What's your experience with Vertiflex Superion Implant?

My visit with my surgeon went well yesterday. He took X-rays and all my screws etc. and the vertiflex is still in place. He does not want me going back to PT and felt they did not do the right exercises for this procedure and is going to contact them. He wants me to walk and just do core exercises (which I already know about from previous surgeries). I feel much better just knowing all in intact. I will continue to keep you posted. (I still take gabapentin and 2 Tylenol PM's at night to sleep).

I would like to also add that these posts are SOOOOO helpful and I appreciate all of them. There is something about learning what others are experiencing to help with healing. Thank you Mayo Clinic for this opportunity.

Good news! Interesting that your doctor doesn't want any more PT. Mine has ordered PT and now I'm wondering if it's not worth it. I can't really walk more than 10 minutes without pain, thus am not getting any exercise, although I know i need it.

@sandymorse Do you think water aerobics or light swimming would cause pain?

He did not want me to go back to PT because they had me doing things that a post vertiflex patient should not do. Laying on my stomach is very painful for me and they would put a pillow underneath my stomach and leave me on my stomach for 15 minutes. My surgeon said one should never do anything that causes too much pain. He said that a fusion is not the same exercises as the vertiflex ones. For now, he just wants me to walk as much as I can tolerate until I see him in May. During Covid, I have been pretty sedentary so I need to take my time healing and getting back into shape. Whenever I'd go to the store, the grocery cart is the first thing I look for even if I was only getting one thing. He explained that because of the severity of my spinal stenosis, it will take me longer to heal. I have to admit that I do feel a lot better not doing all the exercises from PT. Maybe the physical therapists need to learn more about Vertiflex. Mine did not know what it even was.

Good question!.. due to Covid, our swimming pools are not open but as soon as they do I will check with my Doctor. I see him again in May. When I have had previous back surgeries, I used to walk in the aquatic center's winding river and that helped immensely.

@erikas I have been told water aerobics and light swimming is very therapeutic.

hi my name is klg i have had spinal stenosis bad for about 7 years now. i had a laminectomy done 6 years ago without any relief. I can only stand up for 2 minutes before i get in extreme pain. sitting helps me the most. i am considering the vertiflex procedure and dont understand why most major hospitals dont do it, only clinics and most of them dont accept your insure so i have quotes of from $10,000 to $12,000 personal pay. from the results i see on this blog, doesnt seem like the vertiflex procedure helps very much.

KLG did you have a fusion with your laminectomy? My first surgery was without a fusion and after a couple of years I had the fusion and that worked for a while. I feel like with spinal stenosis we will continually be fighting this painful problem. I decided to try the vertiflex this time because my surgeon did not want to do another surgery because of all the scar tissue around the area. I am still on the fence about the vertiflex. I would love to hear from more people that have had that done but so far I only see disappointed patients. (myself is one). I do understand that once you have it inserted, you get more relief when you opt to have injections. I had mine done in February and have had very little relief. However, my surgeon explained it will take a while to heal because of the severity of my stenosis. I wish I had more positive results to share with you. Since it has been only 2 months since I had it done I hope I can relay some positive feedback in the next month. I do not go back to the Dr. until May.

I did not have a fusion with my laminectomy. I have talked to so many people about back pain I'm beginning to think there is no relief at all. I have had several injections, chiropractor, PT, accupuncture all without any relief. This is why I am doing the research about the vertiflex. it sounds like it should wotk but like you said we are only hearing about disappointed patients. Did you have it done at a clinic that mainly does the procedures or a hospital. I am from the pittsburgh area of pa and people come from all over the world here for medical treatment and transplants and the leading neurologist here had never heard of this procedure and I find that odd. Hope some more people write in about their experience with vertiflex. thanks for replying
klg