The options;-

1. Do nothing- means no more golf but by nursing my back and avoiding too much time in a sitting position I can live with the backache I currently suffer.
2. Have a fusion involving bone grafts across 4 vertebrae (on the NHS ie free)
3. Have a 3-level ADR (artificial disc replacement). I have a quote from one of the top clinics in the World in Germany (Pro-Spine) at a cost of c.£35K

The decision is complicated by several factors not least of which is what is the probability of success for options 2 or 3 (I gather from various web forums that one third report significant improvement, one third report no change and one third report deterioration i.e. there is a 1 in 3 chance I will wish I had not had the operation looking back say 18 months after either op!

But what if I do nothing? The best scenario is that my back might stay in a state which is liveable-with (not too painful) especially if I nurse it carefully.

Many people say that if you can possibly avoid it DO NOT GO UNDER THE KNIFE.