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Charité Spinal Disc Lawsuit

Many patients who have received the Charité artificial disc replacement are experiencing Charité disc complications, including more back pain than before their Charité spinal disc implant. Still, there has not yet been a Charité disc recall.



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Charité™ Spinal Disc Lawsuit

Since the Charité artificial spinal replacement disc was FDA-approved in 2004 for degenerative knees, degenerative hips, and degenerative disc disease, thousands of patients have reported increased back pain after being implanted with the Charité disc. A number of patients also accuse DePuy, the manufacturer and a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, of failing to warn that the success rate of the disc implant operation is only 57 percent. (DePuy has also come under fire for its DePuy hip replacement.

Charité Clinical Trial

charite disc transplantJohnson & Johnson was the first company to produce an artificial spinal disc in the US to potentially alleviate persistent back pain and permit natural body movement. However, before its FDA approval DePuy' clinical trial sought only to show that its Charité spinal disc worked as well as its AcroFlex disc and the Bagby and Kuslich (BAK) cage used in spinal fusions. Many surgeons had already stopped using those discs due to a high failure rate.

Another concern is that the clinical trial used to obtain FDA approval only covered two years, which is considered far too short a time for a device that is expected to remain in the spine indefinitely without becoming displaced or causing other problems. The clinical trial also involved only 304 patients. Johnson & Johnson and DePuy are also accused of not including pain relief as a measure of success in the Charité trial.

Charité Complications

Complications that may occur with the disc replacement surgery include blood transfusion, death, paralysis, or the need for additional surgery. Other problems include
  • Increased and/or severe back & spinal pain
  • Cracked vertebrae
  • Additional stress and potential damage to adjacent discs
  • Nerve damage
  • Spinal fractures
  • Vein or artery trauma
Charité Recall

Despite much criticism—particularly by Charles Rosen, associate clinical professor of spine surgery at the University of California at Irvine--the Charité disc has not been recalled. Surgeons predict that over the next 10 to 15 years there will be a wave of patients who will suffer complications and require a more dangerous surgical removal of the device. Rosen found that patients in Europe have found the Charité artificial spinal discs regularly failing and leaving them with life-threatening complications. He said that "these artificial disc replacements should be recalled by the FDA to protect the American public."
 

Charité Timeline

2003: DePuy Spine, a division of Johnson & Johnson, acquires the Link Spine Group, and gains exclusive worldwide rights to the Charité.

April 2003: Authors in a report published in the European Spine Journal titled, "Total Disc Replacement for Chronic Low Back Pain: Background and a Systematic Review of the Literature," determine that, although these devices have been implanted for almost 15 years, on the basis of this literature survey there are currently insufficient data to assess the performance of total disc replacement adequately.

2004: The FDA approves Charité for the US market based on the results of a single two-year clinical trial, that was designed only to establish that the Charité disc worked at least as well as the Bagby and Kuslich cages (BAK) used in spinal fusions.

June 2004: The team of surgeons who conducted the trial reveal to the FDA that the study was biased in favor of Charité, and that important data about patients had been excluded. Another European surgeon reported that many of his patients suffered terrible leg and back pain after the Charité device was implanted and many were unable to undergo a surgical revision of the disc due to the dangers involved in spinal surgery.

January 2006: More than 27 lawsuits are filed against DePuy claiming the Charité device has failed; five suits involve California plaintiffs.

May 2006: According to USA Today, Medicare decides to stop paying for the device in patients over 60, noting that the $30,000 to $50,000 surgery had not been sufficiently tested for long-term affects. Blue Cross and Blue Shield also determine that more research is needed over a longer period of time, although insurance plans in each state determine coverage decisions individually. Read more

July 2006: Dr. Rosen tells USA Today that the Charité disc does not absorb shock like a healthy disc or mimic natural motion and a dislocation or fracture of the disc can also cause problems.

September 2006: More than 350 Charité disc recipients claim the medical device is defective.

December 2006: According to Johnson & Johnson, 100 lawsuits are pending against the company involving the Charité artificial spinal disc, seeking "substantial compensatory and, where available, punitive damages". Read more

April 2007: More Charité lawsuits are filed, including suits regarding implanting the device off-label for unapproved conditions. Read more

Register your Charite™ Spinal Disc Implant Case

If you or a loved one has suffered from increased back pain after having a Charité disc implanted, please click the link below to send your complaint to a lawyer for a free case evaluation.

