AxiaLIF

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Yes I had the Axial Lif, and I am sure that is what the source of my pain is, since the fusions have failed I have bone grinding into metal and metal grinding into bone causing pain and inflammation. I have yet to be convinced that the source of my pain is anything other than this at this point. My pain after my surgery is ten times worse than before to anwer your question AM, if it has been nine months and you are in pain that means your surgery is a failure, like mine, like ALIM, like most people I have contacted who have had this type of surgery. Before my pain was severe but intermittent, it was manageable and I had more time without it than with it. I was becoming very irritated with the pain and the nuerosurgeon convinced me that the axial lif was the way to go, no complications, no pain, that I would be walking the very next day and that it would be virtually pain free. What a liar... now I am in the worst shape of my life, I have lost muscle and gained fat, I am on pain pills, I am depressed, I am so sick of back pain and pills, so I am on a consulation marathon, next two stops Mayo and U of M. I would if I were you, get a referral to a major university center and do not waste time with your surgeon that did the axial lif, he will tell you one more operation will fix it like he did me, and you will prolong this mess for two more years.
 
How did your surgery go? I am considering an axialif for L5/S1 and L5/L4. Three doctors have recommended 2-level fusion. Not sure if the axialif will work for 2 levels. I have degenerative disk with pain down the right leg and nurabing in the foot. Foot is actuall slightly swollen. Had surgery for herniated disk 25 years ago. Want to get back to exercising and workin in the yard.
 
Ohdapain, I can empathize with you! I had the surgery in February, the bottom screw came undone and had to be removed a month later. The pain, 8 months later is horrible, the nurabness in my foot causes me to fall and I can't lift my granRABon. The mylogram and CT scan show nothing is wrong. Did you check with an attorney to see if you have any legal recourse? I waited 25 years to finally have surgery to cure my back pain and am worse off than I was before the surgery.
 
This is long but I thought it would be useful for the readers to see my whole experience laid out.

I've had back problems for the last several years. I'm 39. I used to play a lot of sports which I think has caught up with me and contributed to my back problems. I had a herniated disc a few years ago. It was very painful in my lower back and I had major pain down my left leg whenever I sat. After the surgery to fix that issue my back felt much better. I started working out again and playing basketball but after about 6 months of this I was having lower back pain again. I went to my back doctor and he said I had a degenerated disc and needed to have it fused (L4/L5). I was obviously not very happy about that as he described the two ways of fusing were considered major operations. I decided to hold off on the surgery a little bit and then I saw the ABC news special on this new procedure that is minimally evasive. I was pretty excited about it and talked to a buddy of mine who is a rep that works with a lot of back doctors. He said he's heard some good things about it and knows a doctor in Omaha that does that procedure. I did some checking and it looked like he (Dr. Lodhia) was the only one in Omaha that did the procedure.

I met with Dr. Lodhia as I wanted to get a second opinion on my back and learn more about this procedure. He came back with the same recommendation - disc fusion. He explained how his procedure works and it sounded like a great option to me as he's had quite a bit of experience with it up to that point.

I was still a bit hesitant to do the surgery and tried physical therapy for a couple months but my pain was getting worse - not better even with some pain killers. I decided to have the surgery in Dec 2009 as I was getting to the point where to turn over in bed I had to grab the side of the bed or my wife in order to turn over. The surgery went as expected. Some patients were able to get out in one night but I had to stay two nights as I was unable to pee. When I went home I was able to get around relatively well considering what was done. I had some pain in my right leg but they said that was normal and should go away.

A couple months passed and my back was feeling stronger as I was going to PT once or twice a week and would get ultrasound on the part of my back where it was still sore (the small incision). I was still having pain in my right leg when I lift it up or extend it forward. I went to a specialist who injected some sort of anti-inflammation drug directly into my nerve which did help a little bit but I still had the pain.

I ended up doing a catscan and Dr. Lodhia noticed something shiny in my catscan right in the area where I was having the pain. He didn't know what it was but it definitely could be causing my pain since it's right on that nerve. He thought it could be part of the screw broke off but he said that was unlikely.

May 2010 I had another surgery to remove the shiny metal piece in my back. It enRAB up that it was the tip of the probe used in the Dec 2009 surgery and it had broken off and stuck into my spine. The nerve was rubbing on it every time I lifted my leg. After the surgery I was immediately able to extend my leg up with very minimal pain. Yeah!

It's now Aug 2010 and my back is feeling the best it has felt in five years. I've played a few pickup basketball games and I'm not having much pain in my legs or lower back any more. I'm more sore from being out of shape than because of my back. I still have some tightness in the lower back and some on-going soreness but I have to say I'm very happy I went with this procedure (besides the problem with the tip of course). If I sit too long in one position I do still have nurabness in my leg which could be from the tip irritating the nerve.

