The doctor says - but I have a big question

[PolliBibbs]

I went fior the discogram yesterday and it was bad but the pain is much worse today than the procedure was and I am sure I will be on pain pills all day. The gist of what the pain guy who did the procedure said was bottom three levels are bad. Says surgery on the worst one at L5-S1 won't lessen my pain and I will just have to live with this the rest of my life. I don't buy that. But remember pain doctors like to go the non-surgery route. I meet with my surgeon on 8/7 and if he thinks ADR on the bottom level will help at all - what have I got to lose. Any thoughts. Going overseas is out of the question. Is my surgeon going to be willing to adr the L5-S1 where there is hardly any disk left and it is by far the worst of the three. I believe that it is the one causing most of the pain. I am now scared he won't want to do the ADR because of the other 2 levels being somewhat bad. Has anyone had this experience? Please help

[brian mccarthy]

Hello Pollibibbs
I know what you mean about the discogram - the pain does ease though. I too had three levels but had the lowest L5/S1 ALIF fused and L3/L4 and L4/L5 ADR (Charite). I'm told the L5/S1 joint moves very little anyway so fusion here does not restrct flexibility very much at all. That may be a better option for you too??
Hope you get some answers on the 7th but pm me with any questions you might have
Regards
Brian

[PolliBibbs]

did you have that all done inthe U.S.?

[steelskyway]

Hey Polli!

Glad your getting some results. Like Brian said L5/S1 has less movement and can be fused w/o question based on all who have had the procedure done. Multi-level Charite is approved in the states. Good luck at the doc next week!

[brian mccarthy]

Originally posted by PolliBibbs:
did you have that all done inthe U.S.?

No, in London UK The London Spine Clinic
Brian

[annapurna]

Originally posted by steelskyway:
Like Brian said L5/S1 has less movement and can be fused w/o question based on all who have had the procedure done.

L5-S1 can't be fused without question. That simply isn't correct. PolliBibbs, on the other hand, may not have a second option so there isn't a question to be answered.

[PolliBibbs]

The thing is if my neuroisurgeon wil do the L5-S1 - I much prefer the disk replacement than fusion. My question really is do any of you think he will do the ADR on that disc only since the other 2 upper ones are just as bad per the pain doctor. (I don't believe that) What I am hoping is that the surgeon will at least offer to try the ADR on that bottom level and see what the results are. Have any of you had two or more bad disks and only had ADR on one? Results?

[cathydownunder]

Polli Im a little confused. Are you asking if you should only have 1 disc replacement and leave the other 2 "dodgy" levels alone or combine the disc replacement with a fusion for eg?..hybrid...
As all 3 were pain generators as per your discogram, it would probably be wise to have them all worked on whether it be by discs, fusions or a hybrid.
It also depends too on whether you have simple disc bulges/herniations or other issues such as DDD and facet degeneration.
I can only speak from my own experience here and you need to discuss it in depth with your surgeon of course. But having 3 levels positive by varying degrees on my discogram and then deciding to have only 2 "fixed" it caused me (in my opinion) to have to undergo the 2nd surgery less than 2 years after the first to finish the job.
Cathy

[Terry]

I agree with getting it all done at one time. Scar tissue forms in the area incised and it is dangerous to go back in. Your major artery for the legs runs through the area in question and could be nicked causing possible death from a bleed out. I have 4 artificial discs and had them all done at once. It was an aggressive surgery though I would not have had it any other way. You open up many risks when they have to keep going in to fix what could have been done the first time. Please keep us informed so we can support you in the process.

Hang in there and God be with you.

Terry Newton