Wombat,
Condolences on your condition, but welcome!
Count yourself blessed that you have an ADR friendly doctor.
Kuddos for researching your condition and options. You are doing exactly the right thing in this situation. I hope you'll continue researching doctors and treatments. The more you know the more likely you'll find that your options will begin to converge on a single treatment.
A thought ... I would encourage you to not be too hasty to poo-poo a fusion at L5/S1. My observation has been that ADR friendly surgeons seem to be less likely to recommend ADR at that level than they used to be. I don't understand all of the issues of an ADR at that level; but would strongly encourage you to not pursue any treatment until you do. A fusion at that level is not a life ending event. A year ago I did an Ironman race and ran part of the marathon visiting with a woman who had a fusion at that level four years prior.
Good luck!
__________________
C4/5 - ACDF in 2000
C5/6 - ACDF in 2002
C3/4 & C6/7 - M6 ADR, Nov 2009, Barcelona
Conceded defeat to a manifestly disingenuous BCBS-TX in my quest for reimbursement, Jan 2011
|