Thanks for your post, Tim. You ask some interesting and pertinent questions. I realise how much more I need to find out if I'm going to be able to make a valid decision about what to do. It's also clear that if I am going to have any more surgery it's important to get Dr Zeegers opinion about it generally and, in particular, whether it would be better to leave the new disc in situ or not.
Of course I know, and knew, that spinal surgery is always a gamble to a greater or lesser extent and that the outcome could have been worse. But the fact that my decision to have the ADR was based on so much research and thought and had such apparently strong evidence in its favour makes it feel even more difficult to trust that I can reach a meaningful decision now.
Mark, I would really value your thoughts on all this.
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1980-2004 50 acute episodes. DDD
Lots of osteopathy, pilates, exercise, injections etc plus:
‘82 Laminectomy + nerve root adhesions removed
‘87 Sclerosant injections
2000 Spinal fusion L4/5 L5/S1 – left with internal nerve damage: permanent leg Pain & impaired mobility.
2/04 Acute episode became new baseline - Housebound & severe pain
6/06 Discogram +ve L3/4,L1/2. + SI joint problem.
10/07 ADR L3/4 (Active L) Dr Zeegers - no impact at all
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