What's your experience with Vertiflex Superion Implant?

I am starting to research the procedure on my own. So far the results have been very confusing. Web sites of pain management clinics have mostly very positive results and comments. However comments on Mayo Clinic Connect have mostly been less than positive.
Why the difference?

I feel the website for pain clinics will, of course, put out all the positive info but you are very smart to get opinions and feedback of patients that have had the procedure. I am on the fence still and it has been about 3 months since I had a vertiflex procedure. (Meaning I got some improvement but not perfect) Let me first explain that I feel it depends on each individual person. I had already had 2 laminectomies and fusions in the past 6 years and I had no other alternative because my surgeon was worried about me having a 3rd surgery. So, since I am in my 70's it took me a little longer to recuperate than the 6 weeks they claim. I did get relief of about 75 %. I still have an awful time at night. But, during the day I am pretty good. I still like to use a grocery cart to lean on when I shop. I need to try harder on walking and some core exercises. And, losing some weight would help immensely. One very nice thing is the pain clinic I used, is that they consulted my surgeon's opinion and he was all for it. Also, I had a series of injections to determine just where to place the vertiflex. The doctor that did mine had already done several vertiflex procedures and I had built a lot of trust in him. As for pain at night.... my doctor is very reluctant to prescribe any strong pain relief meds so I was taking 2 Tylenol PMs and 2 Gabapentins at night. But, recently I started taking CBD edibles and drops and they have given me 5 nights in a row of peaceful sleep without feeling "drugged" Big life changer for me. I hope this helps and feel free to ask me any questions. I pray you get relief and continue to do your research.

Thank you for your very detailed response. I have a lot of concern regarding the pain you experience weeks after the procedure. Do you find that is typical of the veriflex procedure? I have had no prior back surgeries, only steroid injections and RF ablation, which provided temporary relief. Right now I have pain on standing and walking, and am limited to walking about 100 yards even using a cane. However I have no pain sitting or sleeping. I hate to think I would have the procedure to improve walking only to find I have enduring pain that affects sleeping. My pain doctor says that he has performed numerous veriflex procedures and has had less than 5 patients who were unhappy with the results

One thing about the vertiflex procedure is you HAVE to be sure not to bend, lift, or twist for 6 weeks. So it is helpful to have someone available to help you. I never experienced any pain afterward. Except my rib cage was very tender. The dr said he had never heard anyone complain about that, And I felt somewhat better a few weeks out. It has been 3 months and I still feel pretty good for the most part. I am mainly concerned how long this will last. I have experienced feeling much better several months after my previous surgeries but after a couple of years I end up having stenosis in other parts of my spine. My dr. did say that when you have the vertiflex inserted the steroid shots work better. And sometimes it takes more than one to be inserted. I think medicare pays for a total of 3. I see him on May 19th so I will be able to tell you more probably after that. But feel free to ask me anything else before then.

Someone wrote, "My doctor has done several . . ." This does not give me comfort. My eye doctor has done many hundreds of cataract removals so made me confident in his skills. If I decided to do a Vertiflex insert I'd like a doctor who has done a great many of them. Watch the Youtube video of a half hour of the doctor using a hammer and other tools to get just one implant placed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIDfP8GWKDg
I've been recommended to have two put in and I'm nervous as can be. In my upcoming visit, I will ask the doctor exactly how many he has done in the last year.

Hubby has lumbar stenosis, scoliosis and a retrolysthesis from a life of, as he says, "Doing stupid guy stuff and running into immovable objects". He had two of 'em installed 5 years ago. The spinal fusion doc had recommended fusion of 5 vertebrae and said, truthfully, "the only thing I can guarantee is that you'll lose flexibility".

The Vertiflex spacers have been spectacular! EZ surgery, pretty quick recovery, took about 6 months for pain to reach it's now-low level. He's 76, super-active, stretches every day and has excellent flexibility. The only pain he now has is from L5/S1 which is not appropriate for a Vertiflex insert. He takes one 100 mg Celocoxib most (but not all) days, and is getting on with life.

Re: the comment on the Youtube video showing hammering the spacer in, weigh that against the extremely invasive spinal fusion procedure with all of it's possibilities for infection and, once again, the guaranteed lost of flexibility and almost-guaranteed adjacent-segment problems down the road. Vertiflex is highly recommended by our household.

My insurance company denied my request for this Vertiflex procedure. They claimed it was experimental.

Thank you for your positive comments on your experience with the Veriflex Procedure. I am considering this procedureto get relief from my lumbar spinal stenosis. The comments I have seen regarding the procedure havde been vey confusing. Some think its great. Others report having a lot of pain after the procedure. My criteria in evaluating comments is --would you do it again? One thing that concerns me is how do you avoid bending, lifting and flexing for a 6 week recovery period? How did you handle this?Do you just need to stay isolated and do nothing? How do I put on my socks without bending? What do I do if I am out shopping and I drop my car keys? Your comments would be appreciated.

I saw my pain doctor yesterday, the one who suggested Vertiflex. I asked how many he had done and the answer changed from "a few" to two. No way is someone going to learn on my back. Don't be afraid to ask.

I just had the implants put in 6 days ago. I had no idea the pain would be so bad. Starting to wish I had read some reviews before doing the procedure. I am in a lot of pain. The pain med does not take the pain away. It takes the edge off but my leg hurts if I am standing and of course pain in my back is still bad. I am in more pain than before the surgery. I just don't think it is supposed to be that way.