Hi Catherine, I’m RB, 65 yo male, sending my empathies regarding your recovery. Stay the course, it is not an easy rehab from your extensive surgery & unfortunately, it is a long, slow recovery. I’m 3 years past a T11-L5 fusion with a couple of 26” rods, 14 screws & 2 inter- body cages at L4-5. Am I back to where I was before all the “trouble”? No, I’m not but don’t expect to be & constantly adjusting to/accepting of my new normal. Being prudent, limited, restrictive bending at the waist, no twisting nor lifting ANYthing >15-20lbs. Stay as active as you can. Most every day, I walk outside with my dog & also by myself, 20-25 miles a week. The sun, fresh air & meditation-time are important to me. I also stretch on a Precor Stretch Trainer, 25-30 mins, again almost daily. Keeping my weight in the 175-180 range is also critical. (6-2 prior to back issues, now 5-11, from disc space loss as well as post-op thoracic kyphosis.) Learn from & adjust when you over-do things. Compare your progress to where you were just before surgery, NOT to where you WANT to be. Medication-wise, I use NSAID’s (naproxen, ibuprofen), cold packs, heat & lidocaine topicals as well as medical marijuana/ THC. I wish you the best & hope for even better, rb