I wish I knew what to tell you. There is a bit of controversy about the artificial disks too, since some of them have not stayed in place.

You must remember that anytime you have a level operated on in your spine, the level below (or above) is going to fail. This is called the "domino" effect. Your doctor WILL NOT tell you about this, because of course you will go back to him for more surgery. Surgery begets surgery. This happens almost all the time. I had surgery (open) on L4-5 and a while later, L3-4 failed. Then I had surgery on THAT level and then L4-5 failed again. They only take out the part that herniates -- they don't take out the whole disc when doing normal surgery. So when or if you have the cage put in, or IF you have fusion, the level below that will fail.

The American Medical Assoc. said that people who have surgery get the SAME results as people who have physical therapy. So what's the purpose of having surgery??? NONE!!! There has been a HUGE increase in spinal surgeries in the U.S. in the last 10 years while other countries have decreased. That's because they're going the physical therapy route.

Also remember that PAIN is NEVER a reason for surgery because it will NOT relieve your pain. Chances are good that you will have the same pain or worse after surgery. The doctor doesn't tell you this either, usually. If a doctor tells you he can relieve your pain, run from him cause he can't. If you happen to get relief, it's just a fluke. I would only have surgery if the spinal cord was impinged.

I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide. God bless. Hugs, Lee