Nile, it's obvious something needs to be done to prevent even more pain. Nerve damage will cause pain for the rest of your life (unless they kill the nerve)...so anything that can be done to prevent that should be done. However after reading
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/backpain/a/discreplacement.htm i think you should not go for Spine Fusion at this time, atleast not without looking deeper into the other possibility. Lumbar Disk Replacement sounds most promising, i would ask about that if i were you. If need be you can do the pressure relief operation for now.
I also understand beeing stared at etc can be very depressing. It's easy to say ignore them..i know that isn't easy..but well yea you'd have to. If it's your freinds doing that then they aint your friends. I got a mate over in the UK who's hernia operation went wrong, he has to walk with a crutch all the time and he smokes hashies/marihuana (not excactly sure wich and what exactly) to ease his pain from time to time..do you think i love him less for that? Hell no...and the same goes for you
Edit: Some interesting read:
What is degenerative disc disease?
Living with degenerative disc disease
Deciding on surgery for degenerative disc disease
...and several links you find on the left under Related Information whilst reading these..i hope these will inform you some more and help making the correct decision.
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