Jerry I am having my first surgery Feb 23 and am so sorry you're going through this AGAIN. Hopefully you will get some relief, once and for all.
I don't have any answers for you, but if I were you I would want to know pretty much now if this was going to be anterior, posterior, or both for surgery.
Best of luck and may you find courage and comfort on the road ahead.
Female, age 38
4 years of bracing, concluded at 42*upper/38*lower
currently 64*upper/40*lower
Fused T3-L4 on Feb 23 2011
now 32*upper/18* lower