@xandermac This is just me, one person, but you sound exactly like I was before spinal fusion surgery in 2018. I had a 20 minute window to be on my feet, before excruciating pain. I’d go early to the grocery store on a week day, pull into the handicapped spot with my plan in mind, walk as quickly as I could to a few needed items, head to the self check-out, and be back at my car at the 20 minute mark and feel the excruciating pain start as I’d lower myself to the car seat.
I decided I couldn’t live like this. My mother, a smart BSN, RN, always said to have surgery at a major medical school teaching hospital- top surgeons, excellent infection control, lots of attention from residents and interns. I researched the spinal surgeons in the closest one to me, made an appointment with the head of the department (took 6 months to get in), went for the evaluation, testing, confirmed diagnosis of spinal stenosis, plan explained, went for the surgery. Full recovery from surgery took 3-4 weeks.
The surgery was totally successful- I have no back pain, no thigh pain, no leg pain. I do the PT home exercise program still, walk a mile and a half daily, do the exercise bike when there’s bad weather. I’m 73 years old.
People will want to tell you terrible stories of their husband’s sister-in-law’s cousin’s awful experience with surgery, but it gave me my life back.