What are people's experiences with spinal fusion surgery?

It’s really the long term effects you should ask your surgeon. Such as how does the fusion above or below handle the change in handling the additional load? What does scarring do to the nerves? How additional surgeries over the years (I have had 9 additional) do to the change in weight distribution? Will hardware need to be removed? Can a flexible disc be used instead of fusion? How fusion has your surgeon done without complications? Are you sure you have the surgeon, best PT facilities, do you have a plan to work on your core.

@judenapier What state are you in? If you are in Pa, I'd like to know the name of the doctor who did your surgery. I am in the "Philadelphia region". I am 65 years old, active & exercising regularly, however, overweight. (I've been all my life). I am facing L4-L5 surgery also & have been putting it off for 2 years now. I'm am very flexible despite my size & I'm afraid I will lose that flexibility. Can you still twist from your waist to a 90 degree angle? Can you touch your toes? Can you stretch running your hand down your sides? Can you bend backwards? I'm starting to have pain severe enough while walking to finally do the surgery. I have so many questions. Was your toes and balls of your feet numb? If so, are they post surgery? Sorry if I'm blasting you with questions, I just don't feel that old to be so darn old! LOL.

I’m in Virginia. Had a great dr.
My dr released me to twist, bend etc after 6 weeks. It’s been 12 weeks since my surgery and I’m now playing tennis. I can’t do an overhead serve yet but I hope to get back to 100% flexibility in a few more months. I was and am very active. I was walking the day after surgery and walked every day but two since my surgery. I do think your flexibility will reflect what you put into the rehab. I also had access to an indoor pool and did water arobics and light weights.
My pain was horrible radiating down one leg and I could
Not walk without a wheel chair prior to surgery Now I am totally pain free.
Best of luck with your decision. Stay active !

I wish I can do that

Judenapier,
want to echo the serious warning from David.
Please don't be so addicted to tennis that you fail to care for yourself properly. Please be very very grateful for a successful fusion without postoperative problems .
Have 2 neighbours who also thought they could play again and both ended up causing complications, further pain and additional spine surgeries.
Just saying, it's not worth it, in my humble opinion, get another hobby, but definitely not golf which also causes spine problems

Jm1 I wished I could hit “ like “20 times. If only people would prioritize Hobbies versus life. I stand by my advice to him but only he can heed it or suffer the consequences….David

Thanks for all these comments. I have opted for surgery instead of living on opioids for the rest of my life. I am 84 and plan to live to 100--at least! I have talked to the surgeon over the phone. He did not promise that I would be pain free. I am not sure if I have spurs or not. I have had chiropractic treatments since my early 30s because my vertebrae kept slipping out of place. Just before my first horrible pain attack, the chiro treatments couldn't keep my spine in alignment more than a few days. I am taking 2-250mgs of Tramadol and 2-100mgs of Gabapentine 4 times a day. When the spinal stenosis first hit it was every 4 hours 24 hours a day! I even set the alarm so that I would wake up. My doctor urged me to cut out the midnight pills. I did it after the first time I slept through the night. There are times during late in the day that I can go up to 6 hours without the pills. There are other times that I can feel the pain even with the pills. That's when I wonder what it would be like if I weren't on the painkillers? It's one of the reasons that I have opted for surgery. The other is I don't like the thought of being on these pills for the rest of my life if I can avoid it. Thanks again for all the inforrmation.

Well, ask your Dr how long he will allow recovery before therapy. I had TLIF L5-S1 FUSION WITH CAGE and 21 days he told me to start physical therapy. I told him I wasn't ready. But he insisted. So I went to a physician where a chiropractor took it into his hands and performed accupuncture and electric shock treatment. As a result I can't walk normal nor can I walk more than 5-10 mins. Be clear on his or hers post op plan ok.

Barrquinn, 3 week is usually the mark to begin PT for most fusions. It helps strengthen the needed muscles as well as insuring to get oxygen rich blood to the fusion. Yes, it can be a little painful but is definitely needed. As far as Chiropractors, I’ve never used one. Just IMO they always say “ you need an adjustment “. They use a simple AP or lateral X-ray which does not show nerves, cord impingements etc..etc…David

I don't know about that. Alot of research stated closer to 90 days of physical therapy strengthening. I was walking everyday, an in my case I got electric shock and ruined my nerves, n muscle tissue further. But thanks for your reply.