I am a 68 year old woman. I have had type 1 diabetes for over 50 years and also have osteoporosis. I was dxed with spondylolisthesis several years ago. At first I responded well to PT--but over the next two years became increasingly incapacitated. I was in a great deal of pain-mostly with standing-and at the end needed a walker to go even several feet. I tried gabapentin, steroid injections, nerve blocks etc. Nothing worked. Finally, I had an L5-S1 fusion. Like rng1954 I recovered well. I walked out of the hospital after 2 days and (unlike a close friend whose surgery was successful, but who had a long painful recovery) I needed no pain meds. Its been over a year now and I only feel occasional mild back discomfort which is addressed by yoga and other activity. I try to walk at least 5000 steps a day and keep resolving to do more core exercises. My osteoporosis was addressed by Forteo injections 4 months before and 10 months after surgery. It may be that I will have future problems--but my surgeon tells me that I have healed very well and he doesn't foresee them. I believe that factors in my favor were: 1. very good luck. 2. a very good, meticulous surgeon with a very good track record (I had worked in the hospital and talked to his nurses). 3. I was considered-based on spine imaging-and despite my diabetes and osteoporosis-a good candidate for the procedure. Its a gamble---and I know of far less successful outcomes--but it was definitely worth it for me.