T-Lift Anyone...

[Realtor Chick]

Hi - I'm new to the site and wanted to jump in with a question and hopefully get some feedback. In Nov 2009, at age 46, I ruptured the L5-S1 disc and after months of PT it was determined I needed a discsectomy, which was done in June of 2010. This was done by an ortho guy. The surgery was very minimal and was done on an outpatient basis. I recovered well and for a year and a 1/2 was pain free.

In Oct of 2011 I felt the very familiar pains return, along with my back "freezing" on me at night. Talk about excruciating pain OMG - and I have a high tolerant for pain. Another MRI showed the same disc had in fact ruptured again and failing all else, in May of 2012, I had my 2nd discectomy (same doctor). Two weeks later - right back to square one. Didn't work at all. I was put on gabapentin, a nerve block med, that really helps the pain that would shoot down the outside of my right leg right down to my foot. So that's been really good.

My husband (after watching me move so delicately and gingerly at night and so stiff in the morning) finally convinced me to see a Neurosurgeon who ordered a with and without contrast MRI. We are now into July of 2013. The MRI showed the L5-S1 disc to be completely gone and I'm now bone on bone. He recommended a T-Lift and I've been putting it off. The thought of rods and screws in my back really wig me out here. I ask myself if I'm trading one set of pain (the pain that I know) with a new set of pain (the unknown pain). I play golf and really don't want to have to give that up and right now - even though it is getting worse - I'm only miserable at night and a few hours after getting up.

Any thoughts here - has anyone had a T-Lift?