Ally, I had cervical spinal fusion levels C4 and C5 in 2002. From the moment surgery was over, I felt like a new person. The surgery was done from the front and I had a soft neck brace to wear while riding in the car. Very positive experience. In 2004, I had lumber spinal fusion and laminectomy levels L4 and L5. I went in to surgery in much pain, unable to walk unless bent over with a walker. After surgery no pain. Wondferful! I did have to have physical therapy to help with walking and rebuilding muscles in lower back. Both surgeries were blessings for me. Last May 2007, I had laminectomy levels C3, C4, C5, C6, and C7. I was losing use of right hand and arm. There was pressure on spinal cord that had to be relieved. I have a fabulous neurosurgeon, with whom I have the utmost trust and repect. He did my carpal tunnel surgeries in 2001 and 2002 also. This surgery in May went well; however, my nerves were irritated during the surgery and I am still waiting for them to heal. I had therapy right after surgery for 3 months which helped a lot. Tomorrow I start with more therapy. My thoughts to you are to hang in there and try not to be afraid. If you need the surgery then have it. I will say though that with my neck fusion, my surgeon used donor bone rather than taking bone from my hip. I am a large person and this may have been why he didn't take bone from my hip. The recovery would not have been as good for me. Also I do have Titanian rods annd screws in my neck and hardware in my lower back. They show up on x-rays but other than that, I forget I have them. just be sure you are comfortable with your neurosurgeon. That makes all the difference. let us know what you decide to do. I will keep you in my thoiughts also. If I had it all to do over again, I would do the same. Oh, and even though my last surgery hasn't had the best outcome yet, I would do it again. There are risks we all take that are necessary in the long scheme of things. Take care. Hope this helps calm your fears.