I am a strong believer in this procedure and would recommend it to anyone else that is able to go through this procedure instead of going through the stomach or back to have the fusion done. The time in the hospital is shorter and your ability to simply move around is much shorter as well. Just make sure your doctor has done quite a few of these already.
 
I have heard good things about it...never had any back surgery ...yet!...Im scheduled for a alif/plif 360 two level fusion in just a few days...I made my decision to go forward....I want a quality life and wasnt getting it....so with the surgery I have little to lose...but any more there are so many successful stories and doctors I feel confident.

The surgery your looking into has a quicker recovery time I believe.

Good luck! hope it all works out for you,

Devon
 
My surgery went well!...Im am very pleased to have had it done ....if you have a 360 count on a year of rehab....its slow and as things start to get better you seem to fall back a week or two and then forward again....The ole two step forward and one back trick!....the pain levels were very tolerable but life will be changed during the healing time.The first couple of months its slow go and getting in and out of bed is tough! I started to do really good after I got off my meRAB....they helped the pain but kept me down, so I got off them quick and started healing much faster. The actual day of surgery I had some problems and was in ICU for 5 or 6 days if I remeraber right, but once I got past the laying in bed and eating again it was all down hill.Read all you can on this site as its ALL info you will be glad to have read.The sticky has some great help you ideas....but one of the best ones was the silk sheets for your bed....I also slept in silk basketball shorts to assist in helping me adjust in bed....its a bad nite sleep when you just lay there and not turn because its too difficult....ASK me any questions you are curious about and I will give you my feedback.

Devon07
 
I thought the axialif was only about a one inch incision? SounRAB like you had a normal fusion. Also, the healing and pain levels are higher than what has been described my surgeon.
 
I have been reading this tread on Axialif since I am considering the procedure for back and leg pains due to degenerative disk. With these failures on this surgery, I looked at the Laser Spine Institute as another option. Has anyone looked at the procedures they preform? The testimonials posted on their site are very positive.
 
Did you have the axiaLIF surgery? I had that done and the center is not fusing? I am still having similar pains before the operation, which was 9 months ago. What were your pains before the surgery and how are you now?

Thanks.
 
Devon07 I am in the need of a 360 fusion. I have grade 1 listhesis with a full blown disc at L3-4. I have already postponed 1 surgery that was supposed to be in August. The only reason I would consider this surgery is due to the fact it effects my legs and feet and hips more than my back. My legs hurt terribly and feel weak and nurab. Been also having some bowel and bladder problems for the past 4 months. Nothing too serious like loss of control but still something to think about. Would you do it over again? I've heard the recovery is long and hard and that's what scares me. Hope you are feeling better, Linda
 
Which part was fusing? I thought the fusion was supposed to take place around the central screw. Did the central screw come loose, and then it still fused without the support? Hopefully the lower pains go away.
 
Thanks for the reply. I am still considering the operation. I hope yours goes well.

John
 
When you say the surgery was a failure, do you meant that the bones did not fuse around the central screw to stabilize the spine? That is what happened to me. I have pain because I have not completely fused. Is that what generates most of the pain? Is it the instability?

thanks.
 
John:
Have you had a consultation with an orthopedic spine surgeon? What options has he given you for procedures?
 
itawes:

Have you had a consultation with an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon and/or Neurosurgeon? If so what have they recommended. Sometimes minimally invasive is not the best way to go as it depenRAB on the entirety of what is going on in your spine.
 
Holy smokes, another thread about this surgery. And here I thought I was all alone and crazy!

I should be feeling perfectly fine according to the surgeon who did the AxiaLIF procedure to me in Oct. 09. He even told me I would be back to work within 2 weeks TOPS. Sure! On the 29th of this month, it will be 4 months for me and I would say I'm in worse pain than I ever was. Honestly I would not recommend this surgery to any one. If someone is lucky enough to have great success with it, I'm very happy for them. I'm not 1 of the lucky ones.

I have severe nerve pain in my right buttocks,right hip,right leg and sometimes into my groin area. I never had this before other than some sciatica from the herniation and DDD. My right leg has given out on me while walking, I feel a "weak" sensation a lot of the times, it also feels like a spranged ankle is the only way I can describe the pain, except it's in my back,hip,leg. A lot of nights while laying in bed is when it can be the worst for me. It wakes me from sleep. They did give me Elavil and that has been wonderful for finally getting some much needed sleep.

