I had a L5 lumbar lam 4 years ago. It no longer requires days in the hospital. I had a synovial cyst on my spinal chord which shut my legs down almost completely. I showed up in the morning for surgery, in the afternoon the doctor walked into the recovery room and said "Get off the bed and walk". I did, and they sent me home that afternoon. I wasn't supposed to driver for a couple weeks and I had some light physical therapy. I can walk miles again and I consider 450lbs. to be medium weight to leg press at the gym.
Spinal surgery isn't as scary as it used to be. If it is an option, you should consider it.
Spinal surgery isn't as scary as it used to be. If it is an option, you should consider it.