Welcome to Neuro Talk. You will find some great people on this site. Many including myself who have back issues. If you have to do the surgery, just know that it can and does turn out OK. You have fought the good fight to keep out of the operating room, and did everything you could do. I just wanted you to know that not all surgery is bad, and sometimes it does give you much of your life back. Keep us posted. I wish you all the best, and a future without so much pain. Ginnie