I went back to the Surgeon today for a check-up. Thing were very positive. I am off painkillers and feeling rather good. He cleared me to drive (LOML is happy for this), exercise, and I can return to work. This is good news from my perspective.
Now, you'd think that being on short term disability would be a good thing, but it wasn't all you'd think. The first part was so filled with pain (& painkillers) you really could do much of anything. The second part was trying to readjust. You'd focus on redeveloping mobility while tapering down on the pain and use of painkillers. It is only in the last week where I could feel like I used to in terms of energy, mobility, interest in doing things, etc... I've been cooking up a storm and have been working on some castings. But my mind needs some challenges to tackle.
Thanks for all your support and well wishes. The operation was a success and the vertebrae will continue to fuse together for the next 6-8 months. But I seem to be a going concern and do not dread waking up in the morning wondering how much it was going to hurt that day as I did before the operation. I will be doing physical therapy for a while and work back to full strength at the gym and in the shop.
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I have not reached the shores of needing disc repair but I'm wading in the water and doing my best to stave it off with exercise but I fear one day I may be washed ashore and have to deal with these things. A dear friend of mine was recently diagnosed with MD (muscular dystrophy) and she is only a few years younger than me. Getting old stinks I keep hearing. My boss always likes to tell me, "Don't get old." 
