Unless you are absolutely sure this is the only way to go and there are no other options then yes. I had 5 operations on my back and one on my neck ... started out with a laminectomy in the 80's then 4 more in the 90's with fusion, plating and instrumentation (rods). Then late 90's full plating, fusion, on my neck with instrumentation (rods) ...

It doesn't stop me from doing anything but I do have chronic pain ... but the pain is far less then being completely disabled like I was. the short answer for me, surgery is the last resort when all else fails. Most disk problems clear up by themselves and it takes months for it to cool down. Some will not, unless there is stability issues with the spine, or floaters(broken disk fragments in the spinal canal) I am not a big fan of surgery. It will cut down the pain quite a bit but what you are left with is what you are left with forever. I lost all feeling in my fingers from the neck. Lost most of the feeling in my upper right leg from the back ... No fun at all.

After the surgery, the risk of a pulmonary embolism is very high, make sure you don't lay there but get up and move even though it hurts. Had that happen also, nearly killed me