keneiges, I caught your post and thought I would chime in. When I first heard of the vertiflex implant, I thought it was exactly what I needed to relieve the same pain you are expericncing. The first doctor who I interviewed about it said I was a perfect candidate. Prior to meeting him, an orthopedic surgeon and neurosurgeon didn't recommend it. In fact they both said I was inoperable due to mild scoliosis at l1 and t12. After finding another doctor who was familiar with the vertiflex implant said I was not a candidate at all and he would not do it. His reason was in line with both the neuro and ortho surgeon. Since then I met with two neurosurgeons and an orthopedic surgeon and both recommended spinal fusion from s1 to t10. Chances are, the veriflex would not hold at all and the question was when would it slip out of place. Most likely it would, because the spine will naturally curve more as you age. Now I am trying to get a handle on osteopenia which is causing the neurosurgeon to hold back on moving forward with surgery at this time. I would suggest getting more opinions regarding your bone health at this time. Their a likelyhood that your spine will move or adjust in thr future and that could cause your implant to slip out of place. You may have perfect posture and excellent bone health which will reduce your chances of a failed procedure. If you haven't had a dexa scan and MRI of your entire spine, you might want to consider that before proceding. I have been following the Mayo clinic osteoperosis forum for information on bone health, you could check that out as well.

I hope I am not too late with my opinion. I am far worse off than you. I go through major periods where I keep bouncing back n forth between wheelchair, cane, not using cane. Days I can do work around the house in pain, yet under a lot of meds to curtail the worst. I was discharged from military from it. In past two years, it has gotten really bad to the point I have been out of work for months now. I suffer from really bad headaches with the back pain too. So it's been tough even trying to do continuous work. I can mess around with putting up a light in the house one day and then suffering the next day and being on the chair all day/night.

The fact that you have plenty of enjoyment mixed in with your unfortunate pain/disability. Take it from someone that has been stranded on a floor for over 10 hours because I could not move. Fight what you have with as much physical therapy as you can, keep active. DON'T do surgery until you simply cannot fight it any longer.

I just cancelled my vertiflex procedure for next week because my gut feeling keeps telling me that these surgeries only lead to more surgeries and the days that are good, I live and die for!
Keep fighting as long as you can!