Back Pain Forum - Is fusion possible with poor adjacent discs ?

Conditions and Diseases > Back Pain Forum > Is fusion possible with poor adjacent discs ?

What structures make up the spine? We review basic spine anatomy here...before identifying potential causes of back pain....

Q: Is fusion possible with poor adjacent discs ?

asked by: gman66 on February 9th, 2008

New User

Had discogram done and just visited my Ortho Surg. I have a full annular tear that allowed the dye to completely leak out and enter the spinal canal.
He feels strongly that a fusion would fix the level/disc but opposes the fusion because of the adjacent discs probably would not be able to support the added stess from a fusion. I have DDD, disc bulges and arthritis at the adjacent levels.In the mean time it is painful to bend, twist, lift, sleep or pretty much do anything physical. Anyone have or had similiar problem or have any insight. He also mentioned that new hardware may become available by the FDA in the near future??Like that helps now!!

Male, 41

Replies(2)

rollar64

replied on February 10th, 2008

Experienced User

He is an ortho so he should know about this it seems that it is pretty well established that when two vertebrae are fused the adjacent joints are required to deal with extra force due the the lack of motion at the site of the fusion you could get a second opinion. Is the new hardware artificial disks?

gman66

replied on February 10th, 2008

New User

Yes the new hardware is an artificial disc. They are currently using this one in Europe and hopefully in the U.S. sometime in 2008.

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