I had back issues for years. Tried everything from PT and Cortisone to inversion tables. Nothing did much to help. The pain would shoot down my leg to my knee. Horrible...wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy! Finally decided to do the surgery...L4-L5-S1 fusion. Long story short...my insurance company f'd my Dr around and we ended up doing it twice. It helped but wasn't a complete cure. Year or so later was decided I needed a new hip on that side. Had that done in Dec and haven't looked back! 3 surgeries in 3 years but...no more back pain, no more shooting pain down my leg! It's fantastic!!! Good luck to anyone fighting back, leg, sciatica type pain...it sucks!!!