 


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CHARITé LEGAL ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS

One Woman's Heartbreaking Charite Story
One Woman's Heartbreaking Charite Story
March 25, 2011
Judging from the response of patients who have received the Charite artificial disc replacement, Charite disc complications have been an issue for quite some time—and even extend to those who participated in trials analyzing the effectiveness of the device, according to a ''Maude'' adverse reaction report on the official Web site of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). READ MORE
READ MORE Drugs/Medical Settlements and Legal News

READER COMMENTS

Posted by

on
Long story short, in 2004 I had the disc implanted at L5-S1 by Dr. Fred Geisler, the poster boy for depuy. I was told a bunch of lies about the efficacy of the implant and what a huge benefit I would be receiving over a fusion. Well, less than 6 months after surgery it failed miserably. As a result I had to have a fusion anyway to "lock" the device in place because it was moving and too dangerous to remove. Subsequently, I sought legal council against depuy, but after 2 years, come to find out the lawyer I hired never filed my case. I tried another lawyer, but he didn't want the case. So fast forward 20 years, I've been on pain medication just to function, it's hard to work, I'm out thousands of dollars, and disability is not an option for me. Additionally, I had to have another fusion in 2022. As a result of the implant, my left SI joint at L5S1 had become unstable and caused unbearable, debilitating pain. Bottom line.....Dr. Geisler is a sham, Depuy/JJ are crooks, the FDA is a joke, and NONE of them give a rip nor will admit fault/guilt because they don't care about anything, but money.
Posted by

on
I had the Charite disc installed for L4/L5 when it was in clincial trials at Cedar Sinai hospital in CA. It has been 20 years and so far good. Full mobility, zero pain and the best thing I ever had done.
For me, Dr Regan was a god sent and gave me my life back. I believe that having an excellent surgeon also plays a big part. Poor surgery will make any product fail Just another opinion from someone who had one installed.
Posted by

on
I had Shari desk put in January 11th 2005 released two days later took my shoes off when I made it home slipped and fell flat on my ass in the bottom plate ate right through my pelvic bone it is now 2011 I had severe facet degeneration disability never gave me disability I fought for 10 years to get disability and they never mentioned this device once in court or that dangerous position my back was in I'm in the top 100 in the nation to have this device put in after released recalled October 29th 2009 by Dubai Johnson & Johnson bullshit company corporate corrupt Giant that claims no liability and the FDA is protecting them so I'll be wearing this lawsuit that you'll be waiting years and years and years I have multiple herniations above it I have multiple herniations in my neck and there is no doctor in the country that will touch me I've been from Chicago where I had it put in to Florida to California to Indianapolis and there is no doctor willing to touch my other herniations in my lumbar spine or in my cervical thoracic spine now the government has cut us all off pain medication and has no idea that people need it because they call us all drug addicts and we're not the drug addicts the people shooting heroin are the drug addicts so do not take pain medication away from people that need it and are in this form of pain I am pissed off and miserable every day Social Security stole 30 years of work of my Social Security input because I didn't work for 5 years I lost over one and a half million dollars and looking for a lawyer to go to federal court and sue Social Security and they all say they will not bite the hand that feeds them, mother fucker I'm the hand that feeds you Social Security is the one taking your money
Posted by

on
I had my Charite Disc surgery in Dec 2005 at L5-S1 I was 37 at the time. For 15 yrs I battled chronic pain and was unaware at the time all the issues with the disc nor legal issues. Fortunately my disc was sized right however I suffered from the disc having too much movement and putting to much stress on my faucet joints. It was also putting too much stress above at L4 and my SI joints. In Oct 2018 I was advised to have fusion revision surgery to “lock disc” in place. The Doc told me I will always live with pain but manageable via pain management. On June 2 I developed unbearable pain in my right hip that radiated into my groin, thigh, and dullness on the outside of my calf muscle. 2 ER visits and MRI require a revision from L4 all they through SI. I also had sciatica pain as well. After this surgery sciatica pain subsided but not the hip pain or numbness/dullness in my right leg. Plus the pain in my back was there once again. The doctor believes I have Bursitis and did and injection in my right hip joint. It was the most painful shot I have ever had. The pain in the hip decreased to a manageable level, that was Thursday of this week. As I write my pain has returned and is increasing. It starts in my back travels along my pelvic bone, which is sore to touch, into my right hip. The dullness travels to the right of the knee and travels outside my right calf muscle. Sitting, walking, laying flat, doesn’t help as I have to adjust frequently. I have slept in a recliner for a month, but after the injection I was able to sleep in my bed for last couple nights. My sleep is only about 3 to 4 hours top as the pain wakes me up. I’m at a loss as to why the legal commmunity will not file a class action. I know a Chicago based group had one in 2006 I believe their group was Flowers Law?? I tried to contact them for guidance and they told me they were not allowed to rep anymore people who have the device, which leads me to believe they got a settlement for whoever they rep. Reading some of these stories is like looking in the mirror. I elected not to have devices removed due to the serious nature of the surgery and there are only maybe a couple of docs that will actually do it. Dr Rosen being one of them. I live in Midwest and I could have gone to California to see him. But decided I would just leave the damn thing in. I wish there was a way for all Charite Disc people to organize and find way to be heard and listen to. I don’t understand why the FDA hasn’t issued a recall of this device? Pulling from the market is admitting there are issues with the device. Hopefully one day we all will be heard
Posted by

