What's your experience with Vertiflex Superion Implant?

My MRI showed that I have 75% blockage above the area where I have already had surgery in 2018. I now have to decide whether to do another surgery or just put up with the pain. The dr. said the laminectomy and fusions should last 7 to 10 years but my original surgery just lasted 2. After reading other blogs regarding Spinal Stenosis it seems that this is a never-ending thing and most people finally just put up with it and deal with finding ways to control pain. (Meaning CBD and THC, exercising, and knowing your limits.) The Veriflex I feel is a good alternative for Mild Spinal Stenosis patients but not that great for severe kinds. I will update after a do some more research.

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.

Hello @alan2112 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for joining this discussion and sharing your experience with your vertiflex implant. Hearing from others is so important as people make their own decisions so thanks for sharing!

What other milestones are you looking to as you continue to recover?

It appears my dad may be having an allergic reaction to the titanium device implanted w the Vertiflex procedure. Are there any tx options other than removing the implant?

Hello @kdurham, Welcome to Connect. This has to be quite unsettling for both you and your dad if it turns out to be an allergic reaction to the titanium in the implant device. I found an article from 2020 that talks about it being a rare systemic response and may describe what has happened.

-- Rare Systemic Response to Titanium Spinal Fusion Implant: Case Report: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7100857/

@jenniferhunter may have some thoughts she can share with you on metal allergy and options other than removing the implant. You mentioned it appears that your dad may be having an allergic reaction. Have the doctors or surgeon done any testing for metal allergies?

Not to my knowledge,no testing for allergies was done prior to the surgery. However, I'd assume it's probably not protocol to do so since such a small percentage of patients experience an allergy to the metal itself. I've also been researching the effects of long-term gabapentin use(he's been taking it for years) and seem to see some possible correlation there as well,with this and other symptoms he's experiencing. Hopefully the d/c of the gabapentin will tell us what we need to know. He's been tapering the dose for a couple weeks now. Also thanks for taking the time to talk w me /trying to help figure something out. My dad is just miserable, his whole body is covered with this 'irritation' so I'm thankful for any help in the right direction we can get

@kdurham I have had problems with metals in my body causing an immune reaction. I did elect to have titanium hardware removed after I healed from an ankle fracture. It was causing pain, and warmth in the area. I had chronic hives for months, and this made my asthma worse. After removing the hardware, those issues resolved.

The field of medicine that may be able to help is Environmental Medicine. The practice that pioneered this field is the Environmental Health Center Dallas and the website is https://www.ehcd.com/. You can visit that website to look at the conditions they treat and for educational information. There is a provider search for other doctors in this field at https://www.aaemonline.org/.

Everything that activates the immune system adds up, and the doctor may also test for and treat any allergies to calm down the system, so an immune response to a surgical implant may be less burden to the body.

There is also a lab in Chicago that tests for allergies to implanted materials. They do blood tests and have you send in a sample that is kept warm in shipping to keep the blood cells alive. Their website is
https://www.orthopedicanalysis.com/

I know that I feel so much better now with all the metals removed from my body which was both dental work and the surgical hardware. I had old porcelain crowns that were made on metal bases removed and I replaced those teeth with ceramic Zirconium implants and zirconium bridgework. At that point I felt good, and my asthma improved, until I broke my ankle and became the owner of some titanium plates. So, for a bit over a year, my asthma was worse again until I had those plates removed last fall. The doctors don't connect my symptoms to the metal except for my environmental medicine doctor. I hope you'll find some useful information here that can help your dad. I am a spine surgery patient too, but I chose to have my C5/C6 fusion without hardware and had only a bone graft. Some years ago, I had developed skin reactions to metals in pierced earrings and had to give then up. That was my first clue that metals may be an issue for me.

It's so good to know the pain and discomfort that radiated down the back of your butt and legs is gone, 100% after 9 weeks. I'm 10 days out from having had 2 verified spacers placed in my lower back due to spinal stenosis. My right leg feels SO MUCH BETTER, no pain at all in my butt, and no pain running down the back of my leg. My left leg is a different story. Because of the pain in my butt and running down the side and around my pelvis makes it difficult for me to stand up straight or walk more than 1 minute. I will see my spine doctor at the end of the week for my 1st post op review. I'm praying the pain ends. I'm not taking anything for the pain, as soon as I sit down it instantly goes away.

I have not been on this Connection for quite a while. I apologize. I am one week out from my 3rd laminectomy and fusion surgery. During this time I had the Vertiflex removed. Hopefully, I will get a few years of relief. Good ol arthritis has gotten to my hips and will have to have both of them done after I recover from my surgery last week. I just wanted to give an update for those considering the Veriflex. It is different for every patient. I only got a few months relief but I have severe stenosis. Best of luck to all of you and you all are in my prayers.

My dad is 96 and has vertiflex procedure scheduled for Aug. 12. He has spinal stenosis and cannot stand or walk without pain. He does not experience pain while sitting or laying. So we're hoping to get him some relief. He has tried epidural, oxy. Gabapentin, tramadol, alleve, Tylenol, venlaflaxin, CBD, actemenaphine. He has suffered for about 5 years with the pain when standing. He is willing to give it a try with 2 implants.
His doctor has been doing the procedure since Sept. With positive results. Please say a prayer for both of them.