Who should I trust?

**ajj1001** · 05-18-2011, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by xiaoyu80305

For fusion, yes. The surgeon told me that the surgery will help me. The ADR docter from Germany didn't mention anything about outcome. My problem started in 2005.

... for nerves damaged/compressed/irritated for 7 years preducting the reduction in pain and improvement in function is difficult. your five year outcome should be the top question asked.

**Buckeyeback** · 05-18-2011, 04:41 PM

Wow Kbear! Your uncle can do all that? Really? Where did he have his lumbar fusions done? All you hear is how terrifying it is to have multiple fusion surgery because it will lead to more surgery... Hmmm

**xiaoyu80305** · 05-18-2011, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by KBear

I would say the fusion is the better bet. Fusion gets a bad rap and the whole 'it causes more degeneration' thing, but read around and you will see that there are many ADR patients who are in way worse condition because they had ADR when the should have had fusion. There are also ADR patients that ended up with more degeneration a few years after the ADR, so it didn't slow it down for them. One of the reasons my insurance denied me was "because of my young age, it was unknown the longevity of the ADR. That's true, no one knows beyond 20 something years, that's how long the first ADR patient has had theirs. I was 29 at surgery time, is it going to last me 50 or 60 years? No telling. I think there is a very good chance that I will need more intervention before I die; but it was a better chance than being in pain forever (and if fusion would have been my only option, I would have taken it.) My uncle just turned 60 and has multiple fusions in his cervical and lumbar spine and feels great. I think almost his entire L spine is fused and he can bend over and touch his toes (I can't do that.) Fusion isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. You could still go abroad or wherever for the fusion, it's just as important to have a good surgeon for it as ADR.

Thanks for your advice. So far, three different opinions from four surgeons: 1. L4-L5 and L5-S1 two levels fusion 2. do nothing (surgery) 3. L4-L5 ADR and L5-S1 fusion. I will visit more surgeons to learn more. One thing I don't understand is your comment about your uncle. How can he bent over after so many levels fusion. Where did the mobility come from? I thought ADR is the only choice if you want to preserve your mobility.
Have you heard about Coflex-F? I wonder can Coflex-F help to slow down the DDD of the facet upper level of the fusion parts? I would like to ask my surgeon's opinion for putting Coflex-F on L3-l4, after L4-S1 fusion.

**xiaoyu80305** · 05-18-2011, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by ajj1001

... for nerves damaged/compressed/irritated for 7 years preducting the reduction in pain and improvement in function is difficult. your five year outcome should be the top question asked.

You brought out a very interesting question. I also would like to know what kind damage made already after 7 years. I bike everyday and swim three time a week. The surgeons didn't find any weakness on my low body. Does this mean the damage is not severe?

**KBear** · 05-18-2011, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by Buckeyeback

Wow Kbear! Your uncle can do all that? Really? Where did he have his lumbar fusions done? All you hear is how terrifying it is to have multiple fusion surgery because it will lead to more surgery... Hmmm

I seriously don't have a clue. He showed me when he was about to go in for another fusion surgery and I was telling him all about ADR and why it was so much 'better' than fusion.... how it preserves motion and so on. He then bent over and touched his toes... maybe because he's really tall (6'4") he has more (longer) spine to compensate for the fusions? Really don't know and I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.