on
I feel for all that is going thru because of the disc replacement. I had a 2 disc replacement in June 5th 2005, by Dr. Steven James who said I was a perfect person for it. After one week I started having intense pain so bad that I climbed my husband's chest of drawers. I was taken back to the hospltal , they checked me for blood clots in my legs said everything was fine and sent me home, the pain continued, I wanted someone to kill me. I went back to the hospital the next day by ambulance because I couldn't stand up. Took an xray found out one of the disc came out, I was immediately scheduled for surgery the next morning. Doc said he put in a bigger disc but said he had to hammer it in. Now I had nerve damage and life was never the same. Over the years constantly going for epidurals, I hated taking pain meds all I did was sleep, wake up in pain, take meds, sleep. I stared taking a natural pill called neuropathy and that helped with the nerve pain, I was able to come down on meds and have a better life. As a person trainer I knew what I had to do to start getting fit again, so after 13 years I started going to the gym, little by little I stared to get stronger, feeling better than I had in years. I was still going for epidural and trigger point injections and was down in meds to 15mg of morphine er and 15mg of morphine ir for extended relief. Sitting up normally started to bother me and my legs started losing strength, the back of my legs down to my calves hurt and tingling in my feet, I just had an epidural 4weeks ago, what could be going on. Went to see my doctor, explained to him what was going on, he said let's do another epidural and see. Went for the shots and after the doc came over to show me the Xray, I was stunned the Charlotte disc is sticking 1/4 out of place. Today is June 18th 2019 a day after the epidural and I am thinking WHY has this happened? After 14 years since the surgery, I was told that calcium would build up around it and it would be impossible for it to come out! I am 68 years old WHAT NOW!!!
Posted by

on
I have had the Charite implanted in my lumbar spine, now have fusions above and below, the disc broke and my neurosurgeon, in Spokane, WA, would not schedule a corrective surgery even though he did request a bone scan, an MRI, several Xrays and a CAT scan, which show that the disk broke and I have a wire sticking into my abdomen in close proximity to the vena cava - the primary vein to my heart from the area. [The doctor] consulted with a vascular surgeon and an entry surgeon and when he learned that I was moving out of state, he would not even take my phone calls.
He did indicate that I was in critical danger of the wire penetrating the vena cava (sp?) vein and bleeding out within five minutes and dying.
Posted by

on
Matthew, your story is almost word for word the same as mine, other than my operation proceeded yours by two years.

I hope you get some help and eventually find an answer.

I live in the UK and after visiting several Consultants am of the opinion that the problems are being ignored.

Good Luck.
Posted by

on
Original Injury Date of L4/L5 Disc: February 2005. Injury occurred by working all day carrying cement bags up hill and mixing cement, my work trucks’ seat was 42” off the ground and when I jumped out I felt a sharp piercing and excruciating pain in my lower back, tearing my L4/L5 disc.

Surgery Date to replace L4/L5 Disc with CHARITE’ Artificial Disc was May 2006 -

Now 11 years later, and actually quite a few years before, I have had many problems in my lower back:

Radiating pain, sharp internal pain in and around L4/L5 disc and Facet area, radiating pain in the L4/L3 area along with pinching and very sharp bursts of pain, I get pain that goes around my waist that burns and feels like a knife that cuts into my entire waist, a dull cutting like pain goes into my groin, I get a numbness on the top of my thighs (mostly left thigh), I have pain in behind my left hip continually (which makes walking and sitting very uncomfortable), In the L4/L5 (replacement disc area and facet area) I get a bone on bone touching feeling that is intense and makes it very hard to turn in bed and in regular activities (when pushed on or pressure put on the area the pain is very intense, ex. Laying on my back or wearing a back brace or sitting in a car seat etc.), I am unable to stand up straight when in moderate to severe pain

I experience leg weakness and buckling (get a dead leg all of a sudden, mostly left leg), after walking or working for a long time, when I stop my legs get a flush feeling that radiates down from my lower back into my thighs and as low as my calves. Most recently (4/1/17 – 4/5/17) my R side lower back (L4/L5 region) flared up and I had extreme pain that went all the way down into my R calve, the pain in my calve was extremely sensitive to touch as if I were burned but there were no red marks or anything.

