hi after reading so many different stories on here ,i am interested in how many people who have had 2 level adr are really happy with the result and feel painfree.
lots of people on here who had operations a while ago still seem to be needing pain relief and medications of different types.
how many have gone back to work full time etc ?
i understand that there are various reasons that we have had to have this operation and different causes but i dont think i have read a case where someone is totally happy and off all painkillers.
happy new year to you all and best wishes.

Hi, following my two level adr in 2002 i was immediately off pain meds (once the incision pain had stopped) and back to work full time in 2004. I had no problems until 2007 and would have reported being completely happy with the op until 2008. Five very good years, only some residual nerve damage, no pain, no tablets.

hi alison .looking at your history what went wrong with your adr .
why has it gone wrong again ?

i had perfect facet joints before it and these showed serious degeneration 5 years later. It isn't possible to know what caused this definitely. Trying to revise an adr is problematic but I had a good 5 years with it.

There's loads of people had successful ADR, I am one of them of eight years standing.

Two level is something different and needs treating with more respect than single level which I had but there are loads of people out there and I even have an x-ray of people with three level lumbar and two level cervical all in the one patient.

You can get downhearted now and again, but that weeds out the fighters from the also-rans
Best,
Alastair :D

Hi,
Its an interesting question you ask, and being 3 weeks into 2 level lumbar ADR I can share my perspective on it all - albeit its early days.
I have also experienced cervical ADR and can tell you I have had worse dental experiences - I am 100% happy and pain free.
For me its down to expectation - I am 40 years old and all being well may have 40 years left in front of me.
I would expect that without surgery my life would have been progressively more medication to allow me to function as I needed to, therefore surgery, I hope, will allow me to see my days out with a reasonable quality of life - and for me that doesnt necessarily mean pain free or without compromise of what I would like to do rather that what I am able to do.
I am hopeful I will return to work in February full time, I live on a farm and work in construction but am lucky enough to be able to pick and choose what I do - so it'll be light duties only for now. Alistairs words are embedded in my mind, "...slow and steady wins the race"
What I have experienced with ADR surgery so far has not put me off what I still want to experience and achieve in my life - waterskiing is on hold for a year or two but dont laugh but I am well up for Mt Killimanjaro as soon as I feel fit enough !!
I do understand where you are coming from though, but for me, so far, its ok.

Best Wishes

Andy

cheers for replies, i was curious as to wether the people for whom the operation has been a success have left this group to get on with their now pain free lives or dont post their thoughts.
i am not downhearted i feel fantastic after my surgery and hardly any pain, (probably the same as my husband has after a busy day but because of what i have gone through thinks mine is worse.lol)
i just wondered about outcomes when alot of people still talk about being on crutches or having lots of medication.
i suppose its all down to why we needed adr in the first place,accidents ,ddd, spine abnormalities etc.
i would just like to think that now operation is done i wont have any more issues but now ive seen alison and some others have had the same discs done twice or removed i wonder about what brought all that on.
maybe i just have too much time and/or too many questions buzzing around my head.

I have had a 100% success rate thanks, one level L5-S1.
Just past the year since it was done, and to put it in context, I fell on the ice two weeks ago, flat on the arse, and felt no pain whatsoever in the back. Was expecting it, but only had a bruised rump - Fabtastic! Also, the wife has just enrolled me into a 'Strictly Learn to dance' competition for charity starting next week, doing the Cha Cha and the waltz....Ten week course and competition after, wicked! Would never dream of being able to do that a year ago...!! Watch this space!

good luck to all those going in for ops soon, wish you all the very best.

Happy new year! Lets Dance!

Matt

i view my 2 level operation as a success and thought so for every single day that it worked since 2002. There wasn't such thing as this forum back then so I didn't even know any other people who had a two level op done. I went back to work, retrained, took more qualifications, had three teenagers and was far too busy to have times for anything else.

