Let me tell you a few things about spinal surgery. First, spinal surgery ONLY fixes the mechanical things. It does NOT relieve pain. Most of the time you're left with the same pain or worse! So do NOT expect your pain to be relieved after surgery. You will STILL need to be on pain medication.

Secondly, after surgery whether it's fusion or not, the levels above and below the surgery site WILL FAIL, because they have to take on more of the load. That means that somewhere down the road you will need MORE surgery. Also, if you have fusion, you run the risk of the instrumentation being broken, such as the rods & screws. That means more surgery.

There have been recent studies that have shown that people who have had physical therapy have gotten the same results as those who have had fusion!!! Now I don't know about you, but I'd sure rather have physical therapy than go thru a long, painful surgical procedure, that entails a LONG recovery period!!!

I have had 2 OPEN surgeries that kept me from going back to work full-time for 6 MONTHS!!! I went back to work part-time after 4 months, and that was painful. I was on my feet all day, which didn't help.

When you have spinal surgery, you DO have to give up some things that you used to do. Your doctor will give you restrictions based on what your prior activities were. For instance, I can no longer ski. (obviously) I am not supposed to vacuum or rake leaves. I cannot lift anything over 5 lbs -- although I do. You have to sometimes in life. I'm not supposed to twist. My back is too unstable. I can't exercise. There are SO many things I can't do anymore.

Before you even THINK about surgery, you would need to get AT LEAST 2 other opinions from other doctors. I'm not sure you'd find a surgeon to operate on you with your current problem. Personally I think physical therapy is the best option for you. And I think you'd probably find A lot of RELIEF from therapy. So as for a referral to physical therapy -- especially POOL therapy. I'm sure you'll get some relief. God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee