, but was never out of control and I felt confident that the pain management team was doing their best to make me as pain free as possible without increasing my meds any higher than necessary. I had tapered off of pain meds as much as possible in the month or two before surgery and did not want to take any more narcotics than necessary due to the pain involved in getting back off of them. My complaints the first day included being moved from my room to radiology for x-rays (I had just gotten to a fairly comfortable state and being transferred from my bed to transfer bed to x-ray bed was very uncomfortable and unpleasant). After not eating for about 24 hours, I was more than a little disappointed in the jello and broth that was brought to my room. Luckily, my family snuck down to the cafeteria and brought back some additional nutrition in the form of pudding. Not exactly the meal I was expecting, but better than nothing. My next surprise was not being allowed to sleep much at all for the first night. Nurses were in the room just about every hour checking my vital signs, changing IV bags, checking the catheter/bag etc. In hindsight, I should be appreciative of such good nursing care, but at the time, I just wanted to sleep! The next morning, things improved. I got rid of the cathetor, into my own pj's and was on my feet. Day two passed pleasantly enough with minimal pain, lots of family around and some day time tv. Reading is my usual choice....but holding a book up wasn't an easy task for a few days. The second night was much quieter.....I think we got to sleep for up to 3 hours at a time! On Wed. (my third day), I was discharged in the morning and after getting prescriptions filled and real clothes on, I was loaded in our vehicle and home by late afternoon. It's only been one week since surgery, but I can already tell that the pain I have suffered from is greatly reduced. I still have normal post op surgery pain to deal with, but that seems like a small price to pay for continued neck mobility and a permanent solution to my degenerated discs.
I am not a computer person, so if this isn't done right....sorry. If anyone has any questions, feel free to email me. Thanks to everyone who has previously shared their stories with this group. I enjoyed reading the posts. I do have a question for others who have had this surgery: How long was your throat sore? How would you describe the soreness? My throat is sore, but not like I expected it to be. It almost feels like it has a sore or burn in it. Weird or normal? Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this lengthy post.
RATE FUNCTIONALITY / SATISFACTION AT INTERVALS BELOW:

FUNCTIONALITY: 4-5 expect continued improvement
1. Very poor: much worse... disabled after surgery.
2. Poor: worse after surgery.
3. Neutral: No improvement, or improvements offset by new problems.
4. Fair, some improvement, limitations are still serious.
5. Good, substantial improvement, some limitations.
6. Excellent: no limitations.

SATISFACTION:5
1. Very sorry I had the surgery.
2. Somewhat sorry I had the surgery.
3. Too soon to tell, or I'm ambivalent about the surgery.
4. I'm somewhat glad I did my surgery.
5. I'm very glad I did my surgery.

Don't forget the detail update section below!

DATE UPDATED: _________ FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [6 WEEKS POST-OP]

DATE UPDATED: _________ FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [3 MONTHS POST-OP]

DATE UPDATED: _________ FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [6 MONTHS POST-OP]

DATE UPDATED: _________ FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [1 YEAR POST-OP]

DATE UPDATED: _________ FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [2 YEARS POST-OP]

DATE UPDATED: _________ FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [3 YEARS POST-OP]

DATE UPDATED: _________ FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [4 YEARS POST-OP]

DATE UPDATED: _________ FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [5 YEARS POST-OP]

DATE UPDATED: _________ FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [6 YEARS POST-OP]

DATE UPDATED: _________ FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [7 YEARS POST-OP]

6 WEEKS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ECT... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

3 MONTHS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

6 MONTHS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

1 YEAR POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

2 YEARS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

3 YEARS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

4 YEARS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

5 YEARS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

6 YEARS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

7 YEARS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):

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Last edited by mmglobal; 05-17-2008 at 09:15 PM.




