I now walk with out crutches or a stick but I have 16 bolts 3 cages 5 fushions 1 plate done over 3 operarions .I also take controlled drugs due to my pain,The reason I dont use a sick is I am not allowed to because of the cage in my neck.I get totally sucked of with people judge me with oh you just got a bad back currently waiting for my third mri and yes I have worked with the bad back untill I could not even get out of bed and had to have the operations or end up in a wheelchair.