luvwindnhair ProDisc L5/S1 & L4 5 August 2004

[iSpine-Admin]

Originally Posted by luvwindnhair on October 17, 2004

SURGERY DATE: August 12th 2004

AGE AT SURGERY DATE: 39

SURGEON: Dr Delamarter

SURGERY LOCATION/CLINIC: St Johns, Santa Monica, CA

DEVICE(s), LEVEL(s): ProDisc, 2 levels, L5/S1 & L4 5

COST = So far approx. 25,000.
AMOUNT BILLED: All of it, Blue Cross of CA
INSURANCE ALLOWED: 60%
OUT OF POCKET: So far, $2,500. Looks like our final amount will be close to $7,000. total out of pocket
TRAVEL: Just my car
EXPLANATIONS?


ONSET OF LUMBAR PROBLEMS, DATE OF INJURY, CAUSE, ETC...: Woke up one sunday morning and could not move. Was mis-Dx with a back strain.

PRIOR SPINE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES (IDET, ESI, etc...): Micro-Discectomy/ Laminectomy 2000. ACDF C6-7, my bone, Aug 2003.

PRE-OP MEDICATIONS: Advil as needed.

PRE-OP DIAGNOSTICS (discogram, nerve root blocks, etc...): Discogram, epidurals X 2.

PRE-OP NEUROPATHIES Back pain dominates. Have some leg pain. Alot of weakness numbness and tingeling all the time. Nothing helps anymore. Even though I choose not to medicate, I cant find any position comfortable.

PRE-OP CONDITION 90% back pain 10% leg. I am totally disabled from work at this point. I cant do simple tasks with out getting so mad over the pain.

TIME POST-OP AT ORIGINAL POST HERE: I am almost 9 weeks post op today. (October 17th)

DESCRIBE YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE: I remember going to the hospital, then the IV, then waking up! I knew the moment I woke it worked. I had no leg pain. I did have back discomfort the first day. My procedure took 1 1/2 hrs total. Mostly I remember having alittle incision pain. The next day I began having extreem spasms. The worst I have ever had. They offered valium, because I didnt want a muscle relaxant. DUH. I am so petrified of meds. So needless to say the valium didnt work, so I endured another night of horrible spasms. The 3rd day the physical therapist came and got me out of bed. I was so ready, actually I wanted to get out on day 2. But they forgot to tell PT. So I walked up and down the halls, felt great. Still having spasms. So now I opt'd for flexeril. It helped alittle. Slept alittle better. Went home day 4. Felt great. Walked more and more. I am using a cane because my spasms grip me and I feel like I will fall. Spasms resolved after 2 weeks, Thank God.

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: __5_ SATISFACTION: _5__ [6 WEEKS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: ___6 SATISFACTION: _5__ [3 MONTHS POST-OP]

FUNCTIONALITY: ___ SATISFACTION: ___ [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... Wonderful! I do experience some left leg nerve pain. Took neurontin for only 1 week to help me sleep, 300 mgs. Now I only experience minor left leg warmess, and minor swelling in left foot. I did have some wild itchy feelings for about 3 weeks. My lower extremities would itch out of control. This is now resolved.

3 MONTHS POST-OP - My lifestyle is back to normal. I can dance all night...work all day and still have energy to do things with my family. My only issue at this point seems to be my left foot. It has been swollen since surgery. Its painfull and warm to hot all the time. I have had ultra sounds to rule out DVT. So its just something that I need to be patient with. I take no meds for it or anything else. I wish I could run...thats something I will try to accomplish slowly. I am going to start a weight training to strenghthen my core. I want the exterior to feel as good as my interior. Im gettin there.

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?]):

Waiting for an update from luvwindnhair.