@wheelerma ah, yes Spinal fusion.. The most important thing is to get a great surgeon.. my fusion was L4, L5, and the tailbone SI.. they used 2 plates, 6 screws, I had the procedure in Oklahoma City in 1995 because of an injury that pushed the vertebrae out of the stack about a third of the way... I have had NO Problems for the last 25 years.. I am now 83.. The procedure took 8 hours, I was in ICU for 4 or 5 days .. at home for about 20 days.. around the holidays.. I used crutches for a week or two.. then a cane for 30 days... During the surgery they took some soft bone from my hip to pack around the plates and screws..That bone hardened in the next year around the hardware that was left in.. Because the surgeons cleaned up the arthritic growth I have sooooo much less back trouble than many of my peers of the same age... I walk and do not hurt... That same doctor helped me with problems with my neck as he prescribed a Cervical Traction Device that a Physical Therapist taught me to use.. that too has been very helpful.. The Fusion was a good way to go ... Ken