StrongSteve L4-L5-S1 ProDisc Dec. 2002

[mmglobal]

Originally Posted by Original post Aug 11, 2003

SURGERY DATE: 5/29/03

SURGEON: Jack Zigler

SURGERY LOCATION/CLINIC: Texas Back Institute Plano, Texas

LEVEL(s): L5/S1

COST =
AMOUNT BILLED: approximately $20,000
INSURANCE ALLOWED: all-discounted PPO
OUT OF POCKET: $3000
TRAVEL: NONE
EXPLANATIONS? I live a couple blocks from TBI


ONSET OF LUMBAR PROBLEMS, DATE OF INJURY, CAUSE, ETC...: Herniation and DDD from 20 years of heavy weightlifting

PRIOR SPINE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES (IDET, ESI, etc...): Discectomy/Laminectomy L5/S1 7/5/01

PRE-OP MEDICATIONS: Vioxx, Flexeril

PRI-OP DIAGNOSTICS (discogram, nerve root blocks, etc...): MRI with contrast, X-rays

PRE-OP NEUROPATHIES (what, where, & degree of pain, numbness, tingling, sexual/bladder/bowel symptoms, etc.): no leg pain since discectomy in 2001

PRE-OP CONDITION (Please include %leg pain/% back pain, pain levels, ability to work and function, disability status, etc.... be direct, but be as verbose as you need to): All back pain, able to function without bending. Limited in physical activity. Could sit well but not stand too long.

TIME POST-OP AT ORIGINAL POST HERE: about 10 weeks

(In the following sections, rate your surgical success and comments as described in the first post of this thread.

DESCRIBE YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE: successful but still some pain

RATE SUCCESS / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / DESCRIBE CONDITION 1 MONTH POST-OP (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): Leg pain, sciatica was severe for a few weeks post op. Nerve pain has subsided considerably. Meds were Vioxx, Flexeril, Hydrocodone. Also did a Medrol Dose Pack which helped a lot with nerve pain.

RATE SUCCESS / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / DESCRIBE CONDITION 3 MONTHS POST-OP (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): I am now almost three months post-op. My right leg feels a little tight but I would not call it painful. My back feels very stable and supportive but I do get some back ache when I overdo physical activity. My back will hurt the next day after sexual activity and heavy lifting at the gym. I am back to doing all of my pre-surgery activities. Hopefully, I will be back to racquetball and tennis within a year. If I bend backwards, I can feel some "ach" type pain in my low back. I hope that will go away soon.

RATE SUCCESS / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / DESCRIBE CONDITION 6 MONTHS POST-OP (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): N/A

RATE SUCCESS / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / DESCRIBE CONDITION 1 YEAR POST-OP (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): N/A

RATE SUCCESS / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / DESCRIBE CONDITION 2 YEARS POST-OP (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): N/***

All good after two years. Best decision I ever made!

I'll see if I can reach Steve for an update.