Hey all! Well, I have been absent from this site for a while. I thought I was doing pretty well on my little dose of Mobic and Arava and tolerating things well. Then I had some sciatica, wrote it off, it went away after 3 weeks, then my right leg went a bit numb and painful in August. So I went to see my back specialist and low and behold, Sept. 27th had a large cyst removed from L4-5 (it was in the spinal canal and sitting on the right nerve root cutting it off) and ended up with a laminectomy with a single level fusion of L4-5. I would recommend my Drs. to ANYONE who would have the same issue. I am 5 weeks post op and doing quite well. Actually getting quite bored because I still have to be very careful how I move. I hardly take any pain meds. I am walking for 40 minutes every day. I am not on any RA meds yet because I am waiting for the fusion to start setting. My hips and knees are starting to bark because it's cold here in Wisconsin, but is manageable. I cannot take my mobic because of the fusion and I am holding my arava because I was very anemic after surgery and wanted that to right itself first. I asked the Dr. if this was caused by OA or RA and he said both. The cyst came from the facet joint rubbing. SO I am doing ok...still off of work for a few weeks, maybe more. Can't wait to start physical therapy (maybe not?) But I am doing remarkably well. Just wanted you all who have helped me in the past know where I have been. ( also my sis was dx in August with a very aggressive cancer and died an hour and a half after I got home from the hospital on Oct. 1) That was the worst part of it all. So yes, there is life after back surgery! Get a good surgeon! Mo ;)