Sleeping – Difficult to turn in bed, difficult to sleep on my back and L/R sides (hard to get relief while sleeping), when I wake up in the morning it is very difficult to stand straight due to being bent or leaning to the R side “Extremely” difficult to straighten and very very painful in the Lower back L3-L5 entire area (this happens every day and I must do my best to stretch and work the area in order to get out of bed) I had to purchase an adjustable/mattress, sleep number bed in order to help. (I do not sleep well on any given night)

Right now I continue to work and this is a Continuous Trauma Claim (Lifetime Workers Comp) - I am seeing another Surgeon who is talking about having to remove the Charite' Disc and have to do Fusion, possibly from L3-L5 due to the other discs and vertebrae deteriorating. Just have to go through the motions for now.

Reading some of these has opened my eyes and I do not want to wait for a catastrophic failure.

I will try to keep all posted of what I go through and what surgery I end up with.

Thanks,Matt
Posted by

on
I had a 2 level artificial disk implant at Texas Back Institute in 2005 just after the trial ended. Whats ironic is I was selected as a model candidate for the trial and the day before the surgery while meeting with the nurse to go over my chart I asked her this question "What if the surgery does not work?". I am not kidding but latter that evening my doctor called me and indicated I was not a good candidate. I suffered for quit some time and finally this doctor performed surgery. I wish I had never had this performed. I have been in so much pain and suffering. I have since then had a single level fusion above the two artificial disk implants. It felt manageable for a while but now I suffer again. The company that created these disks should be sued for everything they have for not testing these fully. If anyone is even thinking about an artificial disk do not do it. Go with a full fushion. It is better in the long run. Every person I know who has had a fusion is doing so much better than myself. For those of you who have had it and are doing fine God has blessed you and I hope your health and activity level stays high.
Posted by

on
I had the Charite implant just after FDA approval, and I am still fine 10 years later, but I am concerned after reading these blogs that something will happen. I still continue to do the same therapy, and I eat right, and exercise, no smoking or drinking. Any comments?
Posted by

on
Are there any Lawyers in the UK taking up this issue?
Posted by

on
In 2005 I was scheduled for my second lumbar L3-L4 back surgery, a lumbar fusion. My doctor came into the prep room and discussed a new disc spacer and said I was a candidate and we should go for it. He had done my previous back surgery a microdiscectomy that did nothing for me. As soon as I woke up from the spacer surgery my whole body was overtaken by the most severe spasms I have ever felt. They did an MRI, which I could barely lie down for and it showed everything was fine. I was sent home with use of a walker. 10 days later I felt a stabbing pain in my lower back side and long story short ended up in the ER. My surgeon came in and called the emergency team in that night and I was in surgery from midnight to 7am the next morning. The spacer had failed and left me completely paralyzed from the waist down. My doctor told my family I would never walk again at the age of 31. He said he had a hard time taking out the spacer since it had from what I was told exploded into pieces. There was one other woman he did the operation on and he called her to come back into the hospital to have her taking out in fear it would do the same thing. She was starting to experience pain from the spacer. I ended up getting a pretty bad staph infection in my hardware. They decided to do the lumbar fusion after taking the spacer out. I was given a small dose of steroids which had to be stopped due to my infection. Little by little I started to regain some feeling and was able to wiggle my toes. I believe I was a miracle in the making because my back was so badly damaged by the device and being told you will never walk again is devastating. One minute you are fine and the next you are imagining life without being able to walk again. Never in any of the documentation I obtained from my surgery was the spacer ever called by a name. It was always called the device. I did seek a lawyer however was told that proving malpractice was harder than it sounded. I am very certain the spacer was the Charite Disc. I have never heard of anything about a lawsuit pertaining to the spacer. I know that the hip replacement is coming under fire. I ended up having a anterior fusion a year later because the posterior fusion never took. So five surgeries in five years. I am in constant pain and can't enjoy the little things.
Posted by

