Thank you very much to everyone. This is a very encouraging post. The bad results speak so loud, it is hard to here the positive outcomes.

I have been waiting for several years to make the decsion, it keeps getting put off due to the "what if's". This past week I spent a day in the ER because of a bladder/kidney infection, I never knew it because I dont have much feeling during urination due to the disc problems. Didnt even notice till it was so bad I needed IV antibiotics.

I have a spinal surgeon who is scheduling me for lumbar fusion surgery, but needs a repeat discogram, since mine is over 2 years old, to confirm what everyone allready knows is there, unfortunetly we cant find anyone to do that till late July. My only concern is that this surgeon wants to go from the back instead of thru the abdomen which I am told will be a shorter and easier recovery. I do have some calls in for a second opinion at Penn in Philly but havent heard back.

Anyway, thanks again for the encouraging posts.