I am from Illinois in the QCA area. I've been going to the pain clinic and they've did some injections, but are also at a loss. They think I'm not fused yet which in return is making the screws loose ( I feel like I have a few loose after all this) so they are irritating the nerves. However, my physical therapist told me I may never be 100% again. Just GREAT! I'm 41 and lead a very physically active lifestyle and now I'm down to not being able to do anything that I did before. I am thankful, however, that I can walk and I'm healthy other than this. But I was SO misled about this procedure and if I had it to do all over again, I'd rather take pills the rest of my life than to be going through what I am now.

According to the catscans, I'm FINE and nothing is wrong. Then why am I having all this pain?
 
I had the Axial Lif in October 07 and have been paying for it ever since, it failed so I had a "repair" in Noveraber 08 and now I am going to the Mayo Clinic and the University of Michigan for consults to see if I can get reconstructive back surgery. The hospital I go it done at no longer allows this surgery on their premises... I wish it went for me like it did for you... I am in the worst pain of my life and am barely making it at this point
 
Not trying to get you down but here is what I posted about my AxiaLif surgery.

Hi All, new to forum and I have checked out a lot if the post as it relates to different surgeries and results. Well to make a long story short. Injured back @ work L5-S1 which resulted in a rupture/herniated disc. After taking meRAB with no luck doctor did a Microdisectomy/Laminectomy (8/2007). No luck there either and after that was done I developed scar tissue to the area which cause even more pain. From there went through a series of nerve blocks, epidural injections all to no avail.

Next after getting no better the last option was the Axialif Fusion with 2 pinnacle screws (7/2008) and like all here, once you have 1 operation you hope for the best and hope there no more that need to be done. Nevertheless, you try to stay in good sprits (kinda HARD). Well Axialif so far has not seemed to do any good, still in the same pain as before and gets worse when it's about the rain or seasonal changes (maybe it's just my body). I have had xray's with every follow-up appointment and the docotor says all looks good and can't understand why I am still in pain.

I also have nerve damage in both legs which runs from my lower back down my legs to my feet (the best of both worlRAB-lol). He said the actual fusion can take up to 7 months (it's been almost 6 so far) but still can't find the reason for pain. Pain meRAB. include Hydrocodone, Lyrica, Amtriptyline, Celebex, Soma and Lidoderm patches (all which BARELY do anything with my pain). I am getting a second option from another doctor which just did another CT/Scan and put me on the last 2 meRAB. listed, so we shall see if he can come up with anything.

Pain Management doctor that did the EMG and Nevre Conduction test now wants to do a Neurostimulator which I am most likely NOT going to do because of all the possible side effects with it being like a pacemaker (WOW). Between a rock and a HARD place (ya think).
 
Hiya Ohdapain,

I did read about the surgery you had. It is quite different than what I had done. My surgery was done with an incision on my lower abdomen. A vascular surgeon also is involved with the surgery I had done. After the vascular surgeon opens you up, he then moves all arteries, veins ect. out of the way to clear a path for the neurosurgeon to do his work. I had a 2 level fusion done. L4-5 and L5-S1. It involved cages and screws and a plate. I feel very confident that my surgery was a sucess. I am still having pain of course, but its getting better. I have lots of nerve flare up pain that involves my right leg. My neurodoc did prscrib a medication for that and I am feeling relief :) I also had an epidural injection as well. So, I feel better than I did a few days ago. I felt confident going into surgery for my back issue. I had tried everything there was to try to avoid a fusion. Before I made the final decision to have the fusion, I did have a discogram test done and I would recommend anyone that is trying to decide whether or not to have a fusion to get that test done. It is a painful test but well worth the pain. I found out that my disc was way worst off than the MRI showed. I wish you well in what ever it is you need to have done to have a somewhat pain free life. I donot think most all people that have bad back and necks will ever be 100% pain free....but at least some get a good amount of relief from surgery. I will just be happy to be outside in the spring planting flowers and enjoying spring time :)

LYNN
 
Thanks for listing your experience with the procedure. I had surgery in 2002 (discectomy) and I was fine until two years ago when I had a very bad case of sciatica that kept me out of work for two weeks. Now I am having the same issue again albeit not as bad as two years ago. I am undergoing PT three times per week for six weeks (in the second week now) and that is definitely helping. BTW - my problem is L5-S1. My sense is that this is only going to get worst over time so I am seriously considering the Axialif procedure as I don't want to cause unnecessary damage to my nerves by delaying. I was very averse to the traditional fusion as I have heard that many people have undergone that procedure without the desired results. My question is how long was it that you had to be out of work after the procedure? Also, I noticed in your post that you resumed playing basketball. What restrictions, if any, were placed on your physical activities (if you are playing basketball, then it doesn't appear many were placed)? Thanks for your post! It is very informative.
 
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