What's your experience with Vertiflex Superion Implant?

Hi @jkay510, There is a discussion on the Minuteman device where you can read what others have shared:

-- Anyone had a interspinous process device (Minuteman) fusion procedure?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/minuteman-fusion-procedure/

Thanks for the response. You have obviously been through quite a lot and your post about your experience is quite helpful. These "Pain" doctors are appropriately named. Mine recommended steroids also, along with ibuprofen. Took six weeks to schedule the second implant. In the meantime, I developed "drug-induced colitis" from the pain killers. So I agree 100% that Doctors not specifically trained on the spine should not be anywhere near the spine. And any doctor that recommends ibuprofen or other NSAIDs without knowing the severe and well documented side effects shouldn't be in practice.

Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.

I posted this to the other forum. Some good information there.

I am a 78 y/o male with severe stenosis. I had 2 Vertiflex implants 6 weeks apart. The first one at L4-5 pushed L4 up and caused severe groin and thigh pain. Second on at L4-3 didn't help much. Now almost a year later still in a lot of pain. A spine surgeon suggests that the L4-5 implant helped to actually herniate the disc. Seems like a lot of the Doctors that perform this procedure are not surgeons, mine was an anesthesiologist trained by Boston Scientific to do the implants. Boston Scientific has "factory reps" that try to intervene when problems arise. Mine was a nice guy but basically no assistance. Doctor that performed the procedures no longer with that practice. I am basically sorry I ever heard of Vertiflex.

Colitis and constipation from painkillers is often more painful than the joint pain. Aspirin and naproxen are good too when pain is more inflammation. Alternating them and learning whenitispain or inflammation, or a little of both, helps keep the digestive track happier and greek yogurt too eep a better balance. Your body holds your soul. Listen

I had the Vertiflex installed at my L2/L3 which has "severe stenosis" on June 16, 2020. It was done by an orthopedic back surgeon. It is a mixed bag but I will say some improvement. I sleep better, have overall less pain during daytime movements but still experience low back pain i.e. shopping cart syndrome. I wish to consult with surgeon and visually review my L2/L3 before considering next move. I am considering MILD for the ligament and endoscopic discectomy for budging disc.

We live in a profit drive healthcare system. I had vertiflex put in at L2L3 on June 16 after considerable research and did so because I have severe stenosis at that level and have developed "shopping cart syndrome" and most recently being awakened in middle of night with pain in both legs requiring me to get up and walk around after which pain disappears so I am hoping to get a little more space and relief at that level. Jury still out but I have gotten some relief but not as much as hoped for.

I find this web site difficult to use. It is somewhat random and does not seem to have a logical sequence to posts. Yes there is information and that is about it.

My back condition began in 03-1995 as herniated disc. I now know it was just the beginning of degenerative disc disease that has resulted in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. I have had all the treatments including botched laminectomy which left bone fragment on my spine which had to be removed exactly 30 days after operation. I have been to supposedly best doctors including HSS. Nothing has helped & spinal fusion recommended in July of this year. I then found Vertiflex on my own because the fusion does not sound like a solution. But Vertiflex sounds to good to be true. I found one local doctor who does Vertiflex who initially suggested SCS instead but then said go see his neurosurgeon to discuss. What troubles me is: Why do doctors not mention this option? Why does Mayo Clinic not include it on its website? If it really works, the major hospitals and far more doctors should be aware of it. My other concern is how does one not bend, twist, or lift for 6 weeks and still perform all the activities the videos describe? I live alone and own my own business (age 70) but none of the explanations describe what level of care one must arrange for to properly heal. Reading the many posts causes me to conclude that this procedure would require me to hire full time help for care at home and close my business for at least 6 months without any reasonable assurance that I will not be worse off than I was before the procedure. Am I overanalyzing the issues?

@pablo81 You can set the order of the discussion to be either "Oldest to Newest" or "Newest to Oldest" with a button on the right side. It is next to place where you can choose what page of the discussion to see. When you see the blue heading at the top of each post, that tells you what the post was that the current post responded to. You can click on it and jump to that post. I hope that helps with navigation.

The fact that Mayo Clinic and the HSS do not offer or recommend Vertiflex is one of the primary reasons why I am skeptical about the procedure. It sounds too good to be true and the presentations do not mention post-procedure PT, injections etc. There must be a reason why these 2 premier hospitals do not offer the procedure or recommend it. Can anyone answer that question?