Thanks for the quick reply, Dr. Corenman. Very helpful to hear that what I’m experiencing is normal. I will definitely keep you in the loop on my progress.
Related, have you ever heard the L5-S1 disc fusing naturally? I can’t help but think about what might be down the road for me at this level in my spine (I know I should be focused on the recovery that’s in front of me). For reasons I can’t quite articulate, the idea of having a spinal fusion at 40 years old (current age) scares me quite a bit. My surgeon thinks that I likely won’t need a fusion in the future given my spine is stable and so much disc has already disappeared. Curious on your thoughts on a vertebrae “naturally” fusing and if that’s something you’ve ever seen or if it’s even likely given my circumstances.