Joanna
my husband had the surgery completed in 2000 and the doctor who did the surgery did not believe in the fusions so my husband went back to work and blew the rest of the disks. Then in Apr 2001 he was sent to a better surgeon who knew what to do the proper way and had the fusions and rods put in his back. He is now considered disabled due to the age of 57 but he has his life back. He was heading for a wheelchair by leaving the botched surgery alone. Where do you live? what state? get second and third opinions before going If you live in Florida there is a very good doctor in orlando that we went to. The florida Spine Center and they have a website too. www.flspinecare.com and it can explain the procedures. If you use this doctor when the surgery is being completed they call you in the waiting room every 1/2 hr with updates. No other family got a phone call while i was there. The surgery took about 4-6 hrs but he was in there only 4 1/2 hrs so that was a good sign. Good luck if I can help you in anyway ...we have been thru it twice so I have alot of knowledge to offer.