1. < Spine Health

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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ladeedi51 | @ladeedi51 | Mar 24, 2022
In reply to @newmexico71lss "KLG did you have a fusion with your laminectomy? My first surgery was without a fusion..." + (show)
@newmexico71lss

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.

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Hi - I’m new to this group. Had the Vertiflex procedure done 2 weeks ago. Still in discomfort especially on right side. I wanted to ask - how are you doing now a year after your procedure? Pain? Feeling any better now? Thank you.

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3 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 25, 2022
In reply to @ladeedi51 "Hi - I’m new to this group. Had the Vertiflex procedure done 2 weeks ago. Still..." + (show)
@ladeedi51

Hi - I’m new to this group. Had the Vertiflex procedure done 2 weeks ago. Still in discomfort especially on right side. I wanted to ask - how are you doing now a year after your procedure? Pain? Feeling any better now? Thank you.

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Welcome @ladeedi51, Hopefully @newmexico71lss is still following this discussion and can provide an update for you. @newmexico71lss did share an update in May 2021 here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/600217/,

Has your surgeon or care team offerred any suggestions to help with the discomfort on your right side?

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2 replies
ladeedi51 | @ladeedi51 | Mar 25, 2022
In reply to @donaldfine "I had the procedure on Nov 15th. I am now 3 weeks post procedure. I am..." + (show)
@donaldfine

I had the procedure on Nov 15th. I am now 3 weeks post procedure. I am still having considerable pain in my low back and burning on my thigh. I am taking 3 meds from my surgeon to ease the discomfort. He urges me to be patient and let the implant heal. How long can I expect to have to deal with the pain?

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Hi Donald - how are you feeling now that’s it’s been 4 months.
I had Vertiflex procedure done March 10th and feeling same symptoms as you. Back is tight & aches along with burning in thighs.
I know I need to be patient but I’m anxious and want this to work so bad & to feel better so I can play with my granddaughters.

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ladeedi51 | @ladeedi51 | Mar 25, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "Welcome @ladeedi51, Hopefully @newmexico71lss is still following this discussion and can provide an update for you...." + (show)
@johnbishop

Welcome @ladeedi51, Hopefully @newmexico71lss is still following this discussion and can provide an update for you. @newmexico71lss did share an update in May 2021 here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/600217/,

Has your surgeon or care team offerred any suggestions to help with the discomfort on your right side?

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Hu John - thank you for the welcome and your reply. Saw the dr 9 days after procedure to remove staples and follow up. He did not make much of it. Kind of blew it off tell you the truth. He just said my surgery couldn’t have gone any better and everyone is different. I don’t see him again til April 4th.
I still have pain in the lower back area. The right side pain is there but not as intense.
Maybe I’m being unreasonable with thinking I should be feeling better only 2 weeks out. It’s just frustrating. Can’t bend, can’t twist. I’m hesitant to drive.
Maybe I just need to give myself some grace. Time is the healer they say.
I just want reassurance that what I’m feeling is normal - the pain, stiffness in lower back etc. Thank you.

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newmexico71lss | @newmexico71lss | Mar 25, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "Welcome @ladeedi51, Hopefully @newmexico71lss is still following this discussion and can provide an update for you...." + (show)
@johnbishop

Welcome @ladeedi51, Hopefully @newmexico71lss is still following this discussion and can provide an update for you. @newmexico71lss did share an update in May 2021 here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/600217/,

Has your surgeon or care team offerred any suggestions to help with the discomfort on your right side?

Jump to this post

I did have fairly good results to the only Vertiflex I have done so far and it has been about a year. Having said that tho.... I was ready to have a couple more inserted and when I tried to make an appt. with my pain doctor I was informed that he no longer was with the pain doctors I was seeing and he was establishing a new practice in an area 4 hours away. In my state (New Mexico) I could not find any other doctors doing the Vertiflex procedures. I now will be seeing my original surgeon on the 31 of March. I will report to you after that visit and tell you what my surgeon says about my condition. I am in a lot of pain but I think it is due to the other areas in my lower back that needed two more Vertiflexs. BTW I had the Vertiflex procedure done because my surgeon did not want to do any more surgeries and referred me to the pain doctor.

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2 replies
pablo81 | @pablo81 | Mar 25, 2022
In reply to @vertiflexinquirer "Surgeons make huge $$ with their surgeries. Surgeons would make very little with this procedure. This..." + (show)
@vertiflexinquirer

Surgeons make huge $$ with their surgeries. Surgeons would make very little with this procedure. This might influence their opinions. I would like to know

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Agreed. I spoke to 2 ortho surgeons both of whom felt I might get relief but had no interest in doing the procedure.

