Centinel Spine recently released the rediscover prodisc testimonial of a Medical Device Sales Agent with 20-years of experience in the spine industry who was determined to get a total disc replacement at 60 years old—despite the perception among some in the medical community that she was "too old" for disc replacement versus a fusion.
Kerstin's years of spine device sales experience told her something was very wrong with her neck pain, but wanting to avoid surgery, she put off surgical intervention for some time—even declining to have an imaging study performed. However, when the pain diminished her daily life to the point she was withdrawing from many of her favorite activities, and when injections no longer helped relieve the symptoms for any length of time, she finally decided total disc replacement surgery was the right choice.
Because the source of Kerstin’s pain was a compressed nerve due to disc herniation, total disc replacement surgery was determined to be the best solution. Some surgeons less familiar with the benefits of disc replacement surgery might not consider patients over 60 for the procedure, but Kerstin’s long-term expertise in spine-related disease prompted her to avoid a fusion due to the lack of resulting mobility—concerned that a slightly degenerated adjacent level would be more likely to further degrade after a fusion.
According to Kerstin:
“I specifically wanted prodisc C Vivo even though my surgeon had access to many different discs. I know the [core] of prodisc is proven with 30 years of history and clinical studies and trusted this disc for my own neck.”
Before Christmas in 2022, Kerstin had total disc replacement surgery with prodisc C Vivo. While she was cautious in the weeks and months following the surgery, at her one-year post-surgical review, she was pleased that her spine had resumed a normal orientation, and there had not been any further degeneration of the adjacent level.
Kerstin's story is now featured on the rediscover (rediscovermylife.org) spine patient platform. Your surgeons may also use this story as a reminder that patients 60 years old and over still have a lot of active life ahead of them—and they want to live that life to the fullest, with surgical solutions that will prolong their activity for as long as possible.
To view the testimonial, click the button below: