For whatever it's worth, I had a fusion at L3/L5 (two levels in one surgery). My lower back has been better since the minute I woke up from surgery (it's been 4 years already). It's my neck where I continue to have issues (I've had 4 surgeries on my neck on one on my lower back).
My fusion was done in a minimally invasive way with very small incisions. If fusion is your only option, make sure to get the opinions of a few surgeons. If you find out that you are covered for ADR, you obviously want to get several opinions as well.
You might want to contact Texas Back Institute (TBI). They perform ADR and I've been told by some that they help you through the insurance process. To be completely honest, I've seen others on these boards saying the exact opposite. There is only one way to find out, contact them. Here is their link: Total Disc Replacement | Artificial Disc Replacement | Texas Back Institute
Gene
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Car Accident 2002 - Small Herniated Disc C3/C4
1998 Larger Herniation and Cervical Fusion C3/C4
2005 Herniation C4/C5 - 40 epidural steroid injections from Oct 2005, - Oct, 2007
2008 - Foraminotomy at C6/C7 on left side
Feb, 2010 - Cervical Fusion C4/C5
Dec, 2010 - Lumbar Fusion L3/L5
2013 - Bulge on C5/C6; herniation C6/C7 right side
Mar 26, 2013 - Foraminotomy at C6/C7 on right side
May 5, 2015 - ADR with Dr Blumenthal of TBI for C5/C6 using Mobi-C
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