on
The Johnson and Johnson Charité disc has been implanted in many people and failed. I am one of them I had it implanted in 2006 and then had to have a revision surgery a year and a half ago. I am in pain all the time and now to the point I can't function. I had spinal stimulater implanted three days ago and it is making me hurt worse where the charite disc and cage are. I have leg pain and I have to use a cain. I am only 35 years old, I should be able to run and play with my children. J@J states that there is not an issue with there product, but they have taken it off the market. Like me many have missed out on their children's lives, not able to function properly, lost jobs, and lost everything they have owned. We just want our lives back and to be treated the way we deserve.

https://www.change.org/p/david-cordell-johnson-and-johnson-charit%C3%A9-disc-failure?recruiter=479899054&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink
Posted by

on
First let me say my heart goes out to all of those who have had problems with back pain. I experienced a herniated disc at L5/S1 in 1998. I had awful pain for a year, then was able to maintain a bit better with physical therapy and icing a whole lot. After 5 years more I had constant pain down both legs and numbness and tingling in both feet.

I heard about this product in November of 2004 and after consultations with 3 different doctors, those who did this type of surgery and not, decided to go ahead as I was told I'd be a perfect candidate and could look forward to a tremendously improved quality of life.

For me the results have been wonderful and after my initial 4 month recovery and some basic abdominal and low back excersizes, I have been pain free for 11 years now. I am able to play sports and live a normal life.

I write this not to cause any grief for those who have had bad experiences, but just to let it be know that this product/surgery sometimes does work and extremely well.
Posted by

on
Had a disc replacement in 10/05. It helped my pain but I had a L5/S1 fusion and lamenectomy in 09 due to a shattered l5/s1 vertebrae. No bones were connected and grinded on nerves. Then the screws hurt and were removed on 3/29/10. My l4/l5 area has some real pain on the left side that's always been there. Right after I had this implant a year or two later it started sinking into the bone. The pain is from the pars and facet joint. It's degenerating and I wish I fused l4-s1. It now hurts to touch and I am experiencing budged discs from this horrible device in L3 now.
Posted by

on
I received a Charite dick implant at my L5-S1 level after injuring myself doing police work. I couldn't fell my left leg and I could barely walk. The back pain was so bad it felt like someone was hammering a spike into my spine and twisting it. I received the Charite disk in August 2010. The recovery was about a year until the pain was gone. I still needed injections in my facet joints to take care of pain in that area. I could function at about a 80% level compared to 20% prior to the surgery. Since about the beginning of 2014 pain started coming back gradually. I started going back to the pain management doctor for different pain shots in my spine to alleviate the pain more and more frequently. This July I went to the surgeon for my yearly checkup and I got my x-rays done. I saw my doctors assistant. When I saw the x-ray it was frightening. The center of the disk has almost totally been pushed out the rear. Its pushing on the spinal cord and the nerves going to my legs. My spine above the implant has moved forward approximately one half inch and caused the top plate to sit dangerously close to the main arteries going close to my legs. My doctors assistant said I should be ok. Wow. I made another appointment to see my doctor a month later and he wants to remove it. Thank God. The only thing that concerns me is that his vascular surgeon isn't feeling eager to go back in due to the possible scaring inside of me from the implant surgery. The vascular surgeon also warned me that the surgery could leave me impotent, higher risk of damage to my intestine and major arteries and death. I asked him if it was possible to have the disk damage the arteries and nerves without surgery and could possibly kill me and he said that is a possibility. Before I was just in pain. Now I am in pain and scared. I was a physically fit and active police officer. I mountain biked, weight trained, rode motocross, four-wheelers, and jet skis. I was on one of the swat teams on my police department. Now because of this Charite artificial disk I have been reduced to trying not to move at all because I don't want to die. on top of that I cant find anyone to sue Johnson and Johnson and Depuy. When does this Charite Nightmare end.
Posted by

on
I had the Charite Disc implant at L4/L5 in approximately May 2007. In January 2014 I started experiencing intense back pain and tingling/numbness down left leg to the toes. Finally in April 2015, after horrendous Pain Management and 2 CT Myelograms, I underwent Spinal Fusion surgery to prevent the Charite Disc from moving. The Disc had failed, creating further damage to the facet joint and adjacent level. I was told that this is a common occurrence with the Disc.

I have been unable to work since July 2014.

