Welcome Ali,
I am very sorry to hear of your worsening condition. You have come to a great place to ask questions, receive support, weigh all your options as you move forward to return to the life you so love, of showing your dogs. As you have seen from perusing folks postings, there is definitely no black and white. So much gray to wade through, it can be quite daunting. Unfortunately, this is the reality of "what is the best surgery, the right solution, for me?" This does not mean you won't find that best solution. It just means there is alot of homework to be done. Some concerns that are important going forward, are things like: your overall health condition, despite your spine limitations; your age; have you had a bone density test performed to even see if you are a candidate for disc replacement?; are you a smoker? quit now, if you are even considering disc replacement; which discs are compromised? Knowing some of these answers will help us help you more effectively. There are many more questions and considerations, and other folks will chime in with them. We will gladly support you in any way we can, to help you help yourself. Again, welcome. We are here for you.
Cindylou
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bicycle accident 6/01: 2 compression fractures @ T12-L1; vertibroplasty; 4/06: right hip labral tear & arthroscopic repair; 4/07: lumbar prodiscs @ 3 levels, L3-6 by Dr. Bertagnoli; 7/02/08: ALIF L6-S1; 7/30/08: reopened to remove bone cement, leaked onto S1 nerve root; 8/08: pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, pleurisy, pleural effusion; ALIF fusion complete; 3/10/09: SI Joint Fusion by Dr. Stark; Jury still out.
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