Question
Do you know if surgery is the only option for repair of spondolythesis which is the result of artritis? Or.........is it successful at all?

Answer
Emily,

Spondylitis is a terrible form of arthritis. Surgery is only required when the disease had done significant damage to a joint such as a hip joint or has caused calcium deposits on the vertebrae in your spine that is causing problems. There are many ways to treat the symptoms but surgery is the only way to correct deformities caused by the disease.

Surgery is usually successful in correcting posture and range of motion. It also usually helps in the long run with symptoms such as pain.

This said surgery is a last resort. Any surgery on the back is not simple surgery. It is not a specifically dangerous surgery but it takes time to recuperate.

Only you and your doctor can make this decision. It is really needed then it can be one of the best things you can do for your self. A second opinion is in order.

Educating your self is important also. You can only make an informed decision when you have all the facts. Here is a good place to start your research. Just above the beginning of the  articles are links to a lot of information.

http://arthritis-symptom.com/ankylosing-
spondylitis/index.htm

Also keep a journal with a place for questions. Write down all the questions you and your family can think of for your doctor. Keep the journal handy so that if a question comes to mind between visit you can write is down. It is easy to forget everything you would like to ask your doctor when you are in his office. Having all the questions before you makes it easy to get the information from your doctor that you need.

I wish you good health.

Rusty