Wallis Implant L5/S1

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HI can i ask what hospital you had you op done. I had a prolapsed disc at L5/S1 i had op done in 2007.Was fine up to this month. Going for mri this week to see whats going on. Can you tell me what hospital you had op done in
 
Ive recently had a wallis implant inserted, cannot seem to find anyone else who has had this surgery. I know it is new in Ireland, only last 2 years but it has been done in UK and USA for 10 years apparently. Looking for stories, the good the bad and the ugly please :)
 
Hi Jo
My goodness, you're so young to have all that back trouble. Can I ask if you had an accident or did it just develop?
SounRAB very like we both had the same surgeon. My surgery took place in the Hermitage and like yourself, there were follow up questionnaires.
I would still have some nerve pain but it has eased considerably over the last year. I was told that the length of time you have pain before surgery is an indicator of how long it will take for the pain to subside.
I really hope that the Wallis implant will solve your back problems for good. I would say in my case, that I will probably always have a back weakness, but the pain reduction and increased mobility makes life so much better.
Take care
Jess
 
Hi Jo
I had a Wallis Implant and discectomy done 12 months ago, in Dublin. I have no regrets. My quality of life is so much better and I rarely need a painkiller (only when I overdo things). Jessiemac
 
Hi there
Sorry to hear you're having problems. I had my surgery in the Hermitage. Jess
 
Hi jesse,
thats gr8 to hear you made a full recovery, what level did u have it done at? id say we have the same surgeon if it was done in dublin, as far as i no only one guy doing it, maybe personal message me who your surgeon was. . . prob not allowed to put names up on here.
thanks a million
lookin forward to hearin from you
 
Hi Jo
I'm in mid fifties. Had implant at L4/L5. Was in pain for 3 years. While in considerable pain and discomfort on holiday in Turkey during year1, I visited an orthopedic surgeon who organised an mri and xrays and diagnosed spondylolisthesis. He advised seeing an orthopedic surgeon when I returned home. Unfortunately, when I got home, the orthopedic surgeon 'rubbished' the skills of his Turkish counterpart (even refused to view MRI).

Must have seen at least 20 different consultants, physiotherapists, etc - not one of whom offered any
diagnosis or remedy (except painkillers and exercises that I was unable to do).

Fortunately, 3 years of pain later, I happened upon a website for a spine consultant in Dublin and it
actually mentioned spondylolisthesis. The neurosurgeon (don't think I can name him in forum) diagnosed the problem and I had the surgery last August. I am so grateful that the gnawing pain is gone at last. I'll never run a marathon and my legs are a bit weak but compared to this time last year, my quality of life is so much better.

Recovery was gradual. Each month post surgery (even now) I feel a bit better. The Wallis implant has improved my life no end and I hope you also get a good outcome.

Jess
 
Hi Jess
fantastic to hear ur surgery led to a massive improvement, my situation was
different, pain due to prolapsed disc at L5/S1, 4 years ago which I had surgery for (orthopaedic surgeon) and then in April this year, new surgeon (neurosurgeon) re-operated on that disc and inserted the wallis implant with the hope of saving that disc and also stabilizing my back a bit so that i hopefully wont need a third surgery.
at 27 and 2 spine surgeries under my belt, i do hope this implant will do the trick, so gr8 to hear its going well for you, nobody has heard of this implant thats why i posted up on here as far as i know my surgeon was only person using it in Dublin, I had to fill out a pain questionaire and will have to fill them out over the next year or so. Did u have to fill in the questionnaire?
I still have quite a bit of nerve pain in my leg, and still taking lyrica for it but he has instructed me to come off them, which i am but the pain is increasing so im a little bit worried as im going to UCD in sept to do postgrad and currently cannot sit for long perioRAB due to the pain.

looking forward to hearing from you
take care
 
Jess
I didnt have an accident it just developed, which is a great cause for concern given my age and prospect of further surgeries with age etc...
 
I had mine done in the hermitage aswell, jess we must have the same surgeon, it is a huge comfort to know you are doing so well a year on
take care
 
Hi Jo John here, I also had two microdiscectomies at the hermitage on my l3/l4 disc with a Wallis implant put in at this level. I have had no improvement I am left in a total mess I feel like they just took my money and now that i am being a hassle to them I have just being shipped off to a pain specialist so to wash there hanRAB of me.
I am so disappointed in the way he did not stick it out with me to the end as I never put him under any pressure and I would have done anything to get better. I can hopefully help you now in some way, I am going to a pain specialist at the matter Private his name is Frank Charabers and he is a total gentleman he gave me two caudal epidurals in the last four months and they have helped me get going at some swimming I know you got some injections before but they will help you more now. My advice to you is and this is a must swim at least five times a week to build up your back just get into the pool and swim the two to do is the crawl or just gently on your back kicking your legs but swim up and down for at least half a hour also I can give you three other exercises that will build up your back and not hurt it at the same time if you want - one of them are pelvic floor exercises but swimming is very very very important. if you can not swim learn if you want to get better. Buy yourself a few of luraber supports for your chair at home, work and your car keep your back in good posture do not slouch. I find when my back gets very bad I use a mix of two drugs tramadol 100 prolonged release only one a day and 75 of diffine as well and only take them when you realy need them as you don't want to get to fond of the tramadol also if you can take some zoton for your stomach as the diffine can be hard on it these work for me and might work for you.
The next thing to do is try and ice your back twice a day when you get home and after exercising this will help greatly but do not put any heat on your back as this does not help inflammation. If your back pain is gone I think you will recover don't worry two much about your leg it should improve slowly as the nerve heals as long as he removed the herniated part of the disc properly which he did not do in my case. Do not be afraid to get a second opinion either with more scans Padraig O Neill would be a good man for this I hear but give the few things I suggested a try for three to four months.
Don't let it beat you Jo and best of luck.
RegarRAB John.
 
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