I had back surgery 20 years ago -at age 40. Had fusion L4, L5, & S1 by a prominent Dr. For 3 months afterward I was paralized. Extensive tests didn't show anything wrong. Only comment the Dr. said was that the opening in my spinal column for my nerves is extremely narrow, and he felt that touching the nerves during surgery caused the problem. (I have since had a diskectomy in my neck where they went in from the front, moving my vocal cords. I couldn't talk for 13 weeks.) My legs are showing sign of weekness, with pain down both legs. The dr. showed my on current mri that between L4 is bulging disk and the facet joints my nerves are being squeezed. He said if I don't have surgery I will eventually lose strenght in my legs completly. But my prior history of nerve problems during surgery scares me. Do you have any thoughts or advice?