Here's my dilema: I had a lumbar spinal fusion on L4-L5-S1 in September 2008, but didn't stop smokng until recently (Jan 1st, 2009). To give you some background... I was a moderate smoker (pack or less per day). Though I have made great strides in physical therapy regaining most of my range of motion, I'm still experiencing moderate to severe back pain (and God forbid if I sneeze while lying on my side, for it feels akin to someone stabbing me in my lower back with a knife).

I visited my doctor last month (three month follow-up visit), and he told me he believed things were proceeding well (according to the x-rays and my range of motion), and that it's not uncommon fopr a patient to feel intense pain even up to six months post-operation.

My question is two fold: Is this much pain common for a patient four months removed from a lumbar fusion, and will my quitting smoking (albeit four months late) help the fusion process - or is it too late to hope for that?

Thank you for your time!