[dshobbies]

Your concern for fusion surgery is valid. Yes, it does have a longer recovery time and yes, it can and often does promote DDD at adjacent segments, so yes, it can crawl up your spine. The hardware too can cause it's own problems, something else you might want to investigate. The screws can come loose and another surgery to remove them may also become necessary down the line.

However, ADR surgery is no walk in the park either. First, there is also the possibility of promoting DDD at adjacent segments over a longer period of time but there hasn't been much study or talk about it. Not too many people have had them for that long. A study along those lines might prove interesting.

So yes, I realize that finances are more than a problem for most but your health is not something on which you should settle, especially at such a young age. But then again, maybe you've got a shot at insurance coverage.

Good luck, Dale