What's your experience with Vertiflex Superion Implant?

Posted by esperanza22 @esperanza22, Jul 27, 2020

Has anyone had the Veriflex Superion implant. I had it and it did not seem to work for me. Would appreciate any one that has information. Thanks

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swk | @swk | Jan 12 12:38pm

Hi, I had a Vertiflex procedure in early 12/23 at l4-l5. I had near 100% pain relief for two weeks following the implant. Then the pain came back, worse than pre-surgery. They checked that the implant was still in the proper location, which it was. Has anyone else experienced this pain pattern? The doctors are telling me to just allow for more healing time, but the fact I have increasing pain makes me skeptical I will improve...particularly since I had no pain for 2 weeks at the beginning.
Does anyone have any insight or experience with a Vertiflex implant recovery?

udougy | @udougy | Jan 14 5:09am

I am considering this procedure, any information about it would be very much appreciated.

pablo81 | @pablo81 | Jan 15 7:13am

In reply to @udougy "I am considering this procedure, any information about it would be very much appreciated." + (show)

I have severe stenosis at L2/L3 and L3/L4 along with moderate and mild at other 3 levels.

Pain in upper left side of lumbar along with "shopping cart syndrome" that has developed in recent years. L2/L3 pain has been an issue since 1996 and gradually worsened over time.

Injections worked for a while at L2/L3..Now not so.

I had vertiflex at L2/L3 in early 2023. No significant improvement in back pain. I am ok with that since it may prevent L2/L3 from worsening. I am considering vertiflex at L3/L4 and possibly MILD since I have "shopping cart syndrome" and ligamentus flavum is thick.

I am now taking a "time out"...My pain is always there but tolerable.

udougy | @udougy | Jan 22 7:14am

Thank you Pablo. It seems like there is really no full relief of pain from spinal stenosis. I have tried just about everything including drugs and the pain keeps getting worse. The earliest I could get an appt. was March, and that was in November. Waiting to talk to a surgeon who will explain my MRI and hopefully give me some (unbiased) opinions on surgery or my next step. Keep on trying, there is no reason to have to put up with pain 24/7.

lizann45 | @lizann45 | Jan 23 1:05pm

In reply to @pablo81 "I have severe stenosis at L2/L3 and L3/L4 along with moderate and mild at other 3..." + (show)

I had the MILD procedure back in January of 2023. I have spinal stenosis at L4-L5. I had leg pain (calves) both legs. Happy to say I no longer have leg pain. Still some back pain but nothing awful. Just happy to get rid of leg pain.

Linda K.

savegaza2024 | @savegaza2024 | Jun 11 6:14am

About 20 years ago I had my 1st lumbar surgery for a bone spur that went wild thru my vertebrae. I had another one year after that for herniated disks. I had cervical surgery in 2020 to get 3 levels fused. My lack of pain was 100% in all 3 instances and I healed perfectly.

In 2013 I was injured in my lumbar spine at L2/L3 and L4/L5, along with having DDD and LSS, and I have been on (non-opioid) medication since then. I've had PT, fact injections, cortisone injections, pretty much everything that didn't involve an incision and am still in pain. I'm honestly ready for another surgery at this point but all the surgeons I've seen are resistant because I'm overweight (I was before, and I smoked and healed "better than any of my other patients" as my then-surgeon told me). I'm in pain ranging from 6-10 every single day, on the highest doses of gabapentin, baclofen, Celebrex, and Cymbalta possible, and sleeping poorly.

I have a trip to Istanbul for a milestone birthday in late October. Istanbul is known as the city of 7 hills, which will involve a TON of walking up them. SOMETHING needs to be done before then so I can enjoy the trip. I'm looking at Vertiflex and MILD if I can't get surgery done before then. Any opinions on what my best option could be?

Phil, Alumni Mentor | @upstatephil | Jun 11 7:50am

@savegaza2024 - You have lots of spinal experience! I have two thoughts related to your post:

(1) Have you been consulting with a neurosurgeon? Regardless - if the surgeons (you didn't say how many?) are reluctant to proceed - that should be a pretty strong message to you. Your recovery from a spine surgery 20+ years ago may not be indicative of your recovery prospects from a spine surgery today.

(2) I had a four-level lumbar fusion/discectomy 13 months ago (L2-5 similar to what you are thinking for yourself). I am not overweight and am in better than average overall physical condition. The surgeries (it was in two parts a few days apart) went perfectly but at 13 months post - there's no way I could even begin to imagine a strenuous walking trip like you describe.

