Boy like so many, I too feel I need this surgery on my back but have some very serious doubts. L3-L5, My spine now is very crooked and bulges in a couple places. I have talked to 2 surgeons and both said surgery is my last chance. I have been to pain med doctors for 3 years of shots. Now the shots are not working that well. I also did physical therapy. Nothing helps now.

My problem is I have other problems that have prevented me from getting the surgery for over 3 years. One was my wife had a stroke and I could not take that much time off. I had to take care of her for a year. Luckily she is much better now. The second time my COPD go worse and my pulmonologist would not clear me for the operation. She basically I could die on the table. The surgeon said come back in at least a year's time before he would consider me for surgery. With treatments my COPD has gotten a lot better now. In 2024 I had the final appointment to schedule my surgery. The day before I ended up in the hospital. I fell unconscience in a store. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks and they did every test possible and found nothing wrong or why I passed out. My surgeon when he I told him about it he told me to be on the safe side to come back in a year's time. In 2025 I was set to go back and schedule the back surgery. In January 2025 I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. I canceled the appointment with the surgeon. He will tell me to wait another year. I cannot get this done since 2022 and it is close to 2026 now. I guess I will not get this surgery or someone above is telling me not to get this surgery.