drdawg said:Thank you, Lyn. I have no concerns about the surgery. I worry more about the recuperation period. Even though this is my "slow-period", I have so much to do. I'm afraid I don't do well "waiting to heal". 
My wife has already laid the law down on me. "You do exactly what the doctors tell you to do after the surgery. I don't even want to think about how you spent the recuperation period in 1990!" I had back surgery in 1990. Since I was told I could not bend over for two weeks, I figured I could go out in the yard and pull weeds sitting down. My neighbors snitched on me. Can you believe that? At least it will be too cold to pull weeds. 
I was supposed to be off work for six weeks and then, the neurosurgeon said he would discuss with me when I could go back to work. I was back in three weeks. I had patients that needed me. 
My wife has never forgotten and I don't think my neurosurgeon was too happy with me either. At least this is a new neurosurgeon. He won't know (unless my wife snitches). 
Good grief, Ken ... haven't you had enough pain ?
Of course, I am the wrong person to say even one word about getting back to work too soon. I've done the same thing a few times in my life ....
When I shattered my ankle, I was supposed to keep my foot up so that there would be no swelling. Oh, yeah. I had a tax practice at the time and it was tax season. I went through the whole tax season with my foot up on my desk ... well, it was UP ...
Then when I tore a ligament in my knee, I wasn't supposed to be outside after I got the brace off for a whole month ... nah, I was out there pulling weeds within a week ...
I had enough time on the couch. I couldn't stand watching the weeds grow and not doing anything about it.
Ken, back pain is 24/7 listen to your doc and your wife this time.
