I am now 11 months since surgery and I am doing very well. I have limited myself to 50lbs lifting, but am back to pretty much my old routines. One thing I had not expected was that not only did they go in the front, they flipped me over and went in the back. Evidently the L5 was so badly damaged that they needed more screws. But is was up and walking that same day with no pain, except from the surgery.
The best advice my doctor gave me was simple.... "Don't do anything stupid". Looks like I am also looking at C3-C7 surgery, in the future. My doctor and I agree that we should put it off as long as possible.

For anyone reading this who has not had the surgery yet, it is painful and you will curse your surgeon's name for about six weeks. But, it was worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeat.