I could have written your comment- same symptoms, same diagnosis, same epidurals, same surgery, same results. My PN “journey” started with a herniated disc when I was 64, am now 70. This is cold comfort, but as I get further away from the dividing line between life before and after, I find I focus a lot less on the PN, it’s just “me”. Now it’s automatic to do all the little adjustments needed to be safe while doing anything. I’ve already dropped the activities that are unsafe- no playing badmitten with the grands, but red light/green light on the paved driveway is fine. I can’t take them canoeing or hiking (which I loved), but we camped this summer at a cabin (steps with a rail, cots) and to an amusement park (paved pathways, plenty of benches). Without even thinking about it, you think things through and make the adjustments needed.
I do regret I didn’t do more in retirement of the outdoor things I enjoyed, but who knows what lies ahead in life. I did spend the 5 year anniversary of the dividing line in a big soup of whine, there is a lot to mourn. This group is great, people really understand. Ray really means it about that big comfy chair.