Anyone know someone who has had artificial disk replacement in their neck?

[Belle5]

My DH needs this done. Please tell me what the experience has been.

 

[Belle5]

bump

 

[RNMOM]

I am not quite sure what you mean. My DH had C 3-4,4-5 fused with bone grafts and a titanium place placed in front of his spine in this area and screwed to make it stable. He had what is called an "anterior cervical fusion". Is this the kind of surgery you are asking about?

He did very well but did have some swelling and difficulty swallowing for about 3 weeks. He was sent home with tube feedings and was able to eat and drink increasing amounts over the couple weeks at home. He had 95% reduction in his chronic pain and numbness.

Unfortunately, he now has a bulging disk below this area and may need further surgery which he is not excited about.

Most of these surgeries go very well. I would suggest he definitely have a neuro surgeon instead of an orthopedic surgeon. My DH's surgery was done in fall of 05.

 

[Kitty 34]

I had a spinal fusion at C4,5, and 6 in my neck years ago using some of my hipbone wrapped in wire. That worked for me and that was 28 years ago.
Good luck to your DH.

 

[wardfamily1]

My husband had spinal fusion done, I don't remember what C# it was though. They went through the front of his neck, I was kind of surprised at that. Every thing went great, in fact he was only off work for 2 weeks. He didn't have any swelling and could eat normal meals while it was healing. He did have a sore thoat for about 1 1/2 weeks though, but thats because they push everything over to get to the spine.

He did sleep in a lazy boy for about 2 months though too because he had to wear a neck brace while it was healing. It was a soft collar, so it wasn't too bad.

HE was very scared because this was his first time in the hospital, in fact he panicked right before the surgery. In the end he was soooo glad to have it done though, he said the ruptured disk was so painful before that he didn't care if went on living. (I was very surprised he told me that AFTER the operation).

 

[Belle5]

The bad news for all of you is that in 1996 my DH had a fusion between C5-C6 after breaking his neck on a trampoline. As you may know, the fusion causes disks above and below it to blow. This is what has happened to my DH. The disk is blown, but this time instead of fusing with bone from his hip (worst thing he has ever done) they are talking about inserting an artificial disk which does not carry the risk of damaging the disks above or below it. I am hoping to find someone who has already gone the artificial disk route to get their feedback.

I must know this, however...have any of you fellow-fusion patients ever gone on Expedition Everest? (Asking only if your fusion is in your neck) A terrible confession here (but a warning)... my DH was without me in December (I was with a young son taking photos with characters) and he took another son on EE. I must tell you, this is where the problem began. What a foolish thing to have done! He didn't really pay attention to the warnings because it seems everything these days has the same warnings and he did not have any expectation that EE would be so rough. (He just wanted to see that Yeti...) He ended up going to the hospital that day for an x-ray. Nothing has really been right in his neck since that time. He is really ashamed that he did that. I would not tell this to anyone else but a bunch of WDW lovers to warn them...

 

[Loverly]

The bad news for all of you is that in 1996 my DH had a fusion between C5-C6 after breaking his neck on a trampoline. As you may know, the fusion causes disks above and below it to blow. This is what has happened to my DH. The disk is blown, but this time instead of fusing with bone from his hip (worst thing he has ever done) they are talking about inserting an artificial disk which does not carry the risk of damaging the disks above or below it. I am hoping to find someone who has already gone the artificial disk route to get their feedback.


...

My best friend had this surgery done and the Titanium plate was fused to a cadaver's bone!

She healed , but has numbness on one side of her body occasionally

 

[Belle5]

My best friend had this surgery done and the Titanium plate was fused to a cadaver's bone!

