WELL I SAW A NS ON FRIDAY AND AS I THOUGHT I NEED SURGERY. THE MYLEOPATHY IS STARTING TO CAUSE SLIGHT WEAKNESS AND ABNORMAL REFLEXES IN MY LOWER EXTREMITIES THE PAIN IS MINIMAL. HE STATES THE PROCEDURE HE WILL DO WILL NOT REQUIRE MY OWN BONE OR A CADAVER. HE SAID BECAUSE I AM YOUNG (43) ,SLIM, NONSMOKER WITH NO OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS, HE CAN USE A CARBON FIBRE CAGE WITH A SUBSTANCE CALLED HEALOS SPONGES WHICH HE SOAKS WITH MY OWN BONE MARROW ASPIRATE, AND THEY STUFF THIS CAGE WITH THE MARROW AND THE HEALOS(WHICH IS A SUBSTANCE THAT STIMULATES YOUR OWN BONE GROWTH). HE ALSO SAID HE WOULD NOT NEED TO PLATE ME EITHER. ANYONE HAD THIS FUSION DONE THIS WAY?? HE STATES ITS VERY NEW, THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE IS VERY GOOD. THIS REALLY EXCITES ME BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT MY OWN OR A CADAVER FUSION. IM GOING TO SEEK MY SECOND OPINION OUT OF TOWN NEXT, EVEN THOUGH I REALLY LIKED THIS GUY ALOT. IM GOING TO SEND MY FILMS TO DR JHO IN PITTSBURG ALSO. I START PT ON TUESDAY NUMBNESS IN MY ARMS IS NOT TOO BAD AS LONG AS I DONT DO ANYTHING MUCH WITH MY ARMS. IT MAKES ME NERVOUS THAT MY SPINAL CANAL IS ONLY 7MM!! OF COURSE HE TOLD ME TO DRIVE SLOW AND DONT GET HURT!!! I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INPUT.. :p