myspine
03-19-2005, 02:05 AM
Hi guys :wave:
I have been scheduled for a ACDF with BMP and hardware, I have had the lumbar done already. i was wondering what to expect ... for real. My doc said it was pretty easy and some people barely miss work, but I know better than that :) It is at the C5-6 level.
Thanks for any input. ;)
shelley
I have been scheduled for a ACDF with BMP and hardware, I have had the lumbar done already. i was wondering what to expect ... for real. My doc said it was pretty easy and some people barely miss work, but I know better than that :) It is at the C5-6 level.
Thanks for any input. ;)
shelley
Sponsor
jaymz
03-19-2005, 05:18 PM
hi , i had an acdf goin on 4 weeks ago, as of now, i wish to God i did not have it, my NS sux at pain managemant , real easy operation though, the dentist is way worse! hopefully i get better as time goes on , good luck to ya ,dont sweat the surgery, its a piece of cake, i made em numb my arm b4 jammin that huge IV in me and i never felt it, then i told her i was scared shitless so she gave me the max dose of valium she could and i was wasted lol peace! jaymz
Nikki E
03-19-2005, 07:32 PM
Hey Shelley,
I went to the ns last week and he told me he would want to use BMP on me as well. He told me to go to spineuniverse.com to read about BMP. I did and according to what I read, BMP has only been approved for the lumbar area and not the cervical. The reason he said he wanted to use it on me was because I am 32 and have osteoporosis. I am going for a second opinion in Atlanta soon and I am going to see if he mentions BMP on me as well. I do suggest you go to the site I gave you and read up on it. My ns even told me they hadn't passed it yet for the cervical spine and that scares me to death. So needless to say, I am still confused and worried even more now. The ns told me I didn't have to use BMP, it was my choice, so best of luck to you and let me know what you decide.
Nikki E.
I went to the ns last week and he told me he would want to use BMP on me as well. He told me to go to spineuniverse.com to read about BMP. I did and according to what I read, BMP has only been approved for the lumbar area and not the cervical. The reason he said he wanted to use it on me was because I am 32 and have osteoporosis. I am going for a second opinion in Atlanta soon and I am going to see if he mentions BMP on me as well. I do suggest you go to the site I gave you and read up on it. My ns even told me they hadn't passed it yet for the cervical spine and that scares me to death. So needless to say, I am still confused and worried even more now. The ns told me I didn't have to use BMP, it was my choice, so best of luck to you and let me know what you decide.
Nikki E.
myspine
03-19-2005, 08:44 PM
Hi Nikki :wave:
I did have the BMP used for my lumbar fusion and it was GREAT! I fuse very fast. using my own bone from my hip is kind of scary because I have ALOT of nerve damage from not having a fusion done in the first place (not the same doctor) so now I am having a SCS implant trial for the hip and leg pain I am having . BTW I am 34 so not much older than you. Anyway i do not think my doctor wants to add more problems to my hip area that I already have :( .But follow up x-rays and CT on the lumbar fusion itself was showing a very quick fusion so that was good. I do not want the bone bank , that is my own personal preference.
Like I said I had a fusion last summer which makes 4 lumbar surgeries so far and waiting for my SCS trial and hopefully that will work and be the end of that.
But adding the neck issue just makes it a little more nerve racking :dizzy: . He made it sound like it would not be as bad as the lumbar, but I am not quite sure about that so I am asking the experts here who have had it. :D
Do you have yours scheduled yet?
;) shelley
I did have the BMP used for my lumbar fusion and it was GREAT! I fuse very fast. using my own bone from my hip is kind of scary because I have ALOT of nerve damage from not having a fusion done in the first place (not the same doctor) so now I am having a SCS implant trial for the hip and leg pain I am having . BTW I am 34 so not much older than you. Anyway i do not think my doctor wants to add more problems to my hip area that I already have :( .But follow up x-rays and CT on the lumbar fusion itself was showing a very quick fusion so that was good. I do not want the bone bank , that is my own personal preference.
Like I said I had a fusion last summer which makes 4 lumbar surgeries so far and waiting for my SCS trial and hopefully that will work and be the end of that.
But adding the neck issue just makes it a little more nerve racking :dizzy: . He made it sound like it would not be as bad as the lumbar, but I am not quite sure about that so I am asking the experts here who have had it. :D
Do you have yours scheduled yet?
;) shelley
myspine
03-19-2005, 09:00 PM
Hi Jaymz :wave:
I have read your posts and you have had a hard time and I am so sorry to hear what you have gone through :( It does seem to be that your doc. is not good at pain manag. at all. I hope things get better for you. ;)
shelley
I have read your posts and you have had a hard time and I am so sorry to hear what you have gone through :( It does seem to be that your doc. is not good at pain manag. at all. I hope things get better for you. ;)
shelley
Nikki E
03-19-2005, 10:21 PM
Hey Shelley,
No I have not scheduled mine yet. I am going to Atlanta to Dr. Haid and then I will schedule mine after that. I am sorry to hear about all of your problems :eek: . Makes mine sound so minor. Where are you having your surgery at. Please let me know how the BMP turns out in your neck if you have yours before I do. I'm just really scared. My luck is not the greatest. I was standing in the wrong line the day they was handing out luck :rolleyes: . If it can happen it seems like it finds me. Keep posting me on how things are going with you and I'll do the same. :jester: .
