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1. My left side was cut open in order to get to the spine and the plastic Prodisc core was drilled out.
2. In order to free Prodisc keels, I had nearly 1/3 of my L5 vertebra dug out (major corpectomy).
3. My back side was also cut open (in 2 places) and my spine was fixated together (intended fusion) with screws and rods.

• Unfortunately, my revision surgeon did not (or was not able to) reduce the space between vertebra and did not correct the segmental lordosis (abnormal pelvic tilt).  He stated that he could not, because the oversized Prodisc had stretched the connective tissues, and he could not force them back together. In our understanding from the med. literature and other surgeons, an exaggerated segmental lordosis creates an exaggerated pelvic tilt, which will inevitably create problems due to the entire weight of the spine going straight into the next level (L5/S1) facets.

• My current doctor's report states that I have pseudoarthrosis, i.e. I have no solid fusion due to exaggerated distance between my L4 and L5 vertebra (from oversized Prodisc) and massive L5 corpectomy. I.e. in order for bones to grow together, one has to put them reasonably close enough so that chemical signals can work together (basic biology). It is reported in the literature that most fusion failures are iatrogenic, i.e. due to bad surgical techniques.
  

• I was in a wheel chair for about 2 months post revision, unable to straighten my leg (operated side). It was curled up in an excruciating cramp 24/7. I have parathtesia of my left thigh (operated side) that didnt clear off, sympathetic nerve/geneto-femoral nerve damages that effect greatly my left leg every day- all due to the extremely complicated psoas muscle approach in order to take ProDisc out.  The revision recovery was so extremely painful for the first 5 months that I hardly can allow myself to look back...
  

• My current doctor thinks that I have painful hardware. I had two "hardware blocks" on the right side - both were positive for pain relief. My right lower screw head is sticking out into the muscle about 1 cm more than the other 3. Unless it's some kind of nerve damage from the revision, it seems that the right side screws are causing me extreme nerve pain in my right side/leg/hip/buttock. I hoped so much to take out all the hardware! Unfortunately, with no solid fusion - I cant take it out. The progression of fusion seems to be stopped in 2008 according to 2008 and 2010 CT scans.