Facing 4th lumbar surgery! Need advice!

  To make a long story short.........I've had 3 surgeries so far on my lumbar and now I'm facing the 4th one! Currently I have 2 disc herniation's (L3-L4 and L4-L5), spinal stenosis (moderate to severe), facet arthropathy, retrolisthesis, DDD, moderate to severe disc height narrowing, and the one problem that is the main concern is a free floating disc fragment that is completely impinging the L5 nerve root. I was given a couple options.......

1.) No surgery and just control with meds!
2.) A fusion of the L3, L4, and L5.
3.) Just go and and have the disc fragment removed and the 2 disc herniation's shaved down.

  I can get into more detail if someone can help me with making this decision. I'm not sure what to do. I have been dealing with this since I was injured in 2004 while I was in the Military. Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks,
SSGmajik

[deebelle3]

There is a  rather new surgery called microdecompression that is less invasive and does not cut the muscle. The keep you in the hospital 23 hours and it is half the recouperation time of other back surgeries. This you may want to consider. Ask your Neurosurgeon. I had it done 07/07/09. I did use a neurosurgeon though rather then an orthopedic Dr.
Deebelle

[SSGmajik]

  Thanks for the info. I will ask my neurosurgeon on my next visit.

SSGmajik