I had an acdf c6-c7 with Peek implant in february 2020. CT scan 1 year post acdf shows no fusion. I am having a lot of pain in my neck. Surgeon says this pain might be from incomplete fusion, but also from the herniated disc between c5-c6 or even from my facets that have arthritis. He wants to redo the c6-c7 and also do c5-c6. I very much regret having the 1 level acdf. Getting a 2 level acdf to me sounds completely crazy. Especially since c3-c4 is also bulging.
I would like to hear your opinion on 2 things:
1)Stem cell therapy for c5-c6, and maybe even c3-c4. Is this a therapy that works? And what are the risks? If it goes wrong, I can still have the level fused. So to me the risk seems low?
2)Replacing the c6-c7 fusion with an ADR. I have read that this has been done by some surgeons already. What is your opinion? What are the risks?
Thanks in advance.
Oswald