Lucy — Playa del Rey, CA
My back pain came on very slowly through the years. I went to several different doctors, but none of them had any idea what was wrong with me. By the time I finally decided to try getting an appointment with a physician at UCLA, I could not put on my shoes, I had difficulty putting the key in the ignition of my car, and I had a severe compromise of range of motion in my back.
At great personal expense, I gathered all of my tests the physicians I had already seen took, and brought them to Dr. Harvinder Sandhu. Dr. Sandhu diagnosed me with Degenerative disc disease. He explained to me that my problem was congenital and was not caused by an accident or gradual "wear and tear." I was born this way. Dr. Sandhu said that my pain could only be relieved through a surgical spinal fusion.
The difference between my disease and a herniated disc is that a herniated disc can be repaired and there are a hundred kinds of surgeries for that type problem. But in my case, the bone itself had degenerated and had just turned into mud, so options like physical therapy would not work. A spinal fusion was the only thing that would repair it. I could have gone through pain medication therapy but I knew that was not a long-term solution. Because a spinal fusion requires a bone graft, Dr. Sandhu talked to me about the INFUSE® Bone Graft with the LT-CAGE® Device program as an option to a traditional graft. He explained that traditionally surgeons use either a graft from a donor or "cadaver" or they take a graft of bone from the patient's hip during a second surgery that happens during spinal fusion surgery. With INFUSE® Bone Graft, the surgeon puts a surgical sponge that is soaked with the graft in a LT-CAGE® Device. The INFUSE® Bone Graft helps generate your own bone growth. In my case, that was a very important answer. Since my bone was already compromised, I had concerns about osteoporosis and other degeneration in the future.
It's now been four years since my surgery and I really feel great. I went back in for physical therapy recently to learn some new techniques for my new spine. Before my surgery I was in very good shape. But with the surgery and menopause happening all at once, I found myself putting on weight. The one mistake I made was not realizing I had a new spine and would not be able to exercise exactly the way I used to. So the physical therapist gave me some exercises I did not know. I now have an exercise ball so I can do my abdominal work and I go to a pilates class. Looking back at my recovery and knowing what a traditional spinal fusion is and what this was for me, I feel so lucky I could be a part of the INFUSE® Bone Graft/LT-CAGE® Device study.
It is important that you discuss the potential risks, complications, and benefits of the INFUSE® Bone Graft/LT-CAGE® Lumbar Tapered Fusion Device with your doctor prior to receiving treatment, and that you rely on your physician's judgment. Only your doctor can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.
As you read this please keep in mind that all treatment and outcome results are specific to the individual patient. Results may vary. Complications, such as infection, blood loss, or nerve damage are some of the potential adverse risks of spinal surgery. Please consult your physician for a complete list of indications, warnings, precautions, adverse events, clinical results, and other important medical information.
