Hi Jane,
My situation is not the norm for fusions, at least I don't think it is. I hope it isn't.
I was 42 when I had the fusion, so I'm not sure that age had any thing to do with it. I think that it was an unrecognized Cauda Equina issue post fusion rather than an age issue.
I had my surgery at NYH for Bone and Joint Diseases. I also had a top notch surgeon, but along with a top notch surgeon comes the ego which at times can be more of a problem to deal with.
If they had listened to what I was telling them post surgery, then this might have been recognized and action taken to try to elimate/minimize the problems that I have now.
Sandi