Those in the know please educate me on pros/cons of fusion vs disc replacement and when one or the other is not a real option. What, if anything is new and should be considered? Who are the most highly recommended surgeons if it must happen?

Thanks in advance.

I'm a physical therapist to clarify so I treat these after the work is done. I prefer disc replacement to fusion for maintaining range of motions and possible future surgeries that come with having a fusion.

Is this a single level or multi-level fusion that you are considering? Which level(s) are you considering? I would always see a neurosurgeon for this kind of procedure. And I would get multiple opinions before moving forward.

Where you located? I believe there are a few neurosurgeons that have posted on this board over the years and hopefully they can comment in more detail to your questions.

Thank you. I'm in the north DFW area. I have seen a neurosurgeon and actually seen him three times over the last 10 years. I've had a total of four MRIs in that timeframe. Several years back the issue was between my C5 and C6 but in last meeting, it is now discovered that I also have the issue in the next level down. I prefer to put surgery off as long as possible and do something less invasive, but I also oppose taking medication. So I'm doing therapy, which I have done in the past my brain tells me that a surgery is most likely inevitable at some point currently, the way my left arm feels is not sustainable.
Thank you.

I have two Mobi-C artificial discs from C5-C7. I struggled for well over a decade with neck pain and nerve trouble down my arms. I put off surgery by doing PT and chiropractic but eventually it was clear the stenosis was so bad and had gone on for so long that I was risking irreversible nerve damage. I saw a spine surgeon (ortho as his core specialty but with specific neuro/spinal education/training). I had outpatient surgery (Jan 2020) in the morning and was home by lunch. When I woke up from surgery, I was able to lift my hands/arms without tingling. It was amazing. The recovery required no PT, just rest. The pain in my neck and the nerve issues in my arms and hands used to be top of mind for me constantly. Now, I forget I ever even had the surgery. It was one of the best decisions in my life.

C5C6 and C6C7 disc replacements. Fusion at C4C5 due to last minute insurance hassle.

Replacement is the way to go, especially for the lower levels you are having trouble with.

Get them both done at the same time (I didn't. Conservative surgeon.). If you wait until the disc badly ruptures, you risk more nerve damage that may not ever recover (some of mine didn't).

Thank you very much. This is very helpful. Disc replacement just seems to make a ton more sense to me than a fusion that reduces mobility. I have done the reading, and my surgeon, who I think is highly qualified and even somewhat well known and highly recommended hasn't really offered a recommendation at this point. I think my last MRI did indicate some level of arthritis in the vertebra to which he said disc replacement is really not an option. I didn't like hearing that nonetheless, I do think multiple opinions will be my next step.

I had the same issue. Ended up have a posterior (went in through the back of neck) microdiscteomy at C6-C7 vs disc replacement. You should ask about that, although it depends on how much of the disc isn't bulging. Best decision of of my life. I had lived in pain for ~2 years before deciding to do it. Wish I had done it sooner, but I was pretty young (~28) and the issue stemmed from a bad car accident.

Thank you very much to sir. One of my biggest concerns is diminishing success of the surgery should I wait longer and have more damage. And what symptoms do you still experience?

Just wanted to report back. Last Thursday I had a three level spinal fusion and discectomy (C5-C7). Everything seemingly has gone well and the symptoms of the nerve that was being compressed are gone. Now it's just a matter of getting over the trauma.

I hope you have a speedy recovery with minimal pain. It's amazing how the symptoms go away immediately!

Thank you. That it is. It is also amazing the strange pains that I have at times with swelling etc.