Did the doctors tell your mother that there’s at least a 6 month recovery, followed by long physical therapy. I had a fusion of L5-S1 eleven years ago. The post surgery pain made my back worse to this day. Maybe it depends on the doctor and hospital. I went to an orthopedic surgeon but not an orthopedic hospital. Since then, I have a pain specialist at Rush Orthopedics in Chicago. I now have degenerative disc disease. My spine doctor wanted to fuse L2-L3-L4. Three other doctors at Rush said not to do it. It would take away bending far and make it worse. I wish the best to your mom and hope that this pain subsides. I didn’t have any luck and live on pain killers. I live alone and cannot do some of the activities that I use to do. I will pray for her and hope her surgery relieves her pain in the future.❤️