I found that when I went through something I was terrified of it was not nearly as bad as my imagination had made it out to be. Surgery can be scary, but so is the thought of chronic pain without end. I have a loved one who had a full recovery from spinal surgery and is now doing more than she's ever done before, pain free. Just some food for thought, and I certainly am not discounting your fears. Wishing you the best of outcomes.