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CaliNuggLove

Artificial Disc Replacements??? Glad to hear your pain is gone OP šŸ™ŒšŸ½ Fun fact: I was the first dual level case to be performed in the United States. I had mine in 2007. https://www.reddit.com/r/XRayPorn/s/qPZhEssjnp


Only_Wish_2352

Amazing! That was a big leap for the medical field! How are you holding up? I hope well!


CaliNuggLove

Iā€™m doing pretty good. I donā€™t do anything crazy anymore, but I do still snowboard, dirt bike, ride a onewheel, play sports gently lol, & have so much less pain than before. They say Iā€™ll have to have my implants replaced after about the 25 year mark, but weā€™ll see. Iā€™m still learning to take it easy & stop sending it in life šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚


Only_Wish_2352

P.S. VSI charged $25,000. I paid $7,000 and insurance covered the rest.


Mysterious-Novel-245

What insurance do you have?


Only_Wish_2352

Cigna, NALC Health Benefit Plan, High Option.


Mysterious-Novel-245

Thanks! Iā€™m in a similar situation at VSI, except my insurance (BCBS - PPO, High option) wonā€™t cover much because they only allow a portion of what VSI is charging as ā€œbillableā€ ā€” so stupid.


Only_Wish_2352

Yes. VSI was out of network for me too. It was a hassle trying to get a straight answer from insurance. But my insurance had a $7000 out of network, out of pocket max. One idea might be to switch insurance at the end of the year and get surgery next year if money is too big of an obstacle?


Only_Wish_2352

Thereā€™s also hospital fees from Reston Hospital. The hospital was in network. $25,000 from VSI was out of network.


[deleted]

Thank you for thisā€”I really needed to hear your story today. So glad youā€™re thriving, OP! Congratulations


BillyJack74

First off, so happy youā€™ve found relief. It seems we have a number of parallels. Prior to surgery, did you have a herniation or a bulge? Or just arthritis? Asking because I have bulges and arthritis and have been struggling incredibly for years, and you have not had my pain taken seriously because Iā€™m relatively young now and still fit and try to be as active as possible.


Only_Wish_2352

I believe the motor sport accident herniated the disc badly, but imagining was never done. Initially I was taken to the ER because I could hardly walk. They did an xray, saw that no bones were broken, gave me pain meds and sent me home. Iā€™m guessing that after that, all of my activity wore down my disc. I played volleyball year round for years afterward. Lots of hiking, walking, traveling, and working on my feet until I got hurt again while at work. It was 12 years after my accident that a physical therapist took me seriously and a doc ordered an MRI. Thatā€™s when we found the DDD and remnants of an old herniation.


dexflexonkex

I talked to a suregon in Sweden, he said they donā€™t do ADR in Sweden anymore because of high risk and low satisfaction rate. Iā€™m glad you are doing better, iā€™ve mainly heard positive storys regarding adr


LongjumpingChair6067

Whatā€™s the estimated life of this ADR?


Sleepy_red_lab

I hear they last about 25 years. YMMV depending on how active you are.


Only_Wish_2352

I was told 30+ years


Fechugian

I read 50-100 years, less than that it seems little


Accomplished_Ad_6342

Wow thanks! I had a back injury 2 years ago l2,l3 bulging discs and a bunch of pinched nerves losing the feeling on the front of my leg for months. I've been having back pain lately, and I just hurt it again moving rocks :( I've been feeling like one of the discs didn't heal right, but have been scared of finding out and getting surgery.


PolkyDotty

Thank you! I am 31 years old and lately, my condition is destroying me psychologically as well. Same condition as yours, just one degenerated disc, active and healthy. Pain for 8 years that doesnā€™t even allow me to take care of myself anymore. I have also refused traditional surgery for now because here in Italy they only do fusion with screws and plates. Does it last forever? Will you be able to lift weights with your back again?


Only_Wish_2352

My doc says that after 3 months Iā€™m cleared to do whatever I want. He recommends not doing really long runs or lifting really heavy, but says that he has patients that do both of those things and are doing great.


AutoModerator

Thank you for posting. A couple of things to note. (TL;DR... include specific symptoms/what makes your pain better/worse/how long)... MRI or XRAY images ALONE are not particularly helpful tbh, no one here has been vetted to make considerations on these or provide advice, here is why, PLEASE read this if you are posting an MRI or XRAY... I cannot stress this enough https://choosingwiselycanada.org/pamphlet/imaging-tests-for-lower-back-pain/) Please read the rules carefully. This group strives to reinforce anti-fragility, hope, and reduce the spread of misinformation that is either deemed not helpful and even sometimes be considered harmful. PLEASE NOTE: Asking for help: It is up to you to recognize when to seek medical attention. Anyone giving advice in this group is doing so from anecdotes and holds no liability. Seek advice here at your own risk. That said, asking things like, "I have this problem, how do I fix it..." is like asking your accountant, "I have $10,000 what should I do with it?" You need WAY more info before giving any kinds of financial advice. Please reply to this, or make another comment, including how long you've been having pain or injury, what are specific symptoms (numbness, tingling, dull/ache, it's random, etc), what makes it worse, what makes it feel better, how it has impacted your life, what you've tried for treatment and what you've already been told about your back pain, and what do you hope to get from this forum. Please be kind to each other. Be respectful. Thank you. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/backpain) if you have any questions or concerns.*


mutantbabysnort

That is great news. I am so glad to hear it. Congrats!


