@klsteffes Thank you for sharing your fusion story. My husband is already fused T9- S (don't remember the number) with wires attaching to his pelvis. This was a total redo from 4 prior surgeries plus higher. He now has T7-8 and T8-9 with issues and is considering fusion. He is concerned with restrictions - being able to move, drive, bend etc... He is as active as he can be but is in pain. He is now 79 years old. The surgery of 12 hours was done at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and we think very highly of the surgeon. He has DDD, was in 5 helicopter crashes in VietNam. When he was 60 years old he was told he had the back of a 90 year old.