Stainless Steel Disc Replacement (Prestige Disc)

[JenW73]

Hi, there -

I've recently had an appointment with a spinal surgeon who recommended, once he reviewed my cervical MRI, that I undergo spinal surgery.  I have a disc that is protruding into my spinal cord that has already caused some damage there, so the diagnosis is to quickly intervene.  He indicated that it was so severe that a fall or simple car accident could cause catastrophic damage.

He believes I am a candidate for a relatively new procedure that would replace my disc with a stainless steel alternative, as opposed to fusing the vertebrae.

I understand that only one product (Prestige Disc) has been cleared by the FDA and that clearance occured in June or July of 2007.  I also believe this sort of thing has been done in the UK for a while with good results.

It seems, on the surface, that this is a much better option but I honestly am a little afraid of the lack of time this product has been on the market - despite the lengthy tests that have been run.

I am an active 34 year-old female and have been experiencing tremendous pain and numbness for a little more than a year.  The question, unfortunately, is not so much whether I will have surgery as which kind.

I would GREATLY appreciate any medical information regarding this new type of surgery.  I've done some searches on the internet but each "review" or description seem to have a connection to the company that is shopping this product around to the medical community - up to and including banner ads for Prestige on the pages!  I'm having a hard time finding any objective information.

I do plan on getting a second or third opinion, but would like to be a little better educated (ie know what questions to ask) before I see anyone else.

Thanks in advance for your attention.

Jen

[Adam Tanase, D.C.]

Jen,

Thank you for your question. Your concerns are valid, and while I may be able to give you some helpful information about your situation, please know that telling you which surgical procedure to undergo is outside the scope of chiropractic.

First, I commend you for researching possible alternatives – that is an intelligent thing to do when surgery is recommended. I’m also glad to see that you’re keenly aware of how “product reviews” can often be connected to the company selling the product – this makes the review nothing more than a promotional advertisement.

Following your original plan of promptly getting second/third opinions is a good idea. Another surgeon in your area may or may not have a different point of view about the necessity of your operation, and could suggest an alternate course of action.

There’s an old saying, “When you’re a hammer, all you see is nails.” Finding a radiologist to re-examine the cervical MRI, as well as a neurosurgeon may prove to be beneficial, as different specialists often see different solutions.

Some questions for you to ask these doctors might be,
1) Is surgery really my only option?

2) Will having this surgery jeopardize the spinal segments above/below the site of operation?

3) Will my recovery time involve bracing of any kind? If so, how long can I expect to wear it?

4) What limitations will the surgery cause, if any? (Range of Motion, sensation, hobbies, activities, etc.)

5) What are the risks associated with the surgery?

6) What’s the recovery time?

7) How many of these surgeries have you performed?

8) Will I have to take any medications before or after the surgery, if so – what and
for how long?

9) What percentage of improvement can I expect? How close to “normal” will I be afterwards?

Lastly, if you’d like a Doctor of Chiropractic to examine you, and give you their own professional evaluation/opinion, a wonderful patient education source and referral directory can be found at www.UpCspine.com.

Best of luck, and I hope this has been helpful for you.

Warm wishes,
ART

[JenW73]

Hi, Adam -

Thank you so much for the prompt response, your advice is greatly appreciated and highly valued.  I spend a lot of time researching which car to buy next, so of COURSE I'm going to spend even more trying to figure out what is best for this recent diagnosis.

I plan to put calls in today for second and third opinions in my area and will take your great thought re contacting a radiologist for a second review.

Will also make arrangements with a Chiro to review me to see if there are other options available.

Thanks again, have a great day.

Jen

P.S.  For anyone reading this with a similar diagnosis or concerns, a simple web search will turn up several articles related to the disc replacement but I've found that the one or two papers concerning the initial studies and subsequent FDA findings are the most helpful and most direct\objective - makes sense!

[JenW73]

Hi, Adam -

Thank you so much for the prompt response, your advice is greatly appreciated and highly valued.  I spend a lot of time researching which car to buy next, so of COURSE I'm going to spend even more trying to figure out what is best for this recent diagnosis.

I plan to put calls in today for second and third opinions in my area and will take your great thought re contacting a radiologist for a second review.

Will also make arrangements with a Chiro to review me to see if there are other options available.

Thanks again, have a great day.

Jen

P.S.  For anyone reading this with a similar diagnosis or concerns, a simple web search will turn up several articles related to the disc replacement but I've found that the one or two papers concerning the initial studies and subsequent FDA findings are the most helpful and most direct\objective - makes sense!