gem4353 Pro-Disc L3/4 and L4/5 June 2004

[iSpine-Admin]

Originally Posted by gem4353 on August 18, 2004

SURGERY DATE: 6/29/04

AGE AT SURGERY DATE: 36

SURGEON: Dr. Zucherman

SURGERY LOCATION/CLINIC: St. Mary's, San Francisco

DEVICE(s), LEVEL(s): Pro-Disc L3/4 and L4/5

COST =
AMOUNT BILLED: $97,000.00
INSURANCE ALLOWED: see note
OUT OF POCKET: $4,000.00
TRAVEL: 0
EXPLANATIONS? ins would not release allowed amount due to agreement with hospital. Would only release my copay amount.


ONSET OF LUMBAR PROBLEMS, DATE OF INJURY, CAUSE, ETC...: original injury 12 years old, fell on rock, soft tissue damage, off and on pain for years. 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003 major flare ups. 2003 flare up never subsided. diagnosed with DDD, herniated L3, bulging L4. Went through multiple rounds of PT since 1997.

PRIOR SPINE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES (IDET, ESI, etc...): Facet joint injections under fluoroscopy 1997 (x3), trigger point injections 1998 (x2), ESI under fluoroscopy 2001 (x3)

PRE-OP MEDICATIONS: Oruvail, Robaxin, Darvon, Nortriptyline

PRE-OP DIAGNOSTICS (discogram, nerve root blocks, etc...): MRI 1997, MRI 2004, Discogram 2004, CT w/contrast 2004

PRE-OP NEUROPATHIES (what, where, & degree of pain, numbness, tingling, sexual/bladder/bowel symptoms, etc.): Tightness, aching and stabbing pain across lower back. Muscle spasms in back. Pain in right buttock and hip. Nerve pain around hips and down fronts of both legs to the knees. Right leg worse than left. numbness in feet, tingling in feet, nerve pain down back of calves.

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): 70% back pain 30% leg pain. Can still work full time with modifications - limited sitting, moving around a lot, work from home sometimes. Drastic change in what used to be an active lifestyle. No sports, hiking, or majority of outdoor activities anymore.

TIME POST-OP AT ORIGINAL POST HERE: 7 weeks

DESCRIBE YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE: Don't really remember the first three days. Had incision pain but back pain and leg pain was almost completely gone when in hospital. Blood pressure fluctuations and occasional high temperature over the first few days. Had high BP before surgery. Had problem with left hip pain once discharged.

RATE FUNCTIONALITY / SATISFACTION AT INTERVALS BELOW:

FUNCTIONALITY:
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:
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.

FUNCTIONALITY: _4__ SATISFACTION: __5_ [6 WEEKS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: __4_ SATISFACTION: __5_ [3 MONTHS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: __5_ SATISFACTION: _5__ [6 MONTHS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [1 YEAR POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [2 YEARS POST-OP]

6 WEEKS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ECT... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]): Still taking it very easy, no lifting, bending, etc. Hip pain has resolved, getting ready to start PT. Walking a mile per day. Driving causes ache and pain in back and legs. current meds Darvon - 1 or 2 per day only as needed for pain, Baclofin 10 mg daily. nerve pain in legs 99% gone, will flare up if I try to do to much. Muscles in back still feel tight.

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

Off all pain meds, still taking muscle relaxer and now taking anti inflammatory. New pain started about a week ago - burning feeling in feet. Back feels good and 3 month xrays look good per Dr.

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

Still having problems with foot pain, particularly right foot. only med is Baclofen 10 mg per day. The foot pain seems to be slowly getting better, but I'm still limited on how long I can sit. Walking is much better and am back to work full time.

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?]):

Waiting for an update from gem4353.