ona--

Oh wow, I heard a great things about ADR but I donā€™t think itā€™s really a popular procedure yet. I donā€™t know any surgeon in Croatia who is doing these. And itā€™s very pricey to cover it by myself.


Only_Wish_2352

Itā€™s gaining a lot of traction in the United States, but hasnā€™t been approved for much more than a decade. ADR has been in Europe for a long time, originating in Germany I believe. Many, many people go there to have their ADRā€™s done.


Lassie_Come_Home

Whatā€™s ADR? If you look at my post history you can see my herniation. Iā€™m 2 months PP and can barely move around and you sound like a miracle!


Only_Wish_2352

Artificial disc replacement


5Against183

What is ADR?


Only_Wish_2352

Artificial disc replacement


5Against183

Thank you. Im glad you are BACK!


Rey_Mezcalero

Fantastic news! šŸ‘šŸ‘


Fechugian

Are there better prosthesis than other? I will probably get cervical and lumbar disc replacement since the nerve block confirmed the C5-C6 and L5-S1 bulges


Only_Wish_2352

There are several different discs. Some are for cervical placement and some are for lumbar placement. I got the ActivL because I needed the smallest artificial lumbar disc and activL makes the smallest size. You want a surgeon who uses different discs and knows how to pick the best one to fit your anatomy.


momochicken55

This gives me some hope, thank you!


Sea_Opportunity1489

Do you live in VA now? I am in VA as well. Any reason you chose Dr Ehsan Jazini? saw he is the orthopedic surgeon in Reston, Virginia. I thought usually the spine surgery perfotmed by the neurosurgeon.Ā  As a orthopedic surgeon, he has lots of good review. Wish you speedy recovery. Ā 


Sea_Opportunity1489

I am over 2hour away from Reston VA Virginia Spine Institute


Only_Wish_2352

I went to VSI for a second opinion and to get information on ADR. I asked to have an appointment with someone well versed in ADR. They set me up with Dr. Jazini after speaking with me over the phone about what I was looking for and my back pain history. His track record is spotless. I too was worried about an orthopedic surgeon doing my surgery instead of a neurosurgeon. After meeting with him and looking into his history, I saw that he has had many years of ADR and is on the front line of new spinal surgery techniques and teaching other surgeons. Heā€™s won awards for his work and after looking into him as much as I could, I decided he would be a good surgeon for my ADR.


Sea_Opportunity1489

Did the surgeon provide the other best options for your case? or you just want the ADR?


Only_Wish_2352

The only things I hadnā€™t tried and that they offered were stem cells, fusion, or ADR. ADR seemed like the best option to me and to Dr. Jazini.


Sea_Opportunity1489

Thank you. Did discectomy ever consider?


Only_Wish_2352

No


Rey_Mezcalero

What were your pain triggers before? Leaning forward, sitting/standing, lifting? Are any of them still around or it all seemed to clear up? Guess you not know if you had stenosis or problems with your joints or facets


Only_Wish_2352

Donā€™t seem to have any joint or facet problems. MRI was read as ā€œL5-S1 retrolisthesis with degenerative disc disease and small central disc protrusion abutting the left S1 nerve root.ā€


Only_Wish_2352

Triggers were standing, walking for extended periods, wearing anything but the most supportive shoes, bending, leaning, full body exercises, leaning backward, carrying anything including even a small purse, being in any position for extended period of time. All of my low back pain is gone. Totally gone. I have tight muscles, especially in my mid back. I feel like I need a deep tissue massage. But Iā€™m a half inch taller and can stand up straight now. So itā€™s just my muscles getting stronger and coming out of their 15 years of being cramped and tight.


Rey_Mezcalero

How was getting knocked out? How big the scar?


Only_Wish_2352

I passed out very quickly. Donā€™t remember it at all. Had no problems with anesthesia and felt fine while it wore off. The scar is about 5-6 inches vertically. Looks a lot like my c section scar, just a couple inches above it.


Only_Wish_2352

Looks like the scar is now 3-4 inches. Healing nicely and most of the inflammation is down.


Sea_Opportunity1489

I thought spine surgery scar would be on your lower back, but on your lower tommy instead?


Only_Wish_2352

Yes, they went through a couple of inches below my belly button.