Probably everyone who has had a fusion has the choice to use a cadaver's bone, but we were influenced by the doctor to use my DH's own hipe bone to lessen the chances of rejection. (Probably a bad decision as it was by far the worst part of the procedure to fix his neck)

 

[JessicaR]

First and foremost research the BEST doctor possible to perform this procedure. It is always prudent to get a second and third opinion with the top doctors that specialize in Disc Replacement. Americas Top Doctors is a good place to begin. http://www.castleconnolly.com/

I had a 360 degree lumbar fusion at two levels. I have researched spinal disorders and doctors that treat them for many years. Its a shame how many people I have come across that just put their hopes and faith into the wrong doctor. I hope your husband gets the relief and help that I'm sure he desperately needs.

I know two people that have had ADR surgery with Dr Fabien Bitan http://www.bitanmd.com/ and have had amazing results for them.

Here is a link for a spinal message board that contains a wealth of info! I learned so much there.
http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=251

I wish him the best!

 

[HappyHeart]

I know someone who had this done. I don't know the technical or medical terms for anything. But she really struggled for a few months. She did get back to normal. She still has pain, but it's less than she had before the surgery.

Good luck to you and your husband.

 

[SleepyMom]

DH had the donor bone and plate put in his neck in 2000, he was out of the hospital too quick for my comfort and other than a sore throat he did really well recovering. He took a couple weeks off work and has been fine since. He hated the collar though!

In 2002 he rode all the big rides at Universal Orlando, Sea World and at WDW, usually only once or twice though and let the girls and I go back again and again. He doesn't like them that well because of his height, his knees are always jammed in there and get banged around, so it was that reason and not his neck that he only rode each a few times.

In 05 and 06, he went on several other big rides like that... California Screamin and Superman in Texas. In 07 he went on Expedition Everest several times and no problems. Sorry your DH had trouble doing that.

 

[Dee & Greg]

My Mom has osteoporosis in her neck, and three disks had dissolved. They went in through the front (throat), removed the bone fragments, placed plastic "spacers" in, and fused some of the remaining bone, plus added a metal plate.
She went home the next day. Very little trouble, and has felt like a million bucks ever since.

 

[Kitty 34]

Probably everyone who has had a fusion has the choice to use a cadaver's bone, but we were influenced by the doctor to use my DH's own hipe bone to lessen the chances of rejection. (Probably a bad decision as it was by far the worst part of the procedure to fix his neck)

I so agree!! My hip area took way longer to heal than my broken neck area when I had my fusion done.

 

[wardfamily1]

When DH has his fusion done, they used cadaver bone for the fusion too. DH asked about rejection and the Doc said because it's bone, not an organ, there was virtually no chance of rejection. A couple of months after his surgery he asked the Doc if he would be able to go on Roller Coasters and the Doc said to wait at least 6 months for the bone to completely fuse and then it shouldn't be a problem at all.

 

[Wishing on a star]

My Mom has osteoporosis in her neck, and three disks had dissolved. They went in through the front (throat), removed the bone fragments, placed plastic "spacers" in, and fused some of the remaining bone, plus added a metal plate.
She went home the next day. Very little trouble, and has felt like a million bucks ever since.

Wow, I have never heard of such extensive measures.
Can I ask which Doctor-Practice did her surgery?

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Now my question is are you talking about the 'traditional' replacement surgery where they use your bone or a cadaver's bone, or are you asking about the newer artificial disk that has just come out in the past year? I read somewhere that they have started using the new artificial disks now and read an article just the other day about a man who had it done just last summer.

He seemed to be doing quite well with the new disk, and had only had few times where his shoulder hurt since the surgery.
Don't know if this helps or not..

 

[Belle5]

Now my question is are you talking about the 'traditional' replacement surgery where they use your bone or a cadaver's bone, or are you asking about the newer artificial disk that has just come out in the past year? I read somewhere that they have started using the new artificial disks now and read an article just the other day about a man who had it done just last summer.

He seemed to be doing quite well with the new disk, and had only had few times where his shoulder hurt since the surgery.
Don't know if this helps or not..

Yes, that does help to hear that. We are talking about the newer artificial disk.