Doc recommends spinal fusion from T12 - S1.

66 year old female Considering spinal fusion from T12 - S1 for pain standing and walking. Has anyone had this full lumbar fusion? I am concerned for permanent restrictions or loss of mobility post surgery.

I am active and very social. Looking for what I can expect for future life mobility restrictions as I weigh whether to move forward with this surgery. I would like to hear about your post surgery experiences as I weigh my decision, understanding healing is a very individual experience.

I believe I am at the tipping point and am moving towards surgery, if I can live with the restrictions and if I will be able to acclimate to my body new abilities and be active WITHOUT pain.

Prior Micro discectomy L2 - L3 in 2015.

Pain again about 2018 and has progressed to not being able to stand more than 20-30 minutes nor walk more than a mile. Significant pain when I do either of these things....cooking....walking to an event....putting on make up.

Once I sit, fortunately the pain lessens and eventually goes away. I can sit hours mostly pain free and laying down and sleep without pain.

I had to use a wheel chair to tour a museum with friends and find I am not doing things I want to do to avoid hurting which indicated to me that I should stop kicking the can down the road and consider more surgery.

I was surprised with this full lumbar fusion recommendation and did not realize how restrictive my life will be permanently. I am confident in my surgeon and do not feel pressure to move forward with surgery.

I bicycle 60 miles a week pain free (sitting) and it is my go to escape and exercise. I will be most unhappy if I am not able to bike. Anyone a biker

I am a massage therapist and I have stepped away from work except one worksite client. I golf and exercise and am social. Travel and site seeing is painful, but I do it anyway.

Any new treatments on the horizon? Concerns if I wait to have surgery?

My MRI reports.
1. Progressive moderate levorotoscscoliosis centered at L2, which measures 30 degrees and previously 18 degrees in 2015.
2. Progressive degenerative disc disease in the right half of L2/L3 disc space.
3.At L2/L3, previously noted right parcentral/posterolateral disc herniation has been relaced with moderate-sized osteophytic bone ridge which narrows the right lateral recess and results in mild to moderate right foraminals stenosis.
4. At L4/L5 and L5-S1 mild to moderate broad-based left paracentral and Posterolateral disc bulge/herniation relusts in progressive moderate to advanced left foraminal stenosis.
5. L3-L4, mild multifactional central spinal canal stenosis due to posterior disc bulge/herniation, bilateral facet arthropathy, and ligamentum flavum thickening. Mild-to-moderate right foraminal stenosis. This has progressed.

Thanks in advance for any information you are able to share. Tamra