A spinal fusion is just what it sounds like. They fuse two of your vertebrae together usually after they remove the gelatinous pad between them that has dried up, ruptured and is bulging putting pressure on your spinal cord or other reasons. When you fuse vertebrae the next ones take the brunt of pressure and often wear out it develop arthritis etc. Fusions are far from the answer. Always ask for or do your own research for possible alternatives. I was told in 1992 that I needed a fusion, discotomy etc with rods and screws in the area to secure area. My comment was "Don't call me, I will call you when I can no longer walk." I went on to continue working as an RN and Rehabilitation Consultant until I retired in 2009. I am now 75 and I still maintain a three bedroom townhone with 15 steps upstairs and another 15 to the basement. I cut my own lawn and only this year have not shoveled my driveway but still do my deck and 20 steps to the back yard. I have two large Rotweillers and 2 cats. My home is clean and orderly because I refuse to be crippled. Both my knees require replacement as well and they can get quite nasty at times. Yes I have pain which I manage with lots of ice packs after the heavier activity, doing shorted more frequent activities and of course very strong opioid analgesics. I was fortunate to have missed the huge hacking off of my pain meds because I had well documented medical records and probably as well there would have been Hell raised by me had they done so. As it stands I could use an increase in the strength of my daily dose but my MD is a quack and no balls when it comes to advocating for his patients. He would rather sit on his hands and play "yes man" to the establishment.
Anyway, my advice to anyone considering surgery RECONSIDER. Find alternative solutions if at all possible. They are out there. Think about this "How many doctors do you see lining up for surgery?" You can bet your sweet ass there are very few.Good luck in all your future endeavors.

Try a TENS MACHINE Nina

I actually had nerve damage in my left leg before I had my two partial knee replacement surgeries - one for each knee. I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy in my left leg shortly after I had lower back surgery, and the nerve damage was from my L5 vertebrae pinching off the nerve bundle for my left leg, so surgery was done to fuse L5 & S1.
Do I still have nerve pain in that leg after all those surgeries? Yes, and my dates were (Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators). My neurologist said that the neuropathy won't heal, plus the fact I have Fibromyalgia- which throws everything into chaos 😐. My nerve pain is not as bad as it was right after surgery, so hang in there! 🤗

Yep sure did. Once they took away the morphine drip it hit me. I had been sitting out in a chair & the nurse came in to help me get back into bed. She lifted my legs for me & I got the worst pain I’ve ever experienced! I couldn’t lie down at all but I was fine sitting or standing, needless to say it hindered my progress because I couldn’t have my feet up like you should. The surgeon said it happens sometimes & would wear off soon but after a month of camping out in the lounge chair it was still there! He finally had to give me Lyrica which helped a lot. I took it for 2 yrs & no longer take it. The excruciating pain while lying down has gone but the numbness down the outside of my leg is still there & I still get quick bursts of like someone stuck me with a p8n but it’s very brief & I can live with that. The whole process from the op up until the lyrica started to work set me back as. Couldn’t do much but walk & I think there’s now scar tissue formed & I can’t bend it as much as one should. Suppose to get the other one on done but I’m not sold on the idea.

LYNN SEABROOK go for the replacements , I had both knees replaced in 2015 and 2016 and I'm type2 diabetic since 1997 & I've had no pain since just some stiffness, mild aching and I cant kneel. I do recommend getting on ur feet and walking with crutches the morning after ur ops. The quicker u get up and about walking the quicker u recover. If the doc says do small walks do longer easy walks instead you'll be mobile quicker that way but do the bending exercises ur doc gives u. Everybody's different, I ignored my doc and I was walking without crutches a week later. GOOD LUCK DEAR FRIEND xxx