Nikki E.
No I have not scheduled mine yet. I am going to Atlanta to Dr. Haid and then I will schedule mine after that. I am sorry to hear about all of your problems :eek: . Makes mine sound so minor. Where are you having your surgery at. Please let me know how the BMP turns out in your neck if you have yours before I do. I'm just really scared. My luck is not the greatest. I was standing in the wrong line the day they was handing out luck :rolleyes: . If it can happen it seems like it finds me. Keep posting me on how things are going with you and I'll do the same. :jester: .
Nikki E.
myspine
03-20-2005, 12:30 AM
I will, and I will call my docs office monday morning.. If the BMP is not covered under insurance then I guess it will have to be the bone graft. :eek:
It sounds like you were in the same line as me :D LOL Anyway, let me know how your appt goes. My surgery is scheduled for the first of June, due to my work schedule I will be off for summer so no point in taking a month off now. I have been making it for a year so far I guess 9 more weeks will be o.k.
Keep me posted. ;)
shelley
It sounds like you were in the same line as me :D LOL Anyway, let me know how your appt goes. My surgery is scheduled for the first of June, due to my work schedule I will be off for summer so no point in taking a month off now. I have been making it for a year so far I guess 9 more weeks will be o.k.
Keep me posted. ;)
shelley
flyonthewall
03-20-2005, 09:35 AM
I had a posterolateral lumbar fusion with BMP that, I found out later, isn't approved by the FDA. I don't know who did what but I didn't have to pay anything. My OSS said it's being widely done in the spine community. Ask how many he has done.
fly
fly
wimpette
03-20-2005, 10:25 AM
I had an anterior fusion done with donor bone which failed to fuse. Repeat surgery was done through the back of the neck using my bone marrow and bmp and so far all seems to be going extremely well. You should find your ACDF to be much easier than your lumbar fusion HOWEVER because you feel so good post op it is very easy to overdo things. Regardless of how quickly you are told you can go back to work or resume normal activity give your body plenty of time to heal...I learnt the hard way!
W
W
myspine
03-20-2005, 12:48 PM
Hi Fly and Wimpette :wave: :wave:
Ya'll are great to reply :bouncing:
Let me get this straight... Wimpete you ended up having the cervical fusion done 2 times? and the second time was with BMP??? Did that go well, it sounds like that is what you said :)
Fly ..You like me, had the lumbar done with BMP? How is yours doing?
I feel like I am going for a record of surgeries on myspine ( no pun intended :D )
I did not have a brace for the lumbar spine doc said not needed that there was Plenty of hardware for bracing inside, but was told I would wear a hard cervical brace for 4 weeks, sounds pretty huh? I am going to be nervous until then , but I know from experience if I wait I could be left with the perm. nerve damage that I have in my leg and hip that I will never be able to get fixed that is why I am trying the stimulator for that. I kind of sound like the bionic woman. :rolleyes I never pictured that my 20's and 30's would be spent like this .....Thanks to each of you, you are great to take time to help out a stranger when you have your own problems....I appreciate it.
I am somewhat of a pro at the lumbar stuff so if need be ask away. I have had pretty much any and all procedures possible.
;) Shelley
Ya'll are great to reply :bouncing:
Let me get this straight... Wimpete you ended up having the cervical fusion done 2 times? and the second time was with BMP??? Did that go well, it sounds like that is what you said :)
Fly ..You like me, had the lumbar done with BMP? How is yours doing?
I feel like I am going for a record of surgeries on myspine ( no pun intended :D )
I did not have a brace for the lumbar spine doc said not needed that there was Plenty of hardware for bracing inside, but was told I would wear a hard cervical brace for 4 weeks, sounds pretty huh? I am going to be nervous until then , but I know from experience if I wait I could be left with the perm. nerve damage that I have in my leg and hip that I will never be able to get fixed that is why I am trying the stimulator for that. I kind of sound like the bionic woman. :rolleyes I never pictured that my 20's and 30's would be spent like this .....Thanks to each of you, you are great to take time to help out a stranger when you have your own problems....I appreciate it.
I am somewhat of a pro at the lumbar stuff so if need be ask away. I have had pretty much any and all procedures possible.
;) Shelley
wimpette
03-20-2005, 01:16 PM
Hi Shelley,
Yes, my second (posterior) procedure was done with BMP - that was a three level fusion with instrumentation. I was very cautious and didn't go back to work for 4 months. I am now 5 months out and doing well, occasionally sore when I overdo it but nothing that is unbearable. Wore a hard collar for 8 weeks, a soft one the next four and even now when I get sore I wear a soft collar, it's almost like a security blanket and it helps! The surgeon had prepared me for a bone graft from my hip although he said he would use BMP if possible. Woke up with no pain in my hip :bouncing:
Hope this helps, the important thing is to feel totally comfortable with your surgeon, trust is an important part.
