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Originally posted by Liz:
If you truly have genetic DDD of course you want to prevent a cascade effect.
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That is the main worry of both myself and my doctor. I can't afford to be fifty and have a lot of my inter-vertebral spaces fused.
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that said, you are too young to see life passing you by and not be able to participate in activities that your friends are. i finally had a 2 level Prodisc ADR 3 months ago and i feel that i'm FINALLY turning a corner. it's been a brutal recovery for me personally and i'm far from sold if this was right for me, but also please know that so many people do very well from fusions and ADRs. they may not be here posting b/c they are out living their lives. i sat on a barstool tonight w/a friend for drinks and the pain was tolerable (although i'm not med free)... my friend even said how much better i seemed b/c i was not consumed by pain and i could enjoy a conversation. i'm planning to go hear a writer i like tomorrow night (prob an hour of sitting) so that will be the next test and maybe i'll pay the price afterwards but maybe i won't. i still have little sitting tolerance but i couldn't sit pre-op either so i feel that i'm one step ahead.
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Those things seem so simple to other people, I don't think that they realize how PRECIOUS such mundane activities are for people with back diseases.
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if college starts next fall now is a good time to be evaluating surgery and what your options are to feel better before then.
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Exactly. I made my surgeon promise me that he would make it happen, since I'm already a year behind.