Thanks for the good wishes. My previous surgery involved no hardware, just removal of bone and herniated part of the disk. PT is helping, and the ESI did move the pain lower into my calf, so it's actually easier to walk. I go back to the physiatrist next weeks, and finally got a consult appointment with a neurosurgery practice in 3 weeks. It's still hard to do a full day at work, but I've acquired a desk that adjusts from sitting to standing, and that makes a huge difference (since sitting is the most painful). I'll ask my PCP for an ortho specialist recommendation too. It seems like multiple opinions may be a good thing. What I really need is a lumbar spine replacement...too bad they don't actually exist.

Kay