Poncho Prodisc L4-5 & L5-S1 May 2004

[iSpine-Admin]

Originally Posted by Poncho on November 20, 2004

Surgery Date: May 22, 2004

Age at Time of Surgery: 34

Surgeon: Dr. Rudolph Bertagnoli

Surgery Location Hospital/Clinic: Rudolfinherhaus - Vienna, Austria

Device & Levels: Prodisc -> L4-5 & L5-S1

Cost: 27,000 (Euros)
Amount Billed: 25,000 - 27,000 (Euros)
Insurance Allowed: $0.00
Travel: $4,000.00 (2 first/business class airfare tickets - discounted tickets from E-bay. - Without discounted tickets, airfare at the time was around $10,000 for two in the Spring).....Hotel - stayed and the Kaiser Franz Joseph Hotel. 4 blocks away from the hospital. Get the apartment deal - around $45 (euros/night)- book for like 2 weeks or longer if needed. Hotel side cost is around $100 (euros/night)
Explanations: See above.

Onset of Lumbar Problems: Involved in car acciden at age of 19. Had mild lumbar flare ups for years afterward but had no idea that this accident caused this kind of damage. Then, at age 30, L5-S1 disc had a "blow out". This is where "spiney hood" really began for me. At age 30 had semi-emergent micro-d. This was successful for about 1 1/2 years - THEN - at work, L4-L5 began having problems - after I lifted a patient. Work-comp nightmare! This second injury is when I became a chronic pain patient(3 years).

Prior Spine Surgeries: December 1999(Age 30) - Semi-emergent micro-discectomy (open L5-S1).... November 2002 (age 32) - Endoscopic discectomy (L4-L5).

Pre-op Medications: Multiple NSAIDS (Mobic at the time of ADR), Prilosec, Methadone, Paxil.

Pre-op Diagnostics (discogram, nerve root blocks, etc...):

Pre-op Neuropathies: Severe left leg pain. I would describe it as "traveling pain" or "shooting pain" from the left hip all the way down to the toes.

Pre-op Condition: Aboout 50% leg pain and 50% back pain. My ability to work was becoming more and more compromised - even for a desk job.

Time post-op currently: 6 Months

Describe Surgery Experience: Over all, a positive experience. The surgery was not as bad as I thought it would be. I was admitted into the hospital 2 days prior to surgery for some diagnostic testing and "prepping" -> Liquid diet(broth only) NO SUGAR!!! For both days. (This is very important to follow or your belly will hurt like h@ll after surgery!!!) Day of surgery went smoothly. First night post-op, I woke up in their ICU/Surgical Recovery (standard procedure). That first night was kind of "rough" but still not as bad as I thought it could be. - Mostly surgical back pain - didn't even notice incision pain & no belly pain . Transferred back to floor by post-op day #2. Day #2 still a bit "rough" but better. Able to walk to bathroom on day #2. Good nights sleep between day #2 & day #3 made a huge difference! Up walking the halls of the hospital on day #3. Day 4 up walking all over the hospital and out in the hospital's garden!!! (no stairs though)... After day 4 I was up walking everywhere in the hospital. Nurses were attentive & caring. Good pain management!!!

Rate Functionality: 6 - Excellent: No Limitations currently - Well other than "common sense" limitations.

Satisfaction: 5 - I'm very glad I did my surgery!!!

Functionality: 4 Satisfaction: 3 [6 wks post-op]
Functionality: 5 Satisfaction: 5 [3 mnths post-op]
Functionality: 6 Satisfaction: 5 [6 mnths post-op]

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

My back pain was mostly gone a few days after surgery. Left leg pain lingered. Leg pain worse with sitting like at a computer or in a car. Back pain would flare up with sitting too - but different kind of back pain. (surgical pain). I was still on methadone at this time at a bit higher dose than post-op (not much though). Still on other medications.

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

The leg pain lingered for 2 1/2 months(post-op). Then one day I woke up and it was GONE!!! The sitting tolerance was MUCH better at this time! At this point in time, I began weaning off my pain medications. Able to drive short distances without problems.

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

At this point in time currently, I get a "ping" of sciatic pain now and then, but nothing that lasts very long. I am off ALL Medications EXCEPT an anti-inflammatory (Ibuprofen) - I tend to forget to take that sometimes.

THE HARDEST THING THAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH BETWEEN THE 3 MONTH MARK & 6 MONTH MARK IS WITHDRAW FROM PAIN MEDICATIONS. IT TOOK ME 2 WEEKS FROM THE LAST DOSE TAKE TO START FEELING "NORMAL-ISH" AND A MONTH TO FEEL "BASELINE NORMAL".

Otherwise, I have a lot to be THANKFUL for and looking forward to LIVING LIFE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!

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?]):

Waiting for an update from Poncho.