OT: Surgery and German device

[Axeman]

ok I know this is way off topic but I wanted to share this with the rest of you. As some of you know, I've been dealing with serious illness and suffering for the past 6 years...the positive part in all of this (if there is any), is that they finally think they might know what's causing it. I have a ruptured disc in my lower back (L5-S1) which has screwed up a lot of the nerve roots and has completely affected every body/organ functions. I don't know if any of you follow the scientific stuff on Discovery, etc..but there's no real way of fixing this except for taking the damaged disc out. Now the good part is that Europeans have been doing Disc Replacement Surgery for about 15 years (yes they're way ahead of the US!) whith great results. Since I'm from Europe originally, I was going to go back to Germany to get this Artificial Disc surgery, but at the last minute Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles called me and told me that they are performing the same surgery, but it's not FDA approved yet, and after meeting with the surgeon, he agreed to perform it on me because I'm a great candidate. Besides the fact that I'm going to be a human guinea pig, the best part is that the most used artificial device in the world made by a company called Link, is German (Yeepee) and created by a Dr. med. Karin Buttner-Janz in Berlin. I actually got to touch it and the back says "Made in West Germany"!!! It was like looking at 911 part..I'm almost tempted to have a Porsche crest put on the device so when I go through airports, the Porsche logo will show up on the X-ray!!
Anyway I thought you might get a kick out of this one...I'm very proud that I'm going to be at least 0.1% German made now!! Damn Germans are awesome!
Now if I could replace the rest of my body with German parts, I'd be almost indestrutible! Here's a picture of what the artificial disc looks like..



Hope things go well, if I don't make it and you don't see me posting in 2-3 weeks, at least know that I'm not suffering anymore, and will be hanging out with Dr Porsche and Jimi Hendrix...

[kees]

I wish you all the best.


Kees.

[82SC]

hmmm

I live across the street from Cedars and go to UCLA med school...

I plan to go into orthopaedics...I've never heard of the device...looks promising

Currently they will usually just fuse the offending levels of the vertebral column to ease the pain...but I guess implanting an artifical disc has its advantages of no loss of mobility or range of motion...I'd be curious of it's life span...and how it would impact the spinal cord and surrounding nerves

Well let me know if you want to get a second opinion...we have some great doctors at UCLA and the nearby hospitals too

good luck...let us know how it goes...you can be the german version of the bionic man!!!

MJ (and stop stealing my initials)

[Wil Ferch]

Hi:
I had L5S1 problems and it put me in so much pain it was the only time I contemplated suicide ( not really, but VERY close)...was off of work for 4 months, Iwent through an excruciating series of cortisone inections near the spine ( with a small TV camera attached...yikes, I saw stars!), followed up by sports therapy and infra red heat massage. Had to do pelvic type push ups ( usu called "women's" push ups where you pivot from the hip) to get the gel back into place.
ONE DAY...after no progress for 4 months, I suddenly was 95% improved. Divine Intervention? Not too far-fetched if you have faith in such matters. I was one week in front of surgery and this happened to cancel that. The original problem was that L5S1 "gell" had blown out and was holding tight on the cyatic ( sp?) nerve, a major nerve that runs through your butt and along the entire left side of your leg.
My point...do therapy and wait it out if you can....talk this over with your doctor. For all that Buffalo, NY does *not* offer, it has some of the best medical facilities and research hospitial in the world.
Just another data point...
---Wil Ferch

[Jim Richards]

Axe, can you get an adjustable disc to set your desired "ride height"?
Best wishes on your surgery and a speedy recovery.

[dhoward]

My wife had L5-S1 fusion performed 3 years ago. It was the worst decision we could have made. Scar tissue surrounding the fusion site has made her all but an invalid. If you could find the time to e-mail me the information regarding this procedure, I would very much appreciate it.
Dan

[Wil Ferch]

In my discussion with doctors, I've been told that fusion just stresses the next-in-line discs.....watch out....
--Wil Ferch

[Don Plumley]

Close to home here too - three years ago my wife suddenly ruptured her L5S1 disc, and extruded the contents into her spinal canal. (Local doc in a box said she strained her back and gave her muscle relaxants - grrr) I know a bunch of docs and we interviewed five surgeons in the area. Choose a super-specialist out of UCLA/St. Johns (PM me if you want any details). He did a microdiskectomy just taking out the extruded bits. Only a 2" incision, rapid post-op recovery, my wife was back skiing in 12 months - 100% recovery. We are blessed.

Sounds like your case is more advanced and I've generally heard more bad things than good about fusing vertebra - so this could be a much better alternative. Anyway, as far down the path as you are, one more pre-surgical eval isn't going to hurt and I'd be happy to refer you to my wife's doc.

Best of luck!

Don

[pwd72s]

DEFINITELY, get more opinions...but I'm thinking MJ may have already done so? Pretty serious surgery...and anybody bright enough to ask opinions on Porsches would surely do the same before making a decision on his own body. You just pick a "mechanic" you have faith in, right? MJ, I wish you the best! Paul

[CarreraCab]

Axe-Man, Being fairly new to the Board, I was not aware of your back problem. I have had problems in the past also, but not of your magnitude. I am happy to hear that you can have the procedure done here in the States, also very happy to hear that you are not going for the older type (fusion) surgery. I believe the new procedure and device allows normal spinal mobility after recovery. I wish you the best, and will talk to you in a few weeks, God Bless Doug Kubany

[wckrause]

From Link's webpage

------
Potential Risks and Complications
The European data of the SB Charité show a low rate of postoperative morbidity (unwanted after effects). No deaths, infections, major neurological problems or sexual dysfunction have been reported.
------

Good luck. All of my parts are German made, and they're still holding up pretty well after 42 years.

[Tim Walsh]

good luck and keep us posted on how things are going. Alot of hospital's have network hooks-ups now and occationally you can get ahold of one and use it. My little Brother had leukemia and mom was able to bring in her laptop and jack it in so that he could do something while laying in bed for 10 days straight at a time.

[Axeman]

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
After working on these cars for many years, I would much prefer the Japanese variety...

-Wayne

Come on Wayne..if I had the Japanese version, I would have to put Honda stickers on it and a neon light around it!!!

[Axeman]

Thanks everyone forthe support and the kind words..I'll try to take my laptop to the hospital with me...

[ZAMIRZ]

Axeman, you'll be alright dude. I personally had two heel-cord lengthening surgeries and a different surgery to the top of my foot that's only been done 7 times to correct my flat feet that were giving me increased pain as I grew. To date it's been 2 years since they did my left foot (I did the feet 1 year apart, because i didn't wanna be pent up in a wheel chair) and I couldn't be happier with the results. I hope all goes well for you.

later,

amir

[Isabo]

Wishing you the best.
- Isa

[RickM]

Axe, Does that unit have the tensioner update? ;-) Seriously, I hope it works well for you. You're a brave soul for having this done here in the states. Was the surgeon your going with trained by his/her experienced european counterparts or in touch with them?
Rick

[Bill Douglas]

Good luck and get well soon, the Porsche needs you.