new parts after warranty expired

[samneil2000]

So it looks like they replaced some deteriorated disks with man-made disks, but only for a few. And then they did a fusion on some others. I wonder what the thought process/ plan was for that. Leave you some mobility at your lower back and fuse the middle part?

I have an L4 fusion myself. I've always wondered about those disk replacements and think it would have been nice to keep that mobility.

[tom4bren]

Wifey had similar modifications & she's still flexible (That didn't sound quite right but I'll leave it alone).

In theory, the fusion will cause increased wear on the ajacent disks over time but the few people I know that have had the procedure have not had any significant degeneration & the the benefits have been well worth the effort.

For me the biggest concern is toxidity or rejection of the foreign materials. Some small percentage of people do experience those problems. One of our own members has gone through that after a severe car accident.

[Luna X]

So it looks like they replaced some deteriorated disks with man-made disks, but only for a few. And then they did a fusion on some others. I wonder what the thought process/ plan was for that. Leave you some mobility at your lower back and fuse the middle part?

I have an L4 fusion myself. I've always wondered about those disk replacements and think it would have been nice to keep that mobility.

Disc replacement is the way to go, for exactly that reason.

It was Oct. '06 when I went to Germany for the big operation. Here in the States, all they wanted to do for me was implant a medicine/pain pump into my abdomen that automatically sends morphine directly to the affected areas..... no thanks!
At that time, only single level replacements were just at trial stages, but I'm sure they are becoming more popular now.