[WestHighland]

Thanks Maria and Dale,

I'm not sure why the surgeon is jumping to the artificial disc route, but he is a specialist in this area, and has pioneered a new kind of disc with a ball in the middle to make movement easier (according to the literature).

Having said this, he only performed the discectomy/laminectomy last year because I literally couldn't move: I was operated on in emergency circumstances because the surgeon thought I might lose bladder function without the surgery.

I will definitely take your advice, Maria, and wait it out. I find the waiting hard only because I'm never sure whether I'm improving or getting worse, as the pain can get better for a few days, and then worsen considerably for a period.

Thanks again for your replies - I appreciate them very much.

WH