Welcome to the forum and the PMR/GCA---prednisone world.

I was a neurosurgery nurse for the majority of my career. I find it ironic that I have so many neurosurgery problems. I should be exempt. I've seen good and bad outcomes so I know surgical outcomes can go either way.

Do you do lumbar fusions? I'm really struggling with deciding what to do. One surgeon recommends a multilevel fusion. I was on high dose prednisone when the first surgeon said I was a poor surgical risk.

Another surgeon says just L4-5. I'm on a biologic now to treat PMR but the second surgeon says I need to be off Actemra for approximately a month before and after surgery.

I had both knees replaced about 5 years ago. Now I have heterotopic ossification around both knees - worse on the right. The orthopedic surgeon advises against any surgery in the future. Do you think that includes surgery on my lumbar spine?

I doubt that I would ever agree to the fusion but pain can be a powerful motivator. Pain makes you do things you don't want to do.