Even if you can locate a top neurosurgeon who is willing to do the lumbar work - I would be very hesitant to schedule a big walking trip after just four months of recovery. Why not a great cruise? Your amount of activity can be take-each-day-as-it-comes.

keneiges | @keneiges | 2 days ago

In reply to @alan2112 "I am 8 weeks post surgery, and wanted to post my experience with a vertiflex implant..." + (show)

@alan2112

I am 8 weeks post surgery, and wanted to post my experience with a vertiflex implant between L4 and 5. I am 54 years old (which is far too young for this), but prior to surgery had received 6 steroid injections that would provide complete relief from my spinal stenosis, but relief would only last for only 3 to 4 weeks. At its worst prior to surgery, I was still able to walk, bend and lift, but with limitations. I did have episodes where I was not able to do normal activities (for me), and stability and strength were waning fast. I must admit upfront that I live life full-throttle, and want to continue doing so for as long as possible. I had two doctors that recommended the veriflex implant, and one who did not. The one who did not, had never worked with the vertiflex, and did not know much about it truthfully, but feared that it could negatively affect biomechanics. His preference would have been to perform a laminectomy. I chose the vertiflex based on the fact that it was removable/reversible, and a laminectomy is not. If the vertiflex did not perform well, I am being told that it can be removed, and I would not be any worse off than I was prior to the surgery (minus the down time from recovery). However, after 9 weeks I am happy to report that the original pain and discomfort that radiated down the back of my butt and legs is gone, 100%. However, there are residual problems with pain in other areas. I have more discomfort in lower areas of my back than I had previously, and I do not feel like I have full strength and mobility restored yet. I hope that this will improve in coming weeks or months as things continue to adjust and heal to the new alignment of my spine. I am still trying to exercise and build strength since I am only two weeks off of the 6 week post-surgery restrictions. I cannot help but feel that when you make an adjustment at one location, the rest of your spine will disagree, but hopefully everything quiets down eventually. However, the surgeon that did not agree with me having the procedure may have a point that such a device may impact other areas, possibly permanently. Time will tell. I would have to say that I am very much improved from having the vertiflex implant, and can only hope that I get many years of relief. The strangest residual complication from the procedure is the ringing in my ears. It started about a week after the surgery, and has not gone away since. The doctor that did the procedure has no clue why, or how to treat it. It is not terrible, but it is noticeable. If it continues, I may have to have someone look into that further. I don't want to get into the mode of simply chasing one problem to the next.
My personal advice for anyone considering this procedure, RESULTS WILL VARY! It all depends on the severity of your stenosis, your age, your activity level, your expected outcome, your weight, other health issues, etc. etc, etc. It is not a cure-all for your spine. I have other arthritis issues in my spine that it may have aggravated from the procedure. But it did fix the one relatively new (2-3 years) pain and problems from my stenosis at that one location. And as of right now, it was worth it. I hope the other, more minor, complications and pains subside, but to be honest, they are more minor than the pain and limitations that were relieved by the vertiflex. Good luck, and hope this helps in your decisions, and one way or the other, I hope you all get feeling better, and stay active.

Jump to this post

Considering the vertiflex procedure. Your review was very helpful. I'm in pain but not excruciating. I can play golf and pickleball although I suffer a bit afterwards. Sometimes I have trouble walking and other times there is no pain. Go figure! My doctor consults with Boston Scientific so I don't know if there is a bias there. It does not seem to be a cure all from what you are saying. It appears one should not be able to function before one gets the procedure.

Pet Detective | @berniej1 | 1 day ago

In reply to @keneiges "Considering the vertiflex procedure. Your review was very helpful. I'm in pain but not excruciating. I..." + (show)

keneiges, I caught your post and thought I would chime in. When I first heard of the vertiflex implant, I thought it was exactly what I needed to relieve the same pain you are expericncing. The first doctor who I interviewed about it said I was a perfect candidate. Prior to meeting him, an orthopedic surgeon and neurosurgeon didn't recommend it. In fact they both said I was inoperable due to mild scoliosis at l1 and t12. After finding another doctor who was familiar with the vertiflex implant said I was not a candidate at all and he would not do it. His reason was in line with both the neuro and ortho surgeon. Since then I met with two neurosurgeons and an orthopedic surgeon and both recommended spinal fusion from s1 to t10. Chances are, the veriflex would not hold at all and the question was when would it slip out of place. Most likely it would, because the spine will naturally curve more as you age. Now I am trying to get a handle on osteopenia which is causing the neurosurgeon to hold back on moving forward with surgery at this time. I would suggest getting more opinions regarding your bone health at this time. Their a likelyhood that your spine will move or adjust in thr future and that could cause your implant to slip out of place. You may have perfect posture and excellent bone health which will reduce your chances of a failed procedure. If you haven't had a dexa scan and MRI of your entire spine, you might want to consider that before proceding. I have been following the Mayo clinic osteoperosis forum for information on bone health, you could check that out as well.