I am new to this message board so I'd like to say hi to all of you who have back problems and are in pain. I've been in that boat for 4 years now also.

I am looking for others who may have a similar situation as mine and any suggestions for how to correct it considering I have been to 4 orthopeadic surgeons and 2 pain management specialists and everyone is stumped.
I had a discectomy in 2003 and then an artificial disc replacement in 2006 in L5-S1. I did very well with recovery for 6 months post ADR and was walking a mile a day and went off my pain meds. The doctor gave me clearance to travel so I took a flight to Texas. The day of my return I woke up feeling like I was herniating another disc (severe shooting pains, pressure, muscle spasms, etc). That feeling has not subsided since Sept of last year! I had MRIs, XRAYs, CT scans, and discogram etc. All the pictures show perfect placement of the disc replacment. The only thing abnormal seems to be some inflammation with the facets and L4-L5 is bulging but not significantly causing pain (according to the discogram). I had steriod injections and nerve blocks but the didn't relieve anything. Two doctors have suggested a fusion around the disc replacement but give this a 50% pain relief success rate (considering they aren't sure what is causing the pain in the first place).

Most faulty disc replacment stories I have heard are mostly about people who had it done and had immediate problems. Any feedback on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, I wanted to welcome you to the board although I can't offer you any advice on artificial disc replacement. Hopefully someone else with knowledge in this area will respond to you soon. Take care and I will be praying that you pain settles down soon.

I think you have the answer to what is causing your pain, you said the facet joints are inflammed. This is becoming a more and more common occurrence with ADR. And it seems to be happening quite a lot within two years of disc replacement.
Were the facets degenerative before ADR? You can do an internet search on facet degeneration post ADR placement and come up with tons of good information about it.
Sandi

I have 3 artifical lumber discs, L3 through S1 and I am in the same boat, except I never have had signinficant relief and it has been 17 months now. I had the ProDisc inserted by Dr. Bertagnoli in Germany, who is one of the best. They did little/nothing to follow up. My local doctor, one of the best too, is stumped. Everything looks fine "architecturally" but the pain is just as much as before surgery. I had 3 severely degenerated discs. I know several people with artificial discs at the L3-L5 levels, just one disc, that are doing fine. I wonder if the L5-S1 is the culprit. I wish someone could post who has had success with pain relief from post ADR procedures. Scott

Also, BTW, facet pain injections provided no relief in my case. I just had epidural injections in all 3 discs which has provided relief for a few days. Scott

Hi all,
I found some good information on this issue thanks to Sandi's suggestion to go search on facet inflammation.

The question now is whether fusion is the answer or not to relieve the problem. My doctor only gives it a 50% success rate in this case but this study makes it look more promising.
Scott - I wish I could give you some suggestions for pain relief but the only thing that has helped me is a spinal stimulator implant. It helps with the nerve pains down my legs but not the muscle spasms or back pain.

I've put in for social security disability benefits this week considering my doctor is officially saying I am not a viable office worker any longer....my back pain was nothing compared to the pain that was!
Take care,
Riley222

Riley along with facet issues, you could just be someone that "movement" is the cause of your pain, thus having ADR is not often effective if this true, unless your body naturally fuses it. Fusion would stop the movement at those levels and 'may' eliminate your pain.

I was only given 50/50 odds for my one level fusion helping. I was within a stones throw of getting ADR at that level and I am glad I didnt and had the fusion. From my 50/50 odds.. I was lucky that I got on the 50+ side, as I am 85% improved from before surgery.

Just wanted to throw in my twocent tidbit there.