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Old 10-16-2018, 03:56 PM
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GravyBaby GravyBaby is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 142
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Thank you J!

Good choice on canceling the fusion and great job on finding this forum. You have a phenominal resource of information and people on here to help make your decision.

Everyone here certaibly helped me make the right choice to opt for ADR over a fusion. I champion the Activ-L for the L5-S1 junction, but any artificial disc is better than a fusion.

To put it simply, a fusion will likely lead to a faster breakdown on your adjacent joints. In the case of your L5-S1, a fusion could put your SI joints, hips and L4-L5 disc at the greatest risk following a fusion.

Most surgeons agree that the L5-S1 level is the most important level of the lumbar to keep mobile as it is the junction between the pelvis and spine. To immobilize it would be to restrict great movement from your core, and as mentioned above, the surrounding joints will try to compensate as much as they can in abnormal ways. Likely leading to their faster breakdown over time.

Any artificial disc placed at this level will be beneficial to preserve natural movement, however, they do not all restore normal disc height, nor do they all mimick the unique articulation of the joint at this level. The Activ-L is the only disc designed to do both.

All other artificial discs increase the disc height beyond the natural, normal level, which can lead to stress on the facets. The Activ-L is deisgned to copy the L5-S1 junction by mimicking natural articulation and disc height.

Would this at all be a problem for you? Potentially not. The freedom disc could work just fine for the rest of your life. There are plenty of people, I would certainly say the majority of patients, on this forum that have discs at that level that are not Activ-L and they're doing great. I don't think you can make a bad decision when it comes between Activ-L and the Freedom Disc, but just thought you should have some additional info.

Best of luck on your upcoming appointment and decision!
__________________
2001 - Pulled off monkey bars, landed directly on coccyx.
2006 - Sports injury that made it worse.
2016 - Multiple instances of paralyzing low-back pain.
2017 - Blew out my back on leg-press. MRI showed L5-S-1 disc herniation and grade 1 retrolisthesis.
2018 - Successful ADR surgery with Dr. Rolando Garcia using the Activ-L implant.
2019 - In physical therapy for burning in feet, L4-L5 diffuse disc bulge and SI joint pain.
2020 - Getting better with one-on-one PT.

30 - Male - American
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