Leigh ProDisc L4-L5 & L5-L1 February 2005

[iSpine-Admin]

Originally Posted by Leigh on March 29, 2005

SURGERY DATE: February 7, 2005

AGE ON DATE: 39 (10# overweight)

SURGEON: Dr. Rudolph Bertagnoli

SURGERY LOCATION: St. Elisebeth (Straubing)

DEVICE(s), LEVEL(s): ProDisc at L4-L5 & L5-L1

PRE-PAID DEPOSIT: 20.000 Euros
AMOUNT BILLED:
INSURANCE ALLOWED:
OUT OF POCKET:
EXPLANATIONS: Will update later

ONSET OF LUMBAR PROBLEMS, DATE OF INJURY, CAUSE, ETC...:
Mild low back pain since age 15 in 1980. Serious low back, right hip and right buttock pain since age 33 in 1998. Severe low back, right hip, right buttock, right leg, right foot & mid back pain since age 38 in 2003. I do feel my L5-S1 disc was injured in several falls from my hunter horse, specifically one in Spring 2003 when I landed with one buttock on each side of a standard wooden jump pole. I gave up all equestrian activities in June 2003.

Pain radiates down the right side and is most often severe around the tailbone to right buttock and behind the right knee. There is no pain radiation down the left leg, but mild numbness has been noted. I do have intermittent numbness in my right lower leg and foot. I do not have any muscle weakness or other neurological deficits.

My pain seems at its worst when standing. In the past, the pain has been at its worst when sitting. Previously walking has helped, but that has not been the case for six months. I have had to limit activities and completely stop my desired 30 minute daily aerobic exercise on an elliptical, all weight lifting and playing tennis so that I can save the emotional stamina needed to function in pain for performing activities of daily living and working at my desk. Contracting my abdominal muscles does seem to help while sitting and driving. I do often experience relief when lying extremely flat with my low back pressed firmly down. Neurological pain and muscular tension has been disturbing my sleep for 6 months. I struggle to enjoy my life and every day is a physical and emotional chore.

My average pain level is 7.
My minimum pain level is 3.
My maximum pain level is 10.

PRIOR SPINE SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES (IDET, ESI, etc...):
Stretching, massage, exercise, quitting all equestrian activities, quitting tennis, physical therapy, electronic stimulation, traction, acupuncture, wearing of sacroiliac joint dis-function brace, not wearing high-heeled shoes, pain management including epidural steroid injections and often just laying around bored in bed have not provided relief from pain. I have not had spinal surgery.

PRE-OP MEDICATIONS:
I have tried celecoxib, cyclobenzaprine, hydrocodone and tramadol without success so I have discontinued use of these medications.

PRE-OP DIAGNOSTICS:
MRI showed L4-L5 & L5-S1 were dry.
Discogram showed L4-L5 had posterior bulge and leak. Discogram showed L4-L5 was abnorma, degenerative and leaky - it could not hold the die.

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

TIME POST-OP AT ORIGINAL POST HERE:
2.5 weeks post op on February 25, 2005

DESCRIBE YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE:
2 Days Prior to Surgery
Consume only clear liquids, no solid food
Saline enema at bedtime to aid in bowel cleansing

1 Day Prior to Surgery
Consume only clear liquids, no solid food
Saline enema at to aid in bowel cleansing
Check-in to hospital at 9am.
Clinical exam and surgical discussion with Dr. Dachs
Anesthia consult with Dr. Vogel
Afternoon bowel cleansing with phospha soda drink & 4 stimulant tablets
Evening anti-thrombosis injection into upper thigh
Medication: ?

Day of Surgery
Morning relaxing medication
Morning exam and surgical discussion with Dr. Fenk-Mayer
4 hour surgery at noon with intibated anesthesia by Dr. Bertagnoli
30 minutes in recovery, then to room in pain with IV & bladder catheder
Allowed small sips of water
Evening anti-thrombosis injection into upper thigh
In significant surgical related pain throughout day & night
Medication: ?

1 Day after Surgery
Dr. Dachs visits to examine incission & change dressing
Morning 90' walk in room with PT carrying IV & catheder bag felt good on low back (20 hours after surgery)
Midday 30' walk in rom with husband carrying IV & catheder bag felt good on low back
Evening anti-thrombosis injection into upper thigh
Allowed liquid diet
Evening anti-thrombosis injection into upper thigh
In significant surgical related pain throughout day & night
IV Medication: ?
Oral Medication: Pain drops
Regrets: Wish I would have walked more as it releives pain.

