@besmith57
I have osteoporosis and DDD, stenosis, spondolysis, foraminal stenosis etc. I was told I need fusion on three levels also. My main symptoms though are in my legs and they came back after I did a decompression without fusion after four months. I was so happy for four months only. I just don't want to do fusion and still have the pain in my legs from walking.

@besmith57

Thanks for the informative reply. A few comments.

For now, my pain/immobility situation is severe, but fluid. Last week, as I've said before, was all about crawling around, making agonizing, strenuous efforts to rise from chairs and beds. and resigning myself to not being able to pick up anything that fell to the floor. I've been relying on self-made contraptions such as bent coat-hangers to aid putting on socks and pants. This week, I'm the same, but considerably less crippled by pain/immobility.

With great effort, I can walk around to attend to daily needs, such as getting to the stores and other key public places (all within a 1/2 mile of home). But sometimes I moan in pain while doing, or struggle up steps, and so on.

I'm seeing my physiatrist next week. Last month he put me on gabapentin 300mg, 2x daily. Last week he ok'd an increase to 400mg, 2x daily, but that's only somewhat effective. I've felt compelled to use the gabapentin 400mg up to 4x daily. That's the only reason my symptoms have improved this week.

Maybe this present onslaught of disabling symptoms, which began in late September for reasons unknown, will go away on its own. I hope so. If not, I could be looking at decompression/fusion surgery sooner rather than later. At least that's my guess.

I have more questions for you, definitely. But first, can you tell me, does the symptomatic picture I describe here remind you of what you felt like immediately before your operation? Or were your symptoms worse than mine presently are?