Hey well im glad u went and to be honest im glad he chose to fuse the whole thing who wants surgery twice. You will be fused at same level as me. Just for now just walk around till you have surgery. After surgery --for three months all i did was walk alot in neighborhood. Now before work in morning i do elliptical for 1 hr in 4am before work ---not always good depends if i hit szooze button(lol). Will be able to workout again-- but you know what running is vary jarring period on spine and knees --you should give that up. Eventually once your fused I would say u should be able to do most anything --accept running.