What's your experience with Vertiflex Superion Implant?

Had implant at L2/L3 this past year hoping for relief from shopping cart syndrome. Did not help that. There is a question as whether this will prevent a worsening of L2/L3 over time. I have severe stenosis at 2 levels I.e. L2/L3 and L3/L4.

I still have shopping cart syndrome and low back left side pain at L2/L3.

It also may have worsened the L3/L4 but not sure. Pursuing other min invasive possibly MILD.

There are different sizes.

After having Inspiron installed with no impact at L2/L3 I will offer this advice. 1. According to the vendor it may work for moderate to severe stenosis. My L2/L3 is severe. 2. I had a ortho surgeon do it because of his knowledge of spine. 3. Surgeon suggested doing 2 but I opted for one. May be my bad.

4. I have a friend who is in his 90's who had interspinous spacer done at one level about 40 years ago and it fixed his problem so it does work for the correct diagnosis.

I am now pursing a doc who will work with me collaboratively in reviewing my MRI to pin point where pain is coming from before considering more options.

I think that is true for most back surgeries. It is common knowledge and yet we keep doing em. Pain is the motivator and fear of the unknown in the future.

SJS1951,
Would you mind sharing with the group if you have spinal stenosis and if so is it considered moderate or severe? Also, have you had any surgery prior to the vertiflex implant like a fusion or or spinal laminectomy?

hank,
I am new to this forum and the best I can see is that most of the posts are threee years old. It seems that a lot of those who have posted have had failed procedures. There can be numerous reasons why they did not have positive results, but as I try to decipher why did their procedures fail, here is what I am observing.
Many have had prior surgeries, such as laminectomy or fusion. Many were diagnosed as "severe" spinal stenosis and turned to the vertiflex as an option that was never available prior to their surgeries.
In 2023, BioScientific and the FDA are not recommending the vertiflex implant for patients who have this type of history.
Myself, age 62, moderate spinal stenosis, no prior history of any surgeries and minimal injections (2) to relieve pain. However, I do have "mild" scoliosis in my middle/upper spine. This concerned the orthopeodic and neurosurgeon I consulted with and both did not offer optomistic outcomes for surgery, one being spinal fusion, the other spinal lamenectomy. The neurosugeon of course said he could correct the scoliosis with surgery (rods and screws) after the lamenectomy. The orthopeodic, totally not optomistic, even though the MRI, stated "MINOR" barely significant. Needless to say, I did not say sign me up to either.
I would love to have more recent feedback from forum members that are more like me, and not in advanced spinal stenosis or have a fragmented spine due to injections or surgeries.
Do you have any more recent input from forum members who have had the procedure done with success? If anyone out there reading is is that person, please reply.

Did not help me at all. May have made pain worse

My vertiflex procedure is not even a year old I had one epidural in the past which worked for a couple of months then I had the surgery westinosis was an L4 and L5 my main problem was the weakness in the legs which still persists to this day

Yes I did have stenosis and it was minor and did not have any surgery prior to the vertiflex

I am a believer in minimal invasive spine surgery. Focus on identifying and relieving the sources of pain, not fixing your entire DDD. Chances are the pain comes from a tiny spot that needs relief. Most surgeons seem to want to do an overhaul which may fix one problem and create many others. Just my opinion from speaking to many. Difficult task finding the right surgeon who can do the procedures and willing to work collaboratively.
My opinion.