My husband had the surgery, it is a big thing, but, if he see's a neuosurgeon they will only do it if it the last option. There are two kinds, the fusion being the most agressive. If it has to be don
e, do it. He will have no regrets in the end. Most of the stuff you hear is a bunch of scare from the old days. There's alway a chance something will go wrong in surgery, but, the end result out weighs the risks. Its not a picnic, but, no wone needs to live in pain.