2 Days after Surgery
Catheder removed early in the morning
Morning trip to x-ray the 2 ProDisc (perfectly positioned)
Dr. Dachs visits to examine incission & change dressing
Walked out into hall with IV as often as possible as it helps reduce pain
Short discussion with PT
Evening anti-thrombosis injection into upper thigh
Oral Medication: 3 doses of pain drops
IV Medication: ?

3 Days after Surgery
First bowel movement late in the afternoon so allowed to begin solid food, remove IV and take a shower.
Dr. Dachs visits to examine incission & change dressing
Evening anti-thrombosis injection into upper thigh
Oral Medication: Dicofenac antiinflammatory & vitamin 3 times per day, 2 doses of pain drops

4 Days after Surgery
Morning Shower
No bowel movement
Dr. Dachs visits to examine incission & change dressing
Moved to a quieter room with a better view
Walked a total of 3 miles througout the day
Evening anti-thrombosis injection into upper thigh
Oral Medication: Dicofenac antiinflammatory & vitamin 3 times per day, evening pain drops, nighttime sleeping pill
Self medication with Dr. Dachs permission: middday stimulant suppository

5 Days after Surgery
Morning Shower
Dr. Dachs visits to examine incission & change dressing
Midday bowel movement
Evening anti-thrombosis injection into upper thigh
Walked a total of 4 miles throughout the day
Spent 1 hour on internet with wireless access in hospital lobby
Felt really good and confident with moving my body all day.
Oral Medication: Dicofenac antiinflammatory & vitamin 3 times per day
Self medication: Morning stimulant suppository, evening Flexeril

6 Days after Surgery
Morning Shower
Morning Bowel Movement
Walked a total of 2 miles throughout the day
Evening anti-thrombosis injection into upper thigh
Oral Medication: Dicofenac antiinflammatory & vitamin 3 times per day
Self medication: Morning stimulant suppository, evening Flexeril & Bedtime Ambian

7 Days after Surgery
Morning Bowel Movement
Typed this diary while standing
Morning Shower
Oral Medication: Dicofenac antiinflammatory & vitamin 3 times per day
Self medication: Morning stimulant suppository
Discharged at 7pm

8 Days after Surgery
Continued Asprin only
Went to museum for 1.5 hours, rested then went out for a late lunch

9 Days after Surgery
Continued Asprin only
Rode in rental car to Frankfurt (5 hours in a blizzard)

10 Days after Surgery
11 hour flight to Dallas & 3 hour car ride home (EXHAUSTING)
Continued Asprin. Took sleeping pill & mudscle relaxer for flight with 1st class flat sleeper beds.

11 through 13 Days after Surgery
Rested a lot, but did the 2 PT exercises that I was shown in hospital
Continued Asprin and used a sleeping pill one night to sleep good.
Several short walks throughout each day

14 Days after Surgery
Asprin, 10 minutes on elliptical, light free weight arm work while laying flat on back, light housework, went to my weekly 1 hour bible study. Took white plastic brace of back of corset at this 2 week mark.

15 Days after Surgery
Asprin, 15 minutes on elliptical, light free weight arm work while laying flat on back, light housework
Did a lot of desk & computer work for my job from home.

16 Days after Surgery
Asprin, 20 minutes on elliptical, light free weight arm work while laying flat on back, light housework
Went out to lunch.

17 Days after Surgery
Asprin, 25 minutes on elliptical, light free weight arm work while laying flat on back, light housework

18 Days after Surgery
Asprin, 30 minutes on elliptical, light free weight arm work while laying flat on back, light housework.

4 WEEKS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):
Resumed driving and returned to desk job
Continuing 30 minutes on elliptical daily.

6 WEEKS POST-OP - DESCRIBE LIFESTYLE / PAIN / MEDICATIONS / NEUROPATHIES / ETC... (discuss surgery induced symptoms [leg pain?]):
Resumed normal activity.
Have not resumed tennis or lifting weights except light free weight arm work while lying flat on back.

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?]):

Waiting for an update from Leigh.