@bdiver1verizon
The relief after surgery made it worth it for me, despite being still early-days in recovery. I have my leg back.
There are 3 distinct phases of fusion-healing. Phase 1 is inflammatory healing over the first 5 days post surgery (proteins and enzymes coalesce around the wounds and new hardware/grafts). Phase 2 takes up to 12 weeks after surgery and forms the early stage of osteoblasts creating new bone to fuse vertebrae and grow over implants (hardware). Phase 3 is consolidation (strengthening of the new bone material), which occurs up to 12 months after surgery, but may be as short as 6 months.
Only after Phase 3 can the BLT restrictions be fully lifted.
I have the pedicle screws too, which will shorten my recovery period because these rods provide additional stability.
Sitting for too long over the first few months is not recommended as this obviates the natural curvature of the spine and slows the fusion process, so ensure when you fly, you sit and stand intermittently, often.
I have started navigating full flights of stairs (one week after surgery), and actually conduct my home-physio sessions using the stairs as one part of my recovery (on advice from the physio).
The L5S1 level is a relatively simple level to operate on since the vena cava and aorta bifurcate immediately above this level, and so a vascular surgeon is not necessary for a L5S1 ALIF.
My surgeon was a neurosrgeon, not an orthopoedic surgeon.