Melanie
I am about to have a back fusion at level L5 S1. I have been suffering for about 10 years with back pain due to a fall. I have tried all the different therapies available. If you are having pain in the leg or numbness please make sure you get at least several different opinons. The worst part of the surgery from the people that I have talked to is the hip area from where they take the bone. Do not let them use cadaver bone it does not work as well. My recovery will be about 4 months. Plus additional months in therapy. The pain will be controlled for about the first to months with narcatics. E-mail me and I will tell you more.