Victoria,
What a terrible story! Condolences on your condition, and welcome! There is a lot of lumbar experience here for you and great bunch of people that are happy to share their experiences.
Retrolisthesis is a contra-indication for ADR. I believe that many ADR manufacturers publish a limit of retrolisthesis for which their device can be safely used. I want to say that most are in the 2-3mm range? Before having ADR I would strongly encourage you to thoroughly vet the implant you use for its performance in patients with retrolisthesis. As you are interviewing potential ADR surgeons, I would encourage you to quiz them thoroughly on their knowledge/observations/experience of ADR in those with retrolisthesis. A failed ADR can be a life altering and life-long debilitating condition.
As you are willing to go overseas for surgery, there are three surgeons overseas surgeons that I would highly recommend that you consider (with special attention to their experience with ADR/retrolisthesis)...
- Pablo Clavel, Barcelona, Spain - Highly experienced in practice and research, turns out a steady stream of successful outcomes, and gave me my life back on Nov 25, 2009.
- Nick Boeree, Hampshire, England - Highly experienced, turns out a steady stream of successful outcomes, and I've never seen an ill word posted about him.
- Luiz Pimenta, Sao Paulo, Brazil - Highly experienced, turns out a steady stream of successful outcomes, and is profusely cited by his peers in scientific literature. A bonus for you, (consider this a rumor), I have heard that he periodically practices in southern California. (so potentially no trans-continental flights required)
Nan has mentioned Dr Zeegers. He also turns out a steady stream of successful outcomes, and it is very unusual to come across a bad outcome had at his hands. He would be worth your consideration as well.
Be aware that surgery overseas is replete with risks that you don't have in the US.
- No protection by the US legal system is there is a problem
- You are required to pay at the time of service if there are complications
- Getting back home if you come out of surgery worse than when you went in could be problematic and expen$ive
- It can be difficult to find followup care from US ADR surgeons once you've returned home
You have a long road of research ahead of you. I would encourage you to take no one's word for anything; research for yourself everything that you are told. Possibly the most useful research tool at your disposal is the surgical outcomes posted in various spine forums.
Good luck!
Jeff