Hi Kim,
I live in australia, so i guess my input will not mean much to you.
I have had the same diagnosis as you. Discogram with tears at L5/S1 and L4/L5. There is also some mild arthritis in the facet joint at L5/S1. He has given me the option to have a fusion at L5/S1 or a 2 level ADR. He does not know how much the facet joint is involved in the pain though. It is an extremely difficult decision to make, but the fusion can be done afterwards, although I beleive this is a lot more dangerous second time round.
Anyway my insurance company will cover the bulk of the costs, I woil pay the shortfall which is a few thousand dollars. The total cost is between $20,000 and $25,000 aussie dollars. I can't find many people who have had this done here to compare surgeons. My surgeon has performed many spinal procedures but only 35 ADR operations. It doesn't sound a lot to me. anyway I hope you resolve your problem, it is nice to see someone with very similar problems who has been through the same procedures except in another country. Good luck.
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