Hello All,

Well, like so many of you I am currently suffering from low back pain with sciatica symptoms in my left leg.

I had a herniation in the L5-S1 level and had a diskectomy done in April. The symptoms did go away almost completely for 10 days after surgery, however shortly thereafter the back pain and sciatica came back with a vengance.

My doctor's latest recommendation was to have a fusion done at the L5-S1 level and than "hope for the best".

Well, I am sorry but "hope for the best" will not cut it for me, so I questioned him about getting the disc replacement operation done, he indicated that he does not think I am a candidate for it (FYI-No he does not perform the ADR).

I did read lots about the ADR, and it seems that it really is not indicated for leg pain, however when I saw an ADR surgeon yesterday, he claimed that an artificial disc WILL take care of both leg and back pain !!

Boy, here we go, more confusion...Anyways, just wondering if any of you has had and ADR surgery done and wether or not it took care of your leg pain ?

Thanks

P.S: Blue cross blue shield will not cover the ADR surgery so I am in the process of refinancing my home so I can pay for the surgery, and ence the reason I would like your opinion so I may be sure, as much as possible, that ADR will take care of leg pain. My pain at this moment is 40% in the back 60% in my left leg :(

What is your age?

I'm 35, and my neurosurgeon said if I needed to replace a disc, he would not recommend an ADR because of my age. He said, if I were older, yes. In his mind, it is not proven how well they last for 40+ years. This doctor will put them in older patients. He said he wouldn't put anything in a patient that he wouldn't put in himself; he's in his early 40s.

I am 34 and my doctor said that I would likely need a spinal fusion or ADR within the next five years or so, but he would not perform it now. Firstly because it is not a burning necessity (I had a microdisc instead two weeks ago), but also because it is not perfected and he is hoping for some breakthroughs in the next few years that will advance the technology.

My advice would be to do as MUCH research as possible. There are two types of ADR: one is currently approved by the FDA and one is pending approval (this is the Charite disc), although it is practised in something like 25 other countries. Be careful what you read online though, as the only info available on Charite has been distributed by their company. It's hard to find unbiased opinions. Sorry I can't give you more direction.

Please keep us updated on your plans.

I read that a revision, if necessary, of ADR can be a problem. It's next to impossible to remove them. A fusion could be redone. I was fused with BMP.

Have you considered going to the Mayo Clinic for an opinion? I am in chronic pain since I've had a microdisc. 2 months ago. All the meds that they give me do nothing but cause me to be depressed. Tomorrow I am scheduled for a mylegram, and Im scared as hell because of all the possible complications. My next step is the Mayo clinic( THey are voted #1 for neurosurgery in the country). I probably will be paying thousands out of pocket for this, but it's getting to the point of "who cares, it's only money". I'm only 42 and not ready to live the rest of my life in chronic pain. Don't give up hope! Ps- Disc replacement is still pretty new, make sure if you have it done your not one of the first ones for that Doc. Good luck.