Spinal Fusion

I had the same exact question. I have gotten a ton of information from the internet. Good luck man. 

Most surgeons I refer to will not do spinal surgery for pain alone.  They recommend surgery only if there is progressive neurologic damage, or to prevent neurologic damage from becoming permenant.   What back problem do you have that warrants surgery?

...I've had two family members go through with this procedure in different parts of the spine. Neither has much good to say about it. I personally would not unless I had a ruptured disc and there were no other alternatives. Bone grinding on bone, especially spinal bone must be harsh, but I haven't heard great things about the procedure. One member of my family had it in the neck and can't move her head around as much as before; the other family member who's had it needed it without question, but these procedures do limit mobility if I'm to be understood correctly from what they've had to say.

Now a kyphoplasty, I sure as heck wish that I could have that now. The first surgeons I saw said I couldn't have any surgery, but I had no insurance and years later I come to find that I probably could've had my wedge compression filled in with that goop they use for reconstructing your spine. I do know that you still suffer pain after the procedure, just less than without it.

One member, the one who didn't get the spinal fusion in his neck but instead the lower back, he still takes high doses of pain meds. You may be in for the pain med ride for life. It sort of sucks, trust me, I don't like it either; but things could be worse...right? You could be paralyzed.