I am scheduled for a laminectomy, an L4-L5 bone fusion with TLIF spacer and hardware on October 29. I am terrified. The pain has been with me since 2011. It hasn't been excruciating, but bothersome and nagging. I ran a half marathon at the end of April and felt a lot of pain near the end. Some days are great (hardly any pain at all) and other days I am in the recliner with the heating pad and Hydrocodone. I am so worried that this surgery will leave me worse off than I am now. My surgeon is excellent, a board certified expert, I trust him. But I've heard so many terrible stories. I need someone who has had this done to give me some perspective. Please!