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[sahuaro]

Hi Melody:
Welcome to the other side!
I'm not sure how much help I can be re the throat issue since I only (!) had a one-level ADR and since I can barely remember the throat pain. I do remember being quite concerned before the surgery that I would have problems swallowing pain pills but this turned out to be a non-issue. I did have some soreness and used a throat spray for a couple of days, but despite having stocked up on puddings and soups, was able to eat solid food right away. There was a sensation of my throat closing up both while sleeping and in swallowing for several weeks. Almost a year later, all of that is a dim memory, so hang in there!
Are you having any problems with your voice?

Barbara

[melodyl]

Thanks for your reply. No problems with my voice now, but it was hoarse/scratchy for a few days. The soreness I have now almost feels like a big canker sore. I think it is slightly better today, so probably nothing to worry about. Did you have your surgery in the states or germany? After a year, is there any pain issues left? I have been on narcotics for over 3 years and am really excited to start tapering off of them for good!

[sahuaro]

A canker sore-like pain sounds sharper and more painful than I remember, so keep an eye (so to speak) on this. It's great that the hoarseness is going away since some people do have lingering problems with this.
I had my surgery in LA. A year later, I no longer have electrical zingers down my arms and have only occasional numbness/tingling in my fingers in a different pattern than pre-surgery. I still have problems with trapezius and shoulder muscles spasming at times, which I treat with massage, heat and if needed, muscle relaxants--but my physical therapist just did a re-eval yesterday and was amazed that my "concrete" upper back and neck felt (gasp!) normal!
That being said, I need to qualify that we all start at different places pre-surgery and it's hard to specifically predict how much you will improve.

[marion]

Hi Melody

well done for getting through to the other side!! I also had a 2 level ADR in my neck Sept 08 and the throat pain was immense it really took over everything for me for a few days thank God my mate brought in Throaties , they saved me and were more effective than morphine . Really interested to hear about where you pain was before op and how it felt , were there any activities that provoked it and how you managed it and now what is happening where is it ? and has it changed since the op and how etc

all the very best Maz

[melodyl]

Hi Marion,

At close to 5 weeks post op, I couldn't be happier with the results of my 3 level ADR surgery! The throat pain is long gone and I am well on my way to tapering off of the narcotic meds I have been taking for years. You asked about my pre-op pain and if anything triggered it? Not especially.....the pain was always there....but sometimes it became so bad that I had to spend most of the day(s) in bed or on the couch. My pain levels rarely correlated to my activities...it's like it had a mind of it's own. I am enjoying getting used to not having bad days anymore!

Are you happy with the results of your surgery? What kind of pain were you in before the surgery?

Thanks for writing. I'd like to know more about your circumstances.

[Terry Allen Blackburn]

Good for you Melody. Cervical surgeries tend to be less complicated than the lumbar procedures. Keep letting us know what is going on for you so we can help to normalize your experiences.

Terry Newton

[marion]

Hi Melody

Its really good news that you are doing so well. Your question about my pain before surgery..... is that it was constant, and up and down,but when it was up it raged like a toothache over my left shoulder and scapula and spread to a different burning pain on the right sice of my neck. It was so bad at times I was unable to blink without bracing myself!

I didnt have a pain killer that worked for a year!! Then I found tramadol (Ultram_ and it was great for 9 days then only a quarter as great. Like you my pain before the operation had a mind of its own, and wasnt related to activity

Now... things are changed , and I can promote pain on movement!! I am stiff in the neck in the mornings now, I wasnt before,. I have never had any problem with motion I have full range like before the op. The pain was really very good for a few weeks and although still constant never gets to the awful level it used to but now I take Pregablin and tramadol and Co -codymol every day whereas before I just took Tramadol.

I started to do Pilates, it is tough! I had/have a neck that lost its curve and now it tips forward so the exercises aggravate it somewhat. I have no regrets about the operation but what I would say is that after it , my pain has spread to include both scapulas the sides of the neck and elbows but only at times, not always because it moves around , sadly it is still constant, mostly it is 1 -3 on the scale of 10 sometimes it is 8 . I returned to work recently and that i, s hard but I am determined to get my llife back as much as possible.

You are so new out of the op , and things seems better for you than me. Many people recover fully and dont have any ongoing problems after 3 months and you will be one of them!!! Keep in touch Marion x