On October 2, I was required to have spinal fusion surgery on my L5/S1 vertebrea. The surgeon used Medtronics Infuse BMP along with the Medtronics cage to hold the fusion in place. Within two weeks after surgery, I was suffering serve leg pain and back pain. I had not had any leg pain prior to surgery. During the first week in November, I had to have a sack of fluid removed that had grown around the nerve and was pressing on the nerve. My surgeon had never experienced this with any patient before. Within two weeks of having this fluid aspiration, the fluid returned.
On December 21, I was required to have another surgery. This time my neurosurgeon sealed all the exposed edges of the Medtronics Infuse up in order that they could not create any additional inflammation in the hopes that this would get rid of the pain. My pain levels were running 8 on a scale of 1 - 10. I was required to return to work on January 21. However, I was still in much pain and taking 15mg to 30 mg of oxycodone to help with the pain along with muscles relaxers.
The pain never really went away. I did stop taking the oxycodone for awhile in July and August, but had to get back on it in September as the pain intensified. On November 28, my job of 24 years and 9 months was "eliminated".
Between December and February the pain in my left leg and back grew increasing worst. My surgeon ordered a CT Mylo-gram on the last Tuesday in February. On March the 5th, I was in surgery again. This time the Infuse had not stop growing and had closed the opening where the nerve comes out from the spinal column and had grown down the nerve 1 1/2". My surgeon spent 4 hours removing this calcium growth from the nerve. The hope was that this would end my pain in my back and left leg, but it has not. My surgeon no longer uses Medtronics Infuse.
I have had numerous other procedures to try and relieve the pain like epidural shots and nerve simulators, but none of these have relieved the pain.
I continue to have to take narcotics medication around the clock along with other meds and am totally disabled. I filed my Social Security Disability and have received that, but it's not enough to live on as I have two 11th grade children and a wife to support. I have ask for compensation from Medtronics, but they have not come forth. I am now looking for a products liability attorney to represent me.
If you must have spinal fusion surgery, what ever you do, don't let the surgeon uses Medtronics products on you.
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