[Hooch]

Gday mate, ... I don't trust the buggers either.

You going to leave l5/s1 for the moment? It's not as bad a l4/l5? If you go through the front you could get both, no muscles are cut, there is risk of nerve damage but there is risk of nerve damage from the side as well.

Btw XLIF cuts through your psoas muscle, seen plenty of people say it hurts like all hell in the first few weeks post op as the muscle heals.

Make sure you're decision is well informed, you may need surgery but u don't have to rush into a choice.

Btw most people take longer that 3 months to get back to physical work from what I've seen, more like 6.