Questions, concerns - at wits end

[ianG]

Greetings everyone,

I recently found this site and all the information I've been pouring over has been really helpful. I had never even heard of disc replacement until fairly recently when a friend of mine returned from Stenum Hospital with a new disc in his neck and now he has his life back again.

I have some questions and concerns, but first here's a little background on my condition:

I'm 39 years old and have had some form of daily pain and/or pressure in my low back for my entire adult life. I was diagnosed with a sacralization in my early 20's and an undersized disc at L5 and a slight bulging disc at L4/L5. A new MRI performed recently showed the same bulging disc. As I get older the pain has only increased to the point where I'm now considering surgery. I know sacralizations aren't uncommon (approx 5% of people have some form) and this condition in and of itself doesn't always cause pain, but in my case it seems to have contributed to the problem.

I'm very active, commute to work on a bicycle, goto the gym 3-4 times a week (lots of core work), race motorcycles and try not to limit myself, within reason of course. Things I can't do usually involve high-impact or twisting activities, like running, basketball, skiing, etc.

Being stationary is what affects me the most. Sitting and standing for even brief periods is difficult. I'm a graphic designer, so unfortunately sitting is part of the job, but I'm out of my seat every 15-20 minutes to move around. My pain is nothing compared to what I've read on this forum from some people, but the cummulative affect of 20+ years of constant pressure, tightness and sharp pain has me on the edge. And in the past few years I've been experiencing problems in my legs as well, primarily my left leg. I get tingling, numbness and at times it feels like a rope is tied around my upper thigh cutting off circulation.

The radiologist who reviewed my films said I wasn't a surgical candidate, but he couldn't explain to me why the pain is constant, so he wasn't very useful. I've been researching ADR to the point where I understand the risks involved and have a clear understanding of what recovery might be like.

What I'm curious about is why some of you have chosen the ProDisc over the Maverick. It seems like these are the two most popular options for lumbar disc replacement, but why have so many on this forum elected to use the ProDisc? I've been in communication with Stenum and they have been very helpful. They seem to think the Maverick is a much better option.

I've exhausted all non-surgical options over the years. Everything from chiropractic, to bio-feedback, to electric accupuncture. You name it I've done it. So surgery has always been a last resort, but as I head into my 40's I can't stomach the thought of another decade with this problem.

I've broken a lot of bones over the years (none in my back), so I'm no stranger to rehab or painful recovery, but my greatest concern is that I come out of a surgical procedure worse than I entered, and to be honest, that scares the crap out of me.

Anyways, thanks for humoring me and taking the time. Any and all responses are greatly appreciated.

- Ian

[Alastair]

You have answered your own question, you tell us that you are very active and certainly all the sports that you do are probably way beyond what you would be capable of doing if you had disc replacement.

Stay away from surgeons, and enjoy the quality of life that you do have.
Best,
Alastair

[ianG]

All I can say is it's amazing what you can get used to. I've spoken with people with far more serious problems then I have yet they still push through the pain and manage to be just as active if not more.

I don't mean to minimize my problem. I get 2-3 hours of sleep a night unless I take an Ambien, then it's 4 if I'm lucky. I'm forced to lay on my back everyday under my desk at work for about 30 minutes and my back is at the forefront of every decision I make. A night rarely goes by that I'm not leaning back onto a very large ice pack and contemplating the pros and cons of becoming addicted to pain meds. Yes, I'm fairly active, but that's in spite of my problems. For every one thing that I can do, there are 10 things I can't.

I've exchanged emails with a couple people who have had disc replacements and they are now snowboarding, horseback riding, and otherwise leading pretty regular lives. I don't know if this is normal or they are the exception, but it's worth exploring.

Originally Posted by Alastair

You have answered your own question, you tell us that you are very active and certainly all the sports that you do are probably way beyond what you would be capable of doing if you had disc replacement.

Stay away from surgeons, and enjoy the quality of life that you do have.
Best,
Alastair

[dantij]

I have to agree with Alastair. It seems like you are still leading a very active lifestyle. Why risk it? Stick to the core training. My story is somewhat similar to yours but as time passed by, I no longer was able to do the things that were part of my daily/weekly routines. The first thing I had to give up was basketball, followed by weight lifting , and eventually it got to the point that I was missing work (telecom tech), sometimes for two weeks at a time. I won't ramble about my history. If you are interested it is here for you. My disc of choice is Flexicore. So far it has worked out good for me. Good luck with your decision. We are here for you.