I had an accident where L-5 was pushed about a third out of the stack...1995...a spinal fusion with 2 plates and 6 screws... pulled every thing back in place...harfware was left in place..bone from hip packed around vertebrae... I'm now 82 and have had really no walking or getting around problems since that surgery in OKC..they cleaned up around the fusion... really good spine surgeon.. I only took pain meds for a couple days after getting out of hospital...