Hi Jack ~ I'm probably not the best one to give any advice, since neither of my surgeries were successful.

This sounds like quite a surgery! I hope you will have help at home afterwards, because you're going to need it. You won't feel like getting up alot when you get home -- although it's recommended that you do. Also, just a word of advice -- prolonged sitting isn't recommended for us since it puts more pressure on the discs.

It also sounds like you have sciatica -- pain from the back, going down the leg & into the foot?? My neurosurgeon told me to ice the back -- use ice for 20 minutes every 2 hours. That helps with inflammation & swelling in there, plus it also reduces pain. Don't use HEAT -- that draws blood to the heated area & causes more swelling and inflammation.

You might want to get yourself one of those "grabbers" -- they a long metal tool with a "gripper" on the end, so you don't have to bend over to pick up stuff or you can get something down off of a high shelf without reaching or getting on a stool. Mine has come in VERY handy.

I don't know how "steady" you'll feel on your feet after surgery, but you might want to have a walker available in case you're feeling a little uncertain on your feet. The LAST thing you want to do is FALL.

One thing you need to do is talk to your doctor about POST-SURGERY MEDICATIONS. You will need pain meds immediately after surgery -- and your present meds MIGHT not be sufficient. So have a talk with your doc.

Best of luck & please let us know how you come out. God bless. Hugs, Lee