Let your surgeon and the operating room staff know of your back issues. With me, I (and my surgeon) were so concerned about my giant hiatal hernia and avoiding trauma to that area that I really didn't care about anything else. My surgeon was also extremely highly rated, and I felt pretty darn good about three days post surgery. I had soreness for sure, but I thought it was routine, and I was telling everybody what a piece of cake the surgery was. The pain just never went away, and got worse. Pace yourself; don't jump back into regular routines for at least 8-12 weeks. (I flew for 3 hours at 6 weeks). Don't be tempted to sit up in bed in a "V" position, put a pillow under your knees, try to avoid doing anything that twists your torso. Anyway, your medical professionals will tell you all these things; just make sure to follow their instructions. Best of luck and keep us posted on your progress!