I have a few additions to this excellent set of reports. I am 77 and had L4-L5 fusion last July for spinal stenosis and an unstable anterolisthesis. Surgery was proceeded by 6 months of debilitating right leg pain and increasing left foot numbness. That awful pain was gone the day after surgery! I live only 3 miles from the hospital but we borrowed an SUV that was easy to get into and smooth riding. I had children scheduled to work from our home for two weeks and a dog walker. I moved to a lower guest bed and had all my clothes etc pre-positioned in high drawers. Got a fridge and microwave for second floor home office - very helpful. Rented a recliner but never used it. Once home, I walked up two flights slowly but without help or difficulty. I will add to this Pollyanna-ish tale that the muscle pain in back and legs was a surprise. After walking bent over to relieve the nerve pain, being stretched out for 5 hrs of surgery then walking upright stressed the muscles in the front of my body. Heat and ice packs helped. Also surprised at anxiety and weepy sessions - but was reassured by daughter in law that all was normal response to surgery. Finally, was also dismayed by how lousy I felt fir several weeks; weak, no appetite. Very glad I had the surgery (done by an orthopedic surgeon with part done by neurosurgeon). But the advice here is really excellent; prepare in advance, don’t let post-surgery trauma response throw you, and realize that you may be deconditioned from your pre surgery adaptations. Wishing you and the other posters the very best. These are tough decisions and recovery can be long and bumpy! Take care.