I have been there. Twice. I'm 52. My unadulterated recommendation is to seek out one Dr. Marsh, at Mayo Rochester. Let Dr. Marsh and his team examine you, order and look at films and mri, and then you listen to him/them, ask questions, and let them help you. I swear by him. Side note: I also have ptsd so many physicians irritate me or I them, and I categorically and generally do not trust surgeons, (after a life of over 14 orthopedic surgeries secondary to a congenital collagen disorder,) but I trust Dr. Marsh every day of the week and twice on Sundays. He has handled 2 laminectomies, with facietomies and fusions for me in 2 places, one of which was L4-L5. I am 6 years out of that one and doing amazing. Back 8n school for my BSN. Back in a pool swimming! I hit PT as hard as I could after surgery. Never missed. I adhered to all of the Surgeon's and PT's instructions. I took the criticisms of my bad habits, and still work with them to improve and protect the repairs. I would recommend him to anyone. He is specific, but also kind, and extremely intelligent and just amazing. I know the dizzying feeling of regular orthopedic surgeons with their conflicting recommendations, and diva complexes. Yuck! Go see Dr. Marsh. He is not regular, or ordinary. He is just wonderful. You won't be sorry. It might be a wait to get in, but completely worth it. We only get one body, one spine. Best, -mary