Brooke, a Lumbar Disc Replacement Success

We have a long list of satisfied disc replacement patients (1000) which we will share with you during your evaluation and scheduling process. Here is one who has agreed to appear on the website.

Brooke, M6 Lumbar Disc Replacement L4-5 L5-S1
October 2009
I had Degenerative Disc Disorder in L4-L5 and L5-S1, due to an accident. I was only 28, with the lumber spine of someone twice my age. I had 3 months of physical therapy, 3 cortisone shots, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and daily pain medication (ultram and hydrocodone) and nothing seemed to help much with the pain. I had an MRI and a Discogram to help with diagnosis. I was told my only treatment option was a two level fusion, which I did not want to have.
I had a very good experience, everyone was knowledgeable, kind and helpful, from the head surgeons to the nurses.
After surgery, I no longer have the pain I had before. I am now able to stand up straight and walk normally (two things I could barely do before surgery).
I am at the 3 month mark from surgery now and I am still going to a physical therapist 3 days a week. I am also still on some pain meds (though not as much as before) and am now also taking Reqip for the muscle spasms I have been experiencing since surgery. I have been frustrated that I am not healing faster, though I do definitely see major improvement. I am told that the pain and muscle spasms I am now experiencing are all part of "distraction pain" and they are normal and will go away eventually.
I am very glad that I had the surgery and I would do it again in a second.
Before and after x-rays

It has been two years since I had my ADR surgery and I wanted to write an update. I am now completely pain free and have full mobility and range of motion. I have returned to being completely active and now regularly practice yoga and dance.

The recovery process was extremely long. After surgery, I continued to need prescription pain medication for a full 14 months - though I returned to a fairly normal activity level at 6 months. I want to be very clear and realistic for people who are considering this surgery. I have heard stories about other people who recovered very quickly, and I had assumed because I was young I would too. But it did not happen that way for me. The recovery was incredibly long, painful and frustrating. But eventually the distraction pain and muscle spasms subsided, and I was eventually able to stop taking all prescription medications.

In the past year, I learned to surf and I started doing acrobatic yoga. These are two activities that I never imagined I would be able to try before surgery. Artificial Disc Replacement changed my life. It gave me a life. It was the most difficult decision to decide to have such a major surgery, but I was not able to function as I was and it felt like my life was over. Now, I have moved back to NYC and am back to pursuing a career as an actress and a dancer. Though the surgery and recovery were incredibly intense, it was all worth it and I would absolutely do it again.


> Contact Brooke at brookeevansbeesley@gmail.com

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