I can attest that the numbness from a surgical incision takes years, if not decades. I have had several major surgeries and still have no feeling in one of the areas. Sometimes they never regenerate. When nerves begin to wake up or regenerate, it can be very painful with sharp pains like someone is stabbing you with a pin. In those instances, you might think I might be better off without that particular nerve! My first back surgery was when I was 12 years old due to scoliosis. They implanted a Harrington Rod that hooks into my T2 vertebrae to L2 and was grafted with live bone from my hip. I had to lie on my back for 30 days, then wear a full-body cast for 9 months. The top of the rod would stick me from the inside. That was painful until scar tissue grew around it. Now I am experiencing the complications of having the majority of my spine fused, and the vertebrae above and below it are beginning to show significant signs of deterioration due to the wear and tear of taking the brunt of movement. I will see a spinal deformity specialist in Charleston, SC, soon. I really do not want another surgery because, as you read, it is not all sunshine and daisies after. I have put off injections since they also use contrast dye during the procedure, and I am allergic to it. I will say that sitting for long periods of time is not good for anyone. The sitting position can trap nerves and cause Meralgia Paresthetica, which mimics back issues. A good balance of sitting and moving is often the ticket. I pray that I don't live out my life in any more pain than I already am. Good luck to all of us as we chase a pain-free life as we also grow older.