HI and welcome to the back and neck support forum.
I am so sorry u r going thru this pain.....and I can not offer ne suggestions or insights.I am sure another member that can relate will pop on and comment.
I just wanted to welcome u and pray u find ur answers
"selma"
I gone down the same road as you in the past 10 yrs, discectomy, 2X then after continued pain due to broken bone due to the laminectomy, I had fusion in 2007. It was a long recovery period, however artificial disk replacement is only for one level at this time.
I found great pain relief from the fusion. it stablized my back to the point that i have done 5 small triathlons since then. I am now recovering from a micro foraminotomy 2 weeks ago, and am confident that I will eventually return to a pain free life.
Once the back is compromised, we have to be super careful, core stabilization exercises and care with our actions. something i always seem to forget.
don't be to scared of replacement or fusion, they have come a long way in providing pain free life if there are genuine mechanical defects. I should have avoided one discectomy and just had the fusion then. but hindsight is always 20 20.
Good luck with your prognosis, trust the Dr, (I hope you are seeing a neuro Dr)and be super careful, restrict, bending, lifting and twisting. Ice alot to relieve swelling always helps me.
good luck and feel better.