I have Idiopathic neuropathy and back issues. Over 10 years ago, my back pain became unbearable and I had an L4/L5 fusion and a laminectomy. I had been treated by a pain management doctor for several years and he felt we had reached a point where he could no longer control the pain. Lessons learned from the experience:
First of all, see a (several) neurosurgeons rather than an orthopedic surgeon. Discuss all of the options, pros and cons.
Rods and screws in your back are the least concern. I never know they're there.
One of the pros of surgery is relief from pain. One of the cons is that once you have surgery at one level it affects other levels.
It can be a difficult surgery depending on the surgery recommended but modern medicine has come a long way.
My back MRI is still not a pretty picture but, knock on wood, I have been essentially pain free for all but one of the years after surgery. I lost weight and did lots of physical therapy. I now do strength training 2x/week and walk several times a week. I know that I have some limitations because of my back and my PN and I respect those boundaries.
I do not think your age should be an issue. I was in my late 50s when I started on this journey but now I am in my late 60s. I have met many people who have successfully navigated the surgeries well into their 70s.
Good luck!