In August 2023 I had a Laminectomy and double spinal fusion. I was 71. Nine months later I am dealing with several issues, foot drop ( which I fell on in Dec. and fractured) torso pain which was inflammatory in nature due to trauma of the surgery ( Celebrex helped relieve that) and now opposite side pain that stretches down from lower back/ butt/ thigh which doc says is tendinitis. I had been on Gabapentin the first 5 months but it really didn’t get rid of the shock like nerve pain that still radiated down into my calf/ foot. So I started Lyrica and this did help relieve that nerve pain. Now I take Tylenol only. I still have pain, mostly during sleep and in the morning until my body wakes up. Something about my body being compressed while laying down aggravates things. Just recently my surgeon thinks he sees loosening of the screws in the hardware in my back. That is scary. My bones are not of a 25 year old. I had to have this surgery though. I was developing drop foot which impeded normal walking and the vertebra had shifted and was pressing on the nerve root. L4 L5. S1. I hope this helps. Everyone is different. We all have various issues and age/ gender plays a role. I use trek pokes to walk outdoors. I’m unsteady but I hate the orthotic brace that was made for me. Biggest advice: walk walk walk after surgery.