Hi donmas,
The role of the intervertebral discs is not only to provide movement, but also to absorb stress in compression. When you walk, run, sit and lift heavy objects, your discs are compressed. The strain is distributed among the discs. If you fuse one level, the strain of that level is moved to the adjacent level. Therefore, fusing L5-S1 will make your L4-L5 take on the stress of both levels. This will make your L4-L5 more prone to degenerative changes. It is the adjacent disc syndrome.
So yes, fusing L5-S1 may be easier than fusing other levels (or so I have been told), but you are taking the risk of having to do surgery again as your L4-L5 breaks next. If you choose ADR, the risk of L4-L5 breaking is proved smaller, since the artificial disc will still absorb strain as a natural disc.
Some ADR have special designs for the L5-S1 level.
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2015 Lost ability to sit
2016 Gradually worsening despite conservative treatment
2016 L4-L5, L5-S1 activ L success!
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