Hi J, After ten years of excruciating pain and exhausting all treatment options, I finally chose to move forward with surgery. As my bone density was low I didn't have the option of ADR. I had insurance issues also.
I had two level fusion L4 and L5. It is now about one year and four months. I'm really glad I did it. I still have pain but it is now bearable. It's been a long recovery for me but I've had many days where my pain is low. I have osteopenia (from chemotherapy) and that is why they did the fusion vs. ADR.
Please let me know if there is anything you would like to know and I'm wishing you the very best.
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Chemically sensitive disc/Annular tears, DDD, mild bulging, facet arthritus
Dancing accident in 96. tried PT, acupuncture, pilates, pain mgmt. nothing worked. Epidurals, facet blocks, caudal blocks, discogram. Opiates for ten years, oral prednisone, toradol inj. & more.
Two level spinal fusion with BMS, cages, hardware. due to bone density problems from chemotherapy, they had to go in front and back. Surgery Nov. 6, 2010. So far no regrets.
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