Your lucky so far but the inevitable is coming unless you change. I went back to work after 1st surgery. Back fused but didn't listen to the surgeon on lifting and such. My suggestion to you if you want to avoid surgery and still do stuff to a curtain extent, get this brace or similar. Will help you maintain proper back alignment and keep you from extending to far. Am currently in this one. Surgeon also told me that after the fusion is complete, I best be wearing my brace doing any work or expect to come back for another surgery. Thing about back surgery, once they start cutting, its a never ending story. Hope you can stay away from the knife. Before my 1st surgery, I was stepping out of the shower, kissed the floor, crawled to the vehicle (didn't want an ambulance ride). Got 2 opinions which both said same thing. Time for the knife. Good luck.
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