@jellycats Kudos to you for being proactive and advocating for yourself. That is so important and it's what I always try to encourage in other patients because these choices are what determines your future quality of life. I have listened to enough of the neurosurgeons presentations online to hear them describe how a patients first back surgery failed when screws pulled out because of the placement of the pedicle screws that hold the rods being improperly placed at incorrect angles for example . They have done a revision surgery and are presenting the case. That is why it is so important to choose the right surgeon based on their specific outcomes for the procedure that a patient needs. That's what advocating for yourself can do for you... to help you choose wisely and to avoid excess risk, and to hire the best surgeon for the job. You will also gain perspective in the way that they explain the issues and answer your questions. When a patient brings their advocacy and interest in positive outcomes, it helps them heal and achieve those goals toward their own success.