Lumbar L5-S1 ProDisc - Paul

[Pma_foyl]

Well it’s been 9 days since my L5-S1 ProDisc surgery with Dr. Delamarter in Los Angeles. I’m still in the hotel room awaiting my 10-day follow-up, but to this point, it all seems good.

Background: Prior to 1999, I’d had only one small back issue that was very successfully resolved with a chiropractic manipulation (1992-ish). In 1999 I had a pretty solid kayaking injury that “tweaked” my back. I figured it for a small herniation (or pinch of some sort) and figured I’d have a chiropractic manipulation to put me back on the road to health. The Chiro did a couple Xrays and claimed to have “my fix”. So he wrenched me and sent me on my way. The next morning I was in serious pain and returned to him saying “what did you do? You gotta fix me.” (returning was stupid, I know). So he did the same move again and sent me on my way. During that night, I woke up at a 10/10 pain level and couldn’t move. Also couldn’t get a hold of my real doctor (at 3am) for drugs, so I spent 8 hours in bed just groaning.

In the morning I was able to get my doctor to phone in a prescription and a buddy to pick it up and bring it to me. 4 Vicodins later I was back to “moveable” and I visited a sports ortho who immediately MRI’d me and said … “completely ruptured L5-S1”. 6 months of very restricted activity and a pile of PT later, I was mostly resolved and able to return to my activities without surgery. I do have some residual numbness in my right calf and right ball of my foot, but no significant sciatic pain, after this injury resolved.

I’d been a daily runner (6.4 miles/day; 6-7 days a week) since 1986 and was happy to be back to running every day. I also rock climb, scuba dive, kayak, mountain climb, bike, snowboard, fly fish, etc. I’m an “outdoorsy” guy who’s fairly unpleasant when I can’t do “stuff.”

Anyway, I’ve spent the last 8 years with mostly minor difficulties. About once a year, I’d tweak my back and have to take it easy or sleep “carefully” for a few days to resolve the issues. However, last July it became worse and chronic. There was no “precipitating” or acute incident, just a gradual worsening of my backache and associated symptoms that made me stop running entirely. I also couldn’t stand for more than a ½ hour without aching badly. Couldn’t hike, couldn’t climb. I went snowboarding 4 times this winter and each day, had to stop riding mid-day and take some vicodin and then take the entire next day off to lay around and wait.

I realized that many people on this forum are in much more trying circumstances. I asked myself for months, was ADR simply too radical a step. After all, if I went to work, sat at my desk, then came home each night and relaxed, I was fine really. Mostly in 2 –3 out of10 pain level. Certainly manageable. However, I ultimately decided my quality of life was suffering too much. So I consulted with a number of surgeons (in Seattle, LA and Germany), before deciding to do the surgery with Dr. Delamarter in LA.

So that brings me to “now”. I’m in a little hotel room watching lots of TV, playing online poker and reading books. My plan is to fly back to Seattle next Tuesday (though right now, sitting on a plane for 3 hours sounds impossible). I’m walking around the halls of my hotel a few times a day (about 1/5 of mile total, if I’m lucky… or exaggerating). I must look (and smell ) like some kinda oddity with my funky corset and “barely bathed” post-surgical body.

Thanks for all your posts. I’ve learned so much from the people here during the past few months. Hoping for the best for everyone here and I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Paul, Seattle, WA
44yo, 5'8" – 160 lbs (was 145lbs), athlete - runner, climber, snowboarder, mountaineer, rock climber, kayaker, sailor, scuba diver, etc.
Sept. 1999 - L5-S1 kayaking injury (herniation, I suspect)
Chiropractic manipulation following week caused complete rupture
Oct. 1999 - MRI confirms complete rupture at L5-S1
PT, drugs, etc. - partially resolved; mostly functional
Annual recurrence – each one worse than the last, but “resolving” with conservative care
PT – several different therapists, several different clinics/durations
DDD diagnosed 2006
More PT (I chant and use crystals too, lol)
April 2007 - 2nd MRI shows 1/3rd reduction in L5-S1 annulus height and thickness
Gradual onset of continuous lumbar discomfort
July 2007 - discontinued running/most exercises
ADR suggested in October 2007
Positive L5-S1 Discogram December 2007
January 2008 – consult with several surgeons, including Dr. Rick Delamarter
April 22, 2008 – Surgery with Dr. Delamarter - ProDisc at L5-S1

[Dean]

Paul, your story sounds simalar to mine.
But I had a fusion at that level and an ADR at L5 L4 .
43 years of age doing every thing you could out doors.
9 weeks post opp, walking 4 times a day for half an hour then lieing on my bed after each walk.If I stand or sit for any thing over half an hour, lower lumber pain will start, 2 to 3 out of 10.
All I tend to take is two burafin or panadol before I sleep. That is a big improvment than what I was taking for pain 4 weeks post opp.
Like your self I hope it is the right decssion.
I will see my surgeon on Monday hope he will let me start some heated pool rehab, fingers crossed.
You just keep thinking positive.
Good luck.
PS. Make sure you have that shower very soon, or I will be smelling you down here in Australia.

