While I've never had back surgery, I've had major surgery in 2006 for lung cancer. Never once did I worry about it as I had put 100% faith in my surgeon whom I met many times before the surgery date.
The one thing I learned was to not waste energy worrying needlessly. Instead, pre-surgery, I focussed on being as healthy as I could be at the time so that post-surgery recovery would be much faster.
Breathe deeply and know that everything will go well. I have it from the source, Merlin. He tells me that you will be surprised on how well you do.
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand and strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming WOO HOO - What a Ride!
--unknown
Sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see
--Polar Express
Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.
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), must "log roll" in and out of bed, no carrying anything over 10 pounds. I was able to shower but no baths, and I was encouraged to walk-walk-walk as much as possible. My first post op visit was 2 weeks after the surgery, and restrictions were modified - I could now drive, no more log rolling necessary, weight restrictions still in place, and gradually add back the bending, lifting, twisting - in moderation of course. I used just a cane for under 2 weeks for my own piece of mind, and never used my walker at all. I did have one complication, and the only reason I say anything about it, is because it is so closely related the the surgical issue, but not a normal complication resulting from it --- but it was something that could happen to anyone at any time, and really wasn't a result of the procedure. Three weeks ago I had a tear in the fascia of the spinal column and a spinal fluid leak that makes me look like I have a sponge implanted along the incision line. This could have been caused by something as simple as a sneeze or cough, or in turning or stretching - all kinds of different reasons. I was back for my 2nd post op this past Tuesday, and the x-rays look great, and the surgery did exactly what it was supposed to do. The leak was just an unexpected fly in the ointment. So doc put me in a lumbar compression brace to try to disperse and squish the fluid out so that my system can absorb it naturally, and so that he doesn't have to drain it. Draining opens up the possibility of infection, so hoping this method works. My "spongy" area has gone down drastically in just a few days with the brace, so I'm confident that this is working. If not, then when I go back on 8/12, he'll arrange do another MRI to see where it's still leaking, and take it from there, but even if it has to be plugged, it isn't a surgical procedure. I'm not really worried about it, since I have an awesome surgeon - the one who actually saved my life back in 2006 (the year from hell) after 2 local hacks nearly killed me. And the icing on the cake - I don't even need to go to p.t. - unless I want to and feel that I need it. I don't - on both counts ! 
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