@rockinrene65 lumbar surgery was GREAT. I totally recommend it! The doctors waited years too long and my Cauda Equina was permanently damaged by the time I found a great Ortho surgeon. He told me he needed to do surgery NOW and I agreed. What's left if you don't? possibly the loss of your lower limbs and incontinence. I am SO glad I did it. The nerve roots didn't entirely heal because the neurosurgeon neglected surgery but I got rid of the pain and got a lot of feeling back. The deterioration stopped. I recommend you keep searching. I have always taken opioid for the pain associated with degeneration but, but the tylenol in the Oxy helps as much as the opioid. I'm very stable on my 10/325 every 4 -8 hours for 25 years. I am 69.