Jessi L. Mead (Lumbar Disc Replacement)

Sept, 08, 2006

Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center

In February of 2001 I was faced with a major decision. I had been suffering with back pain for 12 years and I was no longer able to work on my ranch and rodeo to make a living. The only option that was available to me was to have my back fused.  This would mean never being able to go back to rodeo and ranching and having to find a new way to make a living.

I was only 40, and felt that if a surgery was going to change my life it was going to be for the better. I spoke with a doctor who had heard of the FDA Clinical Trials on Artificial Discs, he thought it might be something worth looking in to. I started researching the history of artificial discs, and found out that they had been around for a long time. Europe had been very successful with artificial disc surgeries for more than 20 years.

I contacted the FDA and found out that Dr. Wong of Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center was doing the first artificial disc surgeries in Denver. I sent him all of my medical history and he felt the disc would be an excellent alternative to a fusion for me. I was very excited to be one of the first 5 people in the FDA study to get a disc. Even though it was experimental, I was confident that it was my best chance of being able to continue my current life style. 

The surgery took about an hour, and as soon as I woke up there was no nerve pain. Not just less pain but no nerve pain, it was a miracle.  I had been on all sorts of medications over the last 12 years and nothing came close to getting rid of the pain. But here I was lying in the hospital bed with no pain, what a feeling after 12 years of constant pain!

It didn't take long to recover, just 2 hours after surgery the nurse was in my room wanting to get me up and walking. I told him he must be in the wrong room, I had just had major spine surgery, but he insisted it was Dr. Wong's orders. He was right, I was up and out of the hospital in just 2 days, and I was back to doing household chores in about 3 weeks. I was able to get back on a horse in 3 months. It was about 6 months before I felt one hundred percent, but then I was able to go back to work training my colts and competing with no back pain.

Five years later I am still going strong, I am able to run my horse ranch in Wyoming and continue to rodeo on the professional circuit. At 45 years old I feel better than ever and my back is still doing great. I can't thank Dr. Wong enough for making it possible for me to get my life back.  Now that the disc has been approved by the FDA, hopefully no one will have to continue to suffer with terrible back pain.

Thank you again Dr. Wong and your entire staff for making this medical option available to the American public. It's doctors like you who are willing to better our medical community that make this world a much better place, you should be very proud of what you do.

Sincerely

Jessi L. Mead