Denver, CORichard had a CD Horizon spinal system Medtronic device implanted two years ago, just around the time the FDA recalled all lots of the MedTronic CD Horizon Spinal System Agile Dynamic Stabilization Device. "I am furious," says Richard, "because I need to go through another surgery to take it out and a fourth surgery to repair the damage caused by this defective stablization device," he says.
"Apparently this [CD Horizon spinal system] device spilled over into my nerve column and has now caused even more nerve damage than I had two years ago," says 33-year-old Richard. "I had a fusion in my lower back—L5 S1—and I had the disc shaved in two separate surgeries. After the second surgery I had the fusion and that's when this cable was attached. But it just doesn't work.
I am having so many complications and I still have extreme lower back pain as well as continuous nerve damage that goes down my leg. My doctor told me that the next surgery—that'll be the third-- they have to take out this hardware and they have to go back in and shave the bone protein that has grown like a cyst in my spinal column to relieve pressure in my lower back.
I am furious that I need yet another surgery to have this Medtronic device taken out. My doctor hasn't said outright that it isn't working but why am I already scheduled for a fifth surgery because of more nerve damage? It is obvious this device has caused problems, otherwise they wouldn't be removing it. My doctor did say they won't know for about one year how much damage it has caused. If it has caused enough, I need another surgery to cauterize the nerve.
I am in so much pain I have to take 80mg of Percocet a day and I could probably use more but I am not a pill popper. And it has affected my work. I am an electrician so you can imagine how hard it is to do my job. When I first had surgery for this problem it was supposed to be a wham bam, in and out. Instead I've had 5 years of hell.
No one has come right out and told me this CD Horizon Spinal System is defective; I found out because my wife works in the medical field and a pharmaceutical rep brought it to her attention. We looked into the Medtronic spinal cable further and found out my doctor took part in promoting this device--the pharmaceutical company paid my doctor to use their product!
Not only am I worried about my back, I'm worried about my liver because of all the pills I am taking and all the anesthetics. I might come out looking like Michael Jackson..."