Hi, I have had two discs removed from my back, but they did not fuse the vertebra. I have limited padding, because the disc membrane is still there but none of the disc fluid remains. I am still a very active diver, I average 50 dives a year. I have had to make some modifications to my pre and post dive routines, but in the water I have had no side effects at all. My modifications have been around how I load my weights and don my gear. I almost always make several trips to the boat or dive site, with my gear and weights seperately and I always sit down to don my weighted BC. Other than that, i’ve had no problems. Hope your surgery goes well, good luck returning to diving!