I love medical advances! Met a surgeon today and learned a lot has changed in the last ten years. Ten years ago surgeons said I need discs from L3 to S1 fused. Today I learned that if L5/S1 is fixed (it's virtually non-existant now) by using a titanium cage to bring it back where it should be the upper discs should return to a more normal position relieving disc bulges pressing on my nerves.

They pretty much fix the foundation of the spine by going in from the belly & back and fix it. Now I have to see a vascular surgeon about my AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm) to see if it's safe enough to go in through the front w/o it rupturing and killing me.

Nothing like getting older!