[dshobbies]

Hi Jill,

Welcome to the forum. You might want to start a new thread and tell us more about yourself.

Very quickly, you may have some choices or because of your straight back, perhaps not. Has your doctor mentioned artifical disc replacement? This is similar to an artifical hip or knee in that your own disc is removed and an artificial one is implanted.

Let me warn you that back surgery is always risky. Though most people do get relief, their lives may be forever altered. Some experience failures. The best thing you can do for yourself is;

Find the best doctors
Get second and third opinions
educate yourself in the various remedies, their benfits, risks, successes, failures.

Let me warn you, if your doctor doesn't perform ADR surgery, (s)he is not likely to recommend it. Trusting just one doctor isn't always to your best advantage.

Then again, your circumstances may eliminate you as an ADR candidate. Fusion may be your only option to eliminate your pain. Neither procedure is a walk in the park and neither has guarantees of success, which is why your choice of doctor is so important.

My best to you, Dale