I had a lower lumbar laminectomy in 2003. I went from barely able to do anything, sitting, standing, or otherwise without dreadful pain, to walking around with zero pain (didn't even push the morphine button) overnight. Two side effects as a result of my surgery: My left calf muscle was completely paralyzed upon waking from the surgery. After about six months, I had regained full use of the muscle. Also, the back of my left thigh was, and still remains to this day completely numb... but if you ask me, numb is way better than dreadful pain!