How success is disc replacement

[shelley43]

I have been in pain for over a year now. It took the doctors over a year to find out where the pain was coming from. I have a torn disc between L4 and L5 that is not repairable. My doctor recommed disc replacement. I am a little scared of back surgery. How successful is disc replacement?

[thormod]

i had a disc replacement at L4-5, and a L5-S1 anterior instrumented fusion in Jan 2009.  At first I noticed a big difference in the pain, which was mostly from ddg, but the past 2 months I am hurting pretty bad.  I see my doc next week, so will get more info.  I am hopeful that I simply over did it, but am still on more meds than I wanted to be on , and yet still in pain.????

[Zak_Han]

Hi,here
There is little evidence that disc replacement has better results than current fusion or soft stabilisation techniques. Complications, if they occur, areas serious -if not more so - than with other spinat surgery techniques.  selection of patients for disc replacement surgery is as difficult and fallible as it is for other spinal techniques .

You should go to see reputable doctor for second opinion,don't rush to......
Good luck!