I have met and heard of loads of one level successes but not so many who have long term two level success. However I would not put anyone who is given ADR as the best option from having a two level op done. Just the chance that you don't have to go through fusion rehab and regain something like normal function is a brilliant thing.

i did wonder how adr would cope with pregnancy.did you have ur kids after op ?. i ve had all my kids so not an issue for me.
will we be monitered for longer than the two years recovery period or after we are dismissed ,how do you tell if something isnt right.?
it also sems that most (if not all) of the 2 level replacements seem to be l4 l5 s1 discs.
my onlyh concern at 13 weeks post op is at the bottom of my scar ,it is still tender and sometimes hurts,not sure if knickers rub or not but there is still a slight swelling. so howlong for scars inside to heal fully,?

You should be fine by 6 months, the lumpiness takes a while to go down. I massaged with bio oil to help once it had done its initial healing. Soft clothing that doesn't rub helps.

Why don't you start of a list of questions to ask at your next appointment? Your own doctor will know the correct answers for you as we are all different.

I had the usual post op check ups and then went on to the annual MOT appointment, this consisted of an x ray and quick exam to check all was good. I knew things were wrong long before it showed up clearly in any tests as my left leg had trouble working. You are your own best monitor and need to ask for investigation if you think things aren't right.

There are people who successfully have children after ADR, I however was pleased that I had done having mine as I would have been very unsure about proceeding with it after 2 level adr. Again only a Doctor could advise on the wisdom of this.

Hi Naintaid

I am now 19 weeks post op and feeling great. No back pain, other than an ache as you say, when you have done too much. I have been slowly coming off my meds. However, it has highlighted that I am still suffering from sciatica (I've had it now for over 11 yrs) so I will have to continue using some meds. I was told that surgery may not sort out the sciatica. I no longer have the cold foot. I don't mind. It was mainly the back pain which caused me the most debilitating pain.

I still have tender spots and lumpiness on my scar. It is looking fine and healing well. Still a bit sore in places around the wound. I have been using Bio Oil since about 6 weeks after the op.

I feel like I have been given a new lease of life and intend to enjoy it. Unfortunately, I have been in bed for nearly a week with a bad cold. Roll on the better weather as I have been missing going for a walk.

Nailah :D

hi nailah. reat to hear from you.glad things are going well apart from cold. i to are feeling so much better .i havent tried bio oil as i thought it was only for appearances of scars etc and i dont care as i have loads of stretch marks from my sons anyway. does it actually heal scars ?
i love being pain/ache free and taller again .
hope you had a nice christmas and best wishes for a happy new year xx

Hi Naintaid,

Know this post is late but just wanted to relate how I feel about the success of my 2 level ADR as I want to show off!!! Seriously though it is quite a poignant time for me as this time last year I was almost housebound and unable to walk 10 metres without pain and was awaiting my op on the 7 Jan 2010. I have just spent Christmas up in the Yorkshire Dales and was able to walk 2 miles through the beautiful snowy hills without pain and it was totally wonderful. I don't pretend that I am totally off the painkillers though I have now got rid of the morphine patches but the difference to my life is totally staggering and I bless the day I found this site and thus Mr Shackleford I can't thank everyone here and Mr S himself enough. I am hoping throughout this year I will be able to stop the cocodomols and will then be tablet free. Only time will tell.

Wishing everyone a Happy and healthy and a painfree as possible 2011.
Gilly xxx

hi ,wow you sound like a good result story.i too am happy with result even though its early days. your christmas sounded lovely. best wishes for new year to you xx

Update

Just thought I would share the news. That dance challenge that my wife entered us for, well we only went and won it!! Unbelievable really, just over a year since my op and I win a dancing comp!!! For those interested in seeing me in action you can see it on YouTube here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYWmqG2vOv0...be_gdata_player

Good news and may give some hope to those thinking about the benefits of taking the ADR route

Best wishes to all

X

MattMy Strictly dance

brilliant, thanks for sharing.well done.

Love the U tube and well done with your recovery
Best wishes for ther future
Alastair :D :D