Dean
L5 S1 Fusion,
L5 L4 Mavrick disc.

[Kirk]

Paul,

Glad to hear you had your surgery. Can you tell yet if the old pain is gone?

Kirk

[canadianman]

Hello Paul and Dean.
Both of your stories are much the same as mine as well. I haven't been on the site lately,so I think it's time for an update on my pro-disk at the L5-S1 level which was done on Jan,25/08. So I guess I'm close to 4 months post op now and here is what I'm experiencing now. I'm back at work now, but probably should be. My left leg sciatic pain still is there. What hurts the most is driving the car. When I hit a bump on the road I get shooting pains down my left leg. I know what your thinking, don't drive the car, easy to say but when your self employed and driving is part of your job I really have no choice. I'm not on any kind of insurance so I had to go back to work. I've talked to my doctor about it and he says that as long as the pain is not perminant, he's not worried, but I still am! He asked me if I'm better now than before the surgery, and I'm not. I was pain free driving, sitting and sleeping. Now I'm uncomfortable doing all the three! What is the best is to walk. But I know it's a long road and I'm that still hopeful that I did the right thing by having the surgery. I can stand longer than 10 minutes now and can walk farther than 100ft without having to sit, so right now I guess it's a little give and take. I'm on no medication and I'm still very positive because there are many people way worse off than us on this site before and after there surgery's.
All for now.
Ron

[phylly]

Paul,
Congratulations on your surgery and my good wishes for a successful recovery. Please keep us updated on how you are doing. I hope that your pain will get better as you walk more but the beginning can be difficult. Take care.
Phylly

[CindyLou]

Paul, congrats on your surgery, and please just take it slow. You sound like alot of us folks here on this site...you're a mover, not a sitter. Probably what got most of us here in trouble in the first place. We've just plain worn our bodies out. All that said, you should heal nicely if you listen to your body. You will pay, if you overdue early on. Keep posting on your progress, and good luck on your path back to wellness.

[Pma_foyl]

Hi All,
Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. I'm feeling pretty good. Getting ready to go to my first post-surgical consult.

Kirk, I can't tell if my old pain is gone (because it was fairly non-descript), but I think it might be. I do have some other biomechanical oddities. I've been a supinator (walking/running) all my life and right when I walk, I appear to be pronating... maybe my nerves are confused ... or maybe I just forgot how to walk.

I'm still on more drugs than I want (1 norco every six hours), but in general have just a few aches and pains. I would like it if my bowel movements were more consistent. I waited over a week for my first and since then have had only one minor (and thoroughly unsatisfying) bowel movement.

How long did any of you wait to take your plane ride home?? I'm scheduled for next Tuesday, but right now I can barely imagine that. Not so much for "pain" but simple discomfort sitting up. Also light-headedness and occasional nausea. Maybe I'm not walking enough or sitting upright enough.

Any and all thoughts are appreciated.

Best,

Paul, Seattle, WA
44yo, 5'8" – 160 lbs (was 145lbs), athlete - runner, climber, snowboarder, mountaineer, rock climber, kayaker, sailor, scuba diver, etc.
Sept. 1999 - L5-S1 kayaking injury (herniation, I suspect)
Chiropractic manipulation following week caused complete rupture
Oct. 1999 - MRI confirms complete rupture at L5-S1
PT, drugs, etc. - partially resolved; mostly functional
Annual recurrence – each one worse than the last, but “resolving” with conservative care
PT – several different therapists, several different clinics/durations
DDD diagnosed 2006
More PT (I chant and use crystals too, lol)
April 2007 - 2nd MRI shows 1/3rd reduction in L5-S1 annulus height and thickness
Gradual onset of continuous lumbar discomfort
July 2007 - discontinued running/most exercises
ADR suggested in October 2007
Positive L5-S1 Discogram December 2007
January 2008 – consult with several surgeons, including Dr. Rick Delamarter
April 22, 2008 – Surgery with Dr. Delamarter - ProDisc at L5-S1

[CindyLou]

Paul, I waited a full three weeks before my flight home, and hate to say this, but it was still a bear. I was a wreck by the time we landed. Unfortunately, there's just no way around getting home. I hope your experience proves milder and more tolerable. All the best to you. Sounds like you are coming along nicely. Drink up that prune juice shriner!

[snapoutofit]

Hi Paul,

I am 10 weeks post op same levels as you.

I flew home 14 days after surgery from Germany so it was a long flight. It was really painful but I got through it.

You will probably make a lot of progress between now and Tuesday. Sounds like you are doing really well and walking enough even though it doesn't feel like it in your mind.


Cheryl

[Kirk]

Paul,

I went home on a Monday, 9 days after the surgery, and it was ~18 hours door to door, Munich-London-JFK-Washington DC. I had stiffness but no pain. I just turned the corner in time, had I gone home two days earlier I would not have been happy. So you can hope you turn the corner this weekend.

Good luck,
Kirk