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Photo by Melanie Lloyd
Five weeks after traveling to Germany for back surgery, Tom Trotter is
able to stand up straight and reach his hands over his head.
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Five weeks after undergoing disc replacement surgery, Tom Trotter can touch
his toes and lift his hands over his head, almost comfortably.
Trotter, a Gatlinburg Police detective, has spent the last several years in
pain due to severe disc degeneration in his low back.
After receiving fusion therapy to replace the disc and then Intradiscal
Electrothermal Annuloplastry, Trotter's last hope for a "normal life" rested
with a group of surgeons at Stenum Hospital in Germany.
Although artificial disc replacement surgery remains in the trial stages in
the United States, the doctors at Stenum have been doing the surgery, with
great success, for the last 15 years.
The surgery is unique because it is done anteriorly. Instead of putting the
back muscles through the trauma of surgery, the replacement is done through
the stomach.
"The surgery went as well as it could've gone," said Trotter, still
recuperating at home before heading back to work. "They said the surgery
usually lasts an hour and a half, but mine lasted 33 minutes, which is the
fastest they have ever done it in."
An 8-inch
incision was made to the left of Trotter's navel, his organs were gently
pushed to the side, the disrupted disc was removed, the artificial disc was
inserted and anchored, and Trotter was sewn up.
"Initially, they thought they would have to replace the discs above and
below my fusion, but after looking at the X-rays, the doctors decided to
only replace the disc above the fusion, which was the one causing me so much
pain," Trotter said.
Four days after his surgery, Trotter was able to walk one mile.
"There were a couple of times I overdid it and paid the consequences, but I
just wanted to start walking and begin my physical therapy," he said.
Aside from receiving massage therapy and alternating heat and ice, Trotter
was taught specific physical therapy exercises that he continues to do.
"The hospital was great," said Trotter. "There was a bit of a communication
problem with some of the nurses, but on a scale of one to 10, I would say
everything equaled out to a nine."
After spending a few days in the hospital, Trotter was moved to a hotel
where he continued his recovery.
"I was given antibiotics, medicine for blood clotting and pain medication,
which I am 60 percent off of now," he said. "The whole experience was
everything they said it would be, and that is one thing I want people to
know."
Trotter said he is about two weeks away from going back to work on light
duty. "Within 12 weeks of the surgery, the doctors said I should be as good
as I'm gonna be, and I can definitely tell my pain tolerance has increased
by 60 to 70 percent," Trotter said.
The pain he has now is attributed to the actual procedure as opposed to his
back's condition.
"My incision is still a bit swollen, and the area around the incision is
somewhat hard, but that should go away with time," he said.
Trotter feels the surgery has given him a second chance at life.
"It's been wonderful. I have been given the opportunity to do what I want to
do as far as work goes and in participating with my family," Trotter said.
He credits his co-workers in Gatlinburg, especially Chief Harry Montgomery,
with helping him get through this trial.
"Everyone has been great, the chief has been phenomenal, and that really
means a lot to me," said Trotter. "Through prayer and faith, this is gonna
work, and I think the prayers and concerns of people have really paid off."
Many people have already called Trotter for information on his surgery and
for some encouragement in their own situations.
"I want people to know that all of the time, money and effort I put into
this surgery was well worth it, and I would love to tell people how they can
get the help I got," Trotter said.
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