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Old 04-10-2009, 12:42 PM
treefrog treefrog is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 65
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Good advice rhatzy.

As far as how long disc replacements last, no one can really say for sure. I think that the first person to have one implanted, about 22+ years ago, is still going strong. But the clinical trials have not been long term yet, you will only see results for 2-5 years. Now, the manufacturers say that since they are using similar materials to what has been used in knee and hip replacements, and these have been shown to last for a very long time, that the disc replacements should be the same (I don't know how long those are though).

That is something that you should ask the doctors though.

There are conflicting opinions on the benefit of ADR for L5/S1 disc. I don't know what to tell you, that is something that you are going to have to decide, along with your doctor.

But rhatzy has made some good suggestions. You need to determine if your pain is discogenic, if you have scoliosis, if your facets joints are in good shape. All these kinds of things will either point you toward ADR or be contraindicated for ADR.
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Cathy
MRI 12/07
L4-5 Mild-moderate disc degeneration with dessication.
L5-S1 Mild disc degeneration with dessication, minimal disc bulging.

PT/medication/acupuncture/ESI's/facet injection

Discogram 12/3/08 confirmed L4/L5 & L5/S1 as pain generators.
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