Replying to Skiing After Lumbar Fusion Surgery

What up NS, it's been a long fucking time. The rest of high school, undergrad, grad, a couple knee surgeries and a whole lot more have happened since I last posted around here, but I've got a question for you guys.

Have any of you ever had a lumbar fusion? If so how aggressively have you felt comfortable skiing afterwards?

I've been dealing with chronic leg/back pain since march of 2014, which has become progressively worse to the point where I don't get more than an hour of sleep a night without some pretty gnarly and potentially addicting pain meds. I've sought nearly every form of conservative treatment available (e.g. chiro, acupuncture, LOTS of physical therapy, etc.) and have had 5+ steroid injections, but am now at the point where the pain management doctor, sports med doctor, and three different neurosurgeons have all recommended that I have my L5-S1 fused (anterior approach, and hopefully without external brackets and screws). Anyways, the surgery is scheduled for next month, and i'm just curious if anyone out there has had this surgery, and if so how coming back from it was.

Surgeon says he thinks I can be on skis within 5-6 months, but my whole style of skiing has got to go. Basically no more airs, and tone down the aggressiveness overall. I'm still coming to terms with the idea of being completely done with dropping cliffs and hitting kickers, and frankly would really love to be able to nice big floaty 3 every now and again. Then again, I do love me some good old fashioned soulful pow turns.

What've you got for me, NS?