Has anyone had cervical disc replacement surgery?

[themom]

Hi.  I've been diagnosed with multilevel degenerative disc disease c-4 through c-7.  I'm now 43 years old.  I've been waiting 3 years for disc replacement surgery to be a little more mainstream treatment.  I'm interested in hearing anything about this procedure for the C-spine.  I'm considered a surgery candidtate for c-5/6 and c-6/7 levels.  Thanks, Jolene

[Harlton]

   I read your write up, and I'm so sorry. I was an engineer injured on the job back in 1990. It took many years of fighting suffering and struggle to start to get anywhere, so I thought.
     The top neuro Dr carried out my surgery which had amazing results, or so I thought. 3-4mnths later I was taking some courses to start a return to work, and the pain and dis-function slowly started to return, then rapidly nose dive. My Prof's sent me home and said it was obvious that's where I should be. As I had straight A's, I could return the follow year once the health issues were resolved.
     I saw my Doc who instantly had a hissy fit,as I dared to say his surgery didn't work. Physio wouldn't touch me and neither would other surgeons. Finally Mr bigshot agreed all wasn't right and after much trouble and re-examination he went back in, this time to find adhesive bony scar tissue, which took hr's to grind off my spinal cord and nerve roots.
     I knew nothing of this when I awoke the following morning, feeling great and relatively pain free, in comparison, I left the hospital in search of breakfast at 5am that morning walking. they discharged me 3days later, feeling great, that lasted 2 months, then the return to agony quickly took over.
    I then received zero treatment, zero insurance payments, as it was all my fault that his surgery didn't work out.
    Diagnosis was now RSD, MS, Fibromyalgia, and failed back syndrome and many more along the way. So many different drugs I lost count. Dilaudid worked, thank god. then slowly started to fail, luckily gabapentin was being prescribed and that worked. Also testosterone for me as a male really helped to build back muscle that I had lost, due to atrophy, 2yrs in a chair. Restoril for sleep and diazepam for spasm.
   I exercised and stretched constantly, swimming helped a lot and after 10yrs of pain, I got 10 limited by relatively bearable years.
   I am now 57yrs old and things are going south quickly, all levels have degeneration stenosis plus bone spurs and lesions. I am resigned and resolved to calling it a life, as surgery was the worst and most stupid thing I have done in my life.. It has cost me everything, thanks to staying away from further surgery, I had 10yrs. Had I gone under the knife again, I would have blown my brains out years ago, and as a single Dad with 2 boys to bring up, and no family. They have turned out to be my only true worthy accomplishment.
   Back surgery is a role of the dice at best, my doc's, just described this way:-  it helps one 1/3rd, does zip for another 1/3rd, and ruins the last 1/3rd and a bit. In my books that's really bad odd's, but it's what they get paid for. Not what they say when signing you up for your first surg.
   Most back problem can be helped with inversion tables, chiropractors, and a healthy life style. Even if shortened it's better than what the medical profession has to offer.

[Texus111]

Hope all is well and that your surgery was a success.  I am needing to do basically the same and would love to hear how your's went.  Can you tell me if your insurance covered it and what doctor performed your procedure?  I am in the Austin area.

[rpay10]

anyone from Chicago know of a good cervical surgeon? pinched nerve/spur c6/c7 seeing my general Dr on 2/25/13 need a referral

[vrob]

That is SO great to hear that they are doing multi-level replacements somewhere here in the US! I searched for somewhere in the US before I made my decision to go to Germany to have mine done but was unable to find anywhere. (I didn't have a lot of time though as I needed it done quickly to avoid the possibility of paralysis) They need to get the word out there for others like us who need this done and quickly!!
  I have heard of the ProDisc but really do not know much about it. They were using the newer M6 discs in Germany so that is what I had put in. I found it interesting that the M6 discs were actually made here in California but were not being used here at that time. Likely an FDA issue which holds a lot of things up.

[DSFWEBMAIL]

I'm having a 2 level c4-5 and c5-6 at the Texas back institute this week. Do you know of the ProDisc-c? My doctor has done up to 4 levels and has been doing it for 10 years so I'm hoping this is the right choice. I've just heard of a newer device called the M-6. The ProDisc is FDA approved but not sure about the m-6.

[vrob]

I had those exact same 3 levels done in my neck at Stenum Hospital in Germany 3 1/2 years ago now. They were replaced with the M-6 ADRs and thankfully I have been great ever since. Back then when I was told they would need to fuse those areas in my neck, I began my research on artificial disc replacement and found that they would NOT do 3 levels here in the US. They would do 1 if I was a good candidate and the levels above and below that level were in good shape which obviously was not the case in my situation. I don't know if things have changed anywhere here in the US by now-I don't understand why they won't since they have had such good results in other countries. If it is possible in your case, I would highly recommend at least checking it out! With fusion I would have lost most of the movement in my neck, but with the ADRs I have been able to retain my movement and continue on with the things I love to do. Good Luck to you!!