I'm not sure if vertiflex was device that a pain mgmt. Dr. suggested he could do or if it was something else but 2 surgeons said that would not work for me whatever he was suggesting. I don't know if you have any scoliosis bc I have 18 degree scoliosis which there is a new device called tops but I had too much scoliosis. You could only have 10 degrees in trial and it was fda approved in June. Mayo Clinic had said whenever device is approved they may still not have access to it for a few months. You might see if that could be an option for you. I was holding out for it to be approved and getting it then told it wouldn't work for me but since I've had this and feeling a lot better than I did I should be happy. A lady that does my taxes said she had fusion about 5 years ago and each year it gets better. I know some people talk about 1st year being rough. I'm not sure if they mean bc they can't do things or if they do have a lot of pain bc I don't think I've really had much pain. I was leary from hearing others stories and there are so many variables each person's condition to start, your surgical team, if you do what they say before and after surgery. So I'd go in with an open mind but I hear fusion process can take up to a year. I hope the best of luck to you.