I have been unsuccessful in finding an Attorney to take the case
Posted by

on
Had a two-level charite disc procedure in 2006. Collapsed in two different directions within six months. Just now found out about things and why it never should have been implanted. Had multiple herniations in spine, was never FDA-approved for two-level procedure. The herniations themselves exceeded safe guidelines for replacement.
Posted by

on
My name is John Isaacks. I started having back problems in my early 30s. I had a small surgery Discectomy. This turned into worse problems. I turned to a Dr. Richard Francis located in Houston, Tx. He also has an office in Beaumont. He introduced me to the Charite artificial disc replacement. I was among a group of experimental patients for the artificial disc. 2005 was the year I had surgery. At first it was great. I had to mostly recover from my stomach being cut open. I went back to sports training mixed martial arts. Well one thing lead to another an I was landed back into surgery. I had a fusion of my L5-S1 (art.disc) L4-L5. Since I have never been the same. Later I had another surgery back to back. I was 42 at the time. I was not a candidate for disability even though I was an still am in horrible pain. The pills an patches no longer would help. I asked for help to get off the pills. I have went back to work an still employed with TDCJ. I am to the point were I can barely feel my feet left side. I hurt more everyday. I pray something will help. I am in horrible pain. Thanks for listening .
Posted by

on
Had surgery 2007 for disk replacement. Well that was the beginning of a downward spiral. Lost my job over it, my social life and personal life just absolutely sucks. Iam always in pain, I had to get a 2nd surgery last year 2013 because it blew out my facets above new disk. now I have clamps, rods, screws, and still in a lot of pain a year later. My back turns black and blue and swells up if I WALK TOO MUCH!!!!!! I was told by my Dr., you cant do enough walking. im getting shooting pains into butt and hips, down my left leg and tingles. I have been out of work for 4 years now, I am 41, did a lot of heavy work in past and a lot of hrs 60-70hrs a week. I feel bad I cant work. Nobody listens to me in Drs office, NOBODY!!!!! my dr thinks im after pills, they did a urine test to see if my scripts are in my system, and yes of coarse they were, my levels were right. Im in worse pain now and he wont give me anything stronger, even after his assistant felt something sticking out of my back, and something is cracking in there where they fussed my L5-S1. Life just down out right sucks!!!!! be better off dead, all these drs are crooked. And will NEVER admit they did wrong!!!!!! If we do we could end up in jail!!!!!

Posted by

on
Excessive pain in lower back and legs. Inability to perform physical activities. Partial reason for early retirement from Marine Corps.
Posted by

on
The disc itself broke and had to be removed. They did not replace the disc. The surgery was done as an emergency surgery. Every time I coughed, sneezed, or moved in a certain way my legs would tingle and I would loose control/function of my legs. A contrast CT/milogram was done and the disc almost severed my spinal cord. Ever since then I have had extreme back pain and loss of mobility.
Posted by

on
I now have to have a spinal fusion to stabilize the artifical disc, since it's in a location where the disc cannot be removed. The surgeon cannot correct the misalignment of the disc. He can only keep it from moving further.
Posted by

on
Chronic pain; numbness in legs and feet; increased pain in lumbar area; diagnosis that replacement disc is protruding and disintegrating.
Posted by

on
Loss of work, suicidal thoughts, absolutely no enjoyment of life, because of the terrible pain that this Charite Spinal Disc has caused.
Posted by

on
Received Charite implant 11 Apr 07 for torn disc at L5-S1. Since surgery constant pain in lower lumbar and lower extremities with numbness and weakness in legs, feet and ankles. Frequent musculoskeletal spasms in back, legs and burning sensation in the buttocks. Undergone 3 Facet blocks to snap the nerves off from L-2 to S-1 with little relieve in pain. Current EMG show mild nerve damage at L-5. Pain and discomfort results in 4 to 6 hours of broken sleep. Still taking narcotics for pain. Fighting to keep my job and property. Please help me if at all possible. Thank you.
Posted by

on
Had two level disc replacement done with Charite disc. Doctor was told he could not do surgery with the ProDisc 48 hrs. prior to surgery and must go with Charite disc knowing it was never approved for two level operations. I was never informed device was being used off label by doctor or insurance company. It was not until nearly two years went by that my doctor declared it a failed surgery because the Charite disc was defective and had slid to the right of my back necessitating a three level spinal fusion to be done very soon. Implant has caused enormous pain and complications with my leg as well as urological issues including ED and bladder problems. Please try to help me.

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