Thank you and thoughts about added height
Harrison, thanks so much for the warm welcome and the information!
WakesurfMike, thanks very much for the information and the helpful videos! I agree, I would definitely get the fusion done from the anterior approach and at the same time as the disc replacement. Fortunately, that is what Dr. Blumenthal recommended.
I was told that Dr. Blumenthal recommended the fusion over the ADR at L5/S1 because I had advanced disc generation at the L5/S1 level. I am wondering if the added height from a new disc would be too disruptive for my body. However, when I looked at the video of the anterior fusion, it looked like height was added with the fusion as well. There's lots to consider!
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Juliette
1992 Neck injured in bad car accident
For many years taught & choreographed dance & injured lower back in 1997
Loads of conservative treatment
2000, IDET procedure L4/L5 & L5/S1,
2001, orthoscopic laminectomies L4/L5 & L5/S1 & orthoscopic discectomy L4/L5.
Surgeries didn't help
Recent years- stem cell & PRP injections- helped a little.
Recent MRI & x-rays show DDD & facet arthrosis in lower back & DDD & bone spurs in cervical spine.
3/22/17 L4-S1 ADR with Dr. Clavel 
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