Good luck,
W
Yes, my second (posterior) procedure was done with BMP - that was a three level fusion with instrumentation. I was very cautious and didn't go back to work for 4 months. I am now 5 months out and doing well, occasionally sore when I overdo it but nothing that is unbearable. Wore a hard collar for 8 weeks, a soft one the next four and even now when I get sore I wear a soft collar, it's almost like a security blanket and it helps! The surgeon had prepared me for a bone graft from my hip although he said he would use BMP if possible. Woke up with no pain in my hip :bouncing:
Hope this helps, the important thing is to feel totally comfortable with your surgeon, trust is an important part.
Good luck,
W
Nikki E
03-20-2005, 03:00 PM
Hey W,
I read your reply to Shelley and I was wondering who your ns was and where since you are doing so well. I hope my surgery goes as well as yours did.
Nikki E
I read your reply to Shelley and I was wondering who your ns was and where since you are doing so well. I hope my surgery goes as well as yours did.
Nikki E
wimpette
03-20-2005, 03:58 PM
Nikki,
I see you are from the Atlanta area, I live in the Northeast. When looking for a surgeon find someone who is specialised in spinal surgery and especially cervical surgery. Some of the 'big names' in teaching hospitals may be renowned but make sure they still are active and not just supervising residents. If you have any contacts at various hospitals ask them who they would have take care of them if they needed your procedure - the answer isn't necessarily what you expect but can be very enlightening. Finally get several opinions.
W
I see you are from the Atlanta area, I live in the Northeast. When looking for a surgeon find someone who is specialised in spinal surgery and especially cervical surgery. Some of the 'big names' in teaching hospitals may be renowned but make sure they still are active and not just supervising residents. If you have any contacts at various hospitals ask them who they would have take care of them if they needed your procedure - the answer isn't necessarily what you expect but can be very enlightening. Finally get several opinions.
W
Nikki E
03-20-2005, 05:43 PM
Hey w,
Actually I am from Elizabethton, Tn outside of Knoxville. I am going to Atlanta for a second opinion. I went to Duke and now I am wanting to go to Atlanta. I have a ns in Johnson City but I am not happy with him and this is why I am going elsewhere.
Nikki E.
Actually I am from Elizabethton, Tn outside of Knoxville. I am going to Atlanta for a second opinion. I went to Duke and now I am wanting to go to Atlanta. I have a ns in Johnson City but I am not happy with him and this is why I am going elsewhere.
Nikki E.
partington
03-20-2005, 06:19 PM
What is a acdf i am new here and dont know alot. good luck though
disjointed
03-20-2005, 08:22 PM
ACDF = Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion
They go into your neck (hence cervical) from the anterior (front) side to remove the bad disc (discectomy), then fuse the vertrae above and below where the disc was located. This is usually done by inserting a small piece of bone from a cadaver in the space created by the removal of the disc. Most people have "hardware" added to stabilize the fusion. This usually consists of a titanium plate that screws in to the vertabre above and below the disc space.
Kevin
They go into your neck (hence cervical) from the anterior (front) side to remove the bad disc (discectomy), then fuse the vertrae above and below where the disc was located. This is usually done by inserting a small piece of bone from a cadaver in the space created by the removal of the disc. Most people have "hardware" added to stabilize the fusion. This usually consists of a titanium plate that screws in to the vertabre above and below the disc space.
Kevin
flyonthewall
03-21-2005, 06:30 AM
Shelley, I wasn't on any pain meds but I could hardly walk pre-op. My OSS, two years off a fellowship, mixed the scrapings from a laminectomy with the BMP and fused me posterior from L3-S1. When I woke up I didn't believe he had done anything! I spent a couple of weeks in rehab but I haven't needed any pain meds since I've been home. It's been 9 months and I seem to be doing great. I'm 64 and I'll be on Medicare next year. It worries me, for the future, that Medicare doesn't/will not pay for BMP. If I need something else done I'm up a creek. I'm having problems with my neck but my OSS doesn't want to address that until my lumbar fusion is solid.
fly
fly
myspine
03-21-2005, 11:14 AM
:wave: Hi Fly...You are one tough cookie :D
My fusion was done last summer and my doc will do one level in my neck, I have to say i never thought I would see all this happening to me at 34, this will make my 5th spine surgery and then the implant for the SCS will be the 6th doesn't that sound absurd :rolleyes: . Just typing that out makes me think what the heck is wrong with that chick LOL :dizzy:
Anyway have a great day Fly ;)
shelley
My fusion was done last summer and my doc will do one level in my neck, I have to say i never thought I would see all this happening to me at 34, this will make my 5th spine surgery and then the implant for the SCS will be the 6th doesn't that sound absurd :rolleyes: . Just typing that out makes me think what the heck is wrong with that chick LOL :dizzy:
Anyway have a great day Fly ;)
shelley