New from Canada & hoping to chat with others up here.

[Maddie]

Hello everyone. I signed up yesterday, and the wealth of information here is overwhelming.

I am hoping to connect with other Canadians, especially any in Ontario. Our provincial system is putting up quite a fight against funding any ADR surgery for me, either in Canada, or out-of-country. I've met about a dozen others in the same situation.

The general consensus is that I should have a fusion on C5/6 and maybe 4/5 as well, because of severe bulging of the discs, impinging on my blood vessel and spinal cord. I also have herniation, stenosis and bone spurs at L4/5 and L5/S1 (and just a bit of pain....).

I have heard great things about Stenum from other patients that live not too far from me, and until reading some negative comments here yesterday, had not heard anything to deter me from going over (except funding ;-) )

I'm very open minded, and welcome any and all comments about what my options might be, fusion, ADR, or what have you. Although I have to admit that what I know of fusion does not sound good (breakdown of adjacent discs, etc).

I'm looking forward to meeting you.