Excellent points Mark. I will discuss the cage with Dr. Goldstein and with you.
Dr. Goldstein is not 100% that the L5-S1 surgery will solve my problems, but I am pretty sure L5-S1 has been the pain generator all along since the pain never changed even after ADR.
The disk replacement at L4-L5 is slowly fusing so I won't need to do anything there. I wouldn't fuse my Prodisc unless I was 100% positive it was a problem.
Over the past 2 years I have had sooo many treatments that if there were any issues with the L4-L5 they would have been found by now. My leg and hip pain would steer me more towards the L5-S1 as a pain generator rather than the L3-L4 which showed a tear but no reaction during the latest discogram. The L5-S1 reacted twice during this latest discogram and once during the initial discogram 3 years ago.
I just got approval a few minutes ago from worker's comp so I am getting my mind ready. I plan on having fusion in about 3 weeks.
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12/16/03 Work Accident
Herniation and DDD at L4-L5
4/1/05 Discectomy
Epidurals and facet injections
5/15/06 Discogram confirmed L4-L5 DDD also an asymptomatic L5-S1 tear
10/24/06 L4-L5 Prodisc surgery with Dr. Goldstein
CAT scans & X-Rays show ossification
Trigger Point Injections, Medial Branch Blocks, Acupuncture, Weekly Deep Tissue Massage
10/27/08 Discogram (positive L5-S1)
11/25/08 L5-S1 fusion with Dr. Goldstein
FAILED BACK SYNDROME
Liberty Mutual WC
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