[Maria]

I don't know what your sister's symptoms are however if it's not emergent that she have surgery as in loss of use of her extremity, severe weakness, numbness etc then I suggest she take the time to get opinions regarding what kind of surgery might be available or an option for her.

Standardly what is offered is a fusion at the L5S1 level but it is possible she may be a candidate for a Artificial disc replacement instead.

Once she has her MRI done and gets the results that information then she can check out her options. Whether she would get a fusion or ADR there are a few more diagnostic tests to be done in terms of candidacy for either surgery.

I hope whomever she's seeing now might be proficient in both types of surgery if she would be a candidate for either. Sometimes someone that only does fusion will say that ADR isn't an option or not a good option or a number of other things when in fact it's just that the surgeon doesn't even do artificial disc replacement surgery.

I've had two spine surgeries and neither were emergent and both were discectomies that lead to more problems and at one time I was a candidate for artificial disc replacement but didn't get it or fusion .. however what I did was say that I wanted to get a 2nd opinion (and a 3rd, 4th, etc) and all insurances have to allow for that much at least (2nd surgical opinion). So with this in mind then it's important to look for someone that does both types of surgery and is highly qualified, reputable and with a number of both types of surgery under his or her belt. I wouldn't take a 2nd surgical opinion referral from the 1st surgeon as it will likely be someone that knows the 1st surgeon and will agree with him or her.

It is very common for a laminectomy/discectomy to not really help or if it does not for too long and for more spine surgery to be suggested. It's my belief that one spine surgery begets another but then again not necessarily though I personally believe with fusion this is more likely. At least at the L5 level supposedly there is not much motion so this is a better level for fusion than perhaps higher levels. I guess all that however is relative to the skill of the surgeon and the patient's ability to recover.

Good luck to your sister and keep asking questions. Also mmglobal (Mark Mintzer) would be a good person to talk to about this and his contact information is here on the site.

Maria