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ladeedi51 | @ladeedi51 | Mar 26, 2022
In reply to @newmexico71lss "I did have fairly good results to the only Vertiflex I have done so far and..." + (show)
@newmexico71lss

I did have fairly good results to the only Vertiflex I have done so far and it has been about a year. Having said that tho.... I was ready to have a couple more inserted and when I tried to make an appt. with my pain doctor I was informed that he no longer was with the pain doctors I was seeing and he was establishing a new practice in an area 4 hours away. In my state (New Mexico) I could not find any other doctors doing the Vertiflex procedures. I now will be seeing my original surgeon on the 31 of March. I will report to you after that visit and tell you what my surgeon says about my condition. I am in a lot of pain but I think it is due to the other areas in my lower back that needed two more Vertiflexs. BTW I had the Vertiflex procedure done because my surgeon did not want to do any more surgeries and referred me to the pain doctor.

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Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated. Good luck with your appt and look forward to what they say.

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newmexico71lss | @newmexico71lss | Mar 26, 2022
In reply to @newmexico71lss "I did have fairly good results to the only Vertiflex I have done so far and..." + (show)
@newmexico71lss

I did have fairly good results to the only Vertiflex I have done so far and it has been about a year. Having said that tho.... I was ready to have a couple more inserted and when I tried to make an appt. with my pain doctor I was informed that he no longer was with the pain doctors I was seeing and he was establishing a new practice in an area 4 hours away. In my state (New Mexico) I could not find any other doctors doing the Vertiflex procedures. I now will be seeing my original surgeon on the 31 of March. I will report to you after that visit and tell you what my surgeon says about my condition. I am in a lot of pain but I think it is due to the other areas in my lower back that needed two more Vertiflexs. BTW I had the Vertiflex procedure done because my surgeon did not want to do any more surgeries and referred me to the pain doctor.

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I did neglect to say that after my Vertiflex procedure it did take a long time to get relief. One of the problems was the Physical therapist was not familiar with Vertiflexes and she had me doing some things that really hurt me. I had been to many physical therapy places and knew that it should not hurt that much. The doctor had me stop going there and said he would explain to that facility what not to do. So, it did take me more than 8 weeks to feel relief but I finally did and was pleased to not have to grab a grocery cart in every store and not go to bed with ice bags. My relief did last for several months. Like I said earlier, I will repost after my drs. visit on March 31.

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paulamjohns | @paulamjohns | Mar 30, 2022
In reply to @ladeedi51 "Hi - I’m new to this group. Had the Vertiflex procedure done 2 weeks ago. Still..." + (show)
@ladeedi51

Hi - I’m new to this group. Had the Vertiflex procedure done 2 weeks ago. Still in discomfort especially on right side. I wanted to ask - how are you doing now a year after your procedure? Pain? Feeling any better now? Thank you.

Jump to this post

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I got little to no relief. It has been over a year and the pain has never gone away. I am going in today for Radiofrequency Neurotomy. I am hopeful this will work. Sadly I have a dr. that to say the least is not very kind, but at this point I have to keep trying. I hope it works for you. Be cautious of them prescribing gabapentin. I was and I had some negative experiences. I am sure it is different for everyone. I will check back in tomorrow - my surgerey is at 3:00 EST today - wish me luck

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2 replies
ladeedi51 | @ladeedi51 | Mar 30, 2022
In reply to @paulamjohns "Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I got little to no..." + (show)
@paulamjohns

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I got little to no relief. It has been over a year and the pain has never gone away. I am going in today for Radiofrequency Neurotomy. I am hopeful this will work. Sadly I have a dr. that to say the least is not very kind, but at this point I have to keep trying. I hope it works for you. Be cautious of them prescribing gabapentin. I was and I had some negative experiences. I am sure it is different for everyone. I will check back in tomorrow - my surgerey is at 3:00 EST today - wish me luck

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Hi Paula - thank you so much for replying. I’m so sorry the Vertiflex didn’t work for you. We, who are in pain 24/7, willing to try what we can to relieve the pain. Seeing this was minimal invasive I went for it. I’m better than I was but still experiencing the tightness in the back and pain. I want to bend so bad to stretching my back but of course can’t do that. Its been 3 weeks I had the procedure done. I tried everything before the Vertiflex - injections, RFA - tried each twice to no relief. That’s why I did the Vertiflex. I’m experiencing a lot of tightness in my lower back. And stiffness which causes pain.
I wish you luck today. Pray it works for you. Please let me know how you are doing. 🤗

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