You spine has right about 21 'motion segments' in it (some people have an extra ) fusing one or two lumbar levels is hardly noticeable once you've recovered. No, I've not had it done but I have been in the spine surgery business for many years. Some patients tell me the pain is LESS in the recovery room (in theory your highest pain level is right after surgery) than they had in the pre-op area. Reliving the pressure from the nerves (or the spinal cord or the factest depending on what your 'pain generator' is) has an immeadiate, dramatic effect.

Stop changing your lifestyle to suit your pain level Infinate and go see a couple quality spine surgeons, do your research first, there are really good and not so good folks in every profession


Mike