Reply #57: Fusion is old school. [View All]

[wolfgangmo]

There are new devices (articulated disk replacements) that are FDA approved (and that have been in use and studied in the EU for about 20 years so the literature and research behind them is solid) that do not fuse the spine but still allow it to bend. The problem with spinal fusion is that it transfers the stress to the adjacent joints thus causing them to deteriorate faster than they would have normally, ie.e they wear out.

Ask you doc and if s/he hasn't heard of them then get a new doc.