Can't just treat Stenosis if it is a symtom of DDD
Arabella,
I agree with Annapurna, stenosis is sometimes a symptom of DDD but definitely not always. Many people on this board had DDD and thus ADR or fusion surgery, and never had any stenosis. Stenosis is actually much more common in people over 60 (my father-in-law had it and he was about 70) and he had a fusion at that level.
If you have DDD and it is causing pain from the disc, that must be fixed and while you are rightfully afraid of having ADR or fusion there may not be a choice (unless you are willing to live with the pain). But, just treating the stenosis if it is a side effect of DDD does not make sense as Annapurna said, because the DDD will still be there. Usually they would do an ADR or fusion surgery and also open up the spinal canal at the same time, thus treating the stenosis.
Sounds like maybe you need to get a couple of more opinions from some new doctors.
Good luck,
__________________
Charles B. Fainberg
Back pain suddenly started 9/05, no injury or cause
PT, Chiropractic, Epidural Injections - no help
DDD confirmed via discogram at L4/L5 & L5/S1 (with issues at L3/L4 but no concordant pain) 3/06
Failed SED (Laser Endoscopic surgery) 4/06
2 level ADR (L4-L5 & L5-S1) with Maverick disc at Stenum 8/06
XLIF Fusion (L3/L4) 9/08
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