I understand your point Hope. Find a good surgeon. Done properly, surgery should help your situation, not make it worse. And if your surgeon can do laminotomies, less bone is removed from the vertebra and spinal integrity will be better. And you may be able to avoid fusion.

It just depends on how much your life is affected. I couldn't stand for any length of time and had to so something. Life was miserable. My surgeon took the least invasive route and it all went well. Of course, we're all different.