A solid fusion may require up to one year to develop and some type of activity restriction is commonly maintained during this time period. The relief of back pain is less reliable, but most patients do find that their back pain is significantly diminished, if not completely relieved. The major risks of surgery include infection, bleeding, neurologic deficit and failure to obtain a solid fusion. Pre-operative blood donation is used to diminish the risk of transfusion associated disease transmission. The condition is not life threatening and the deformity is rarely progressive.
Complete paralysis is extremely unlikely.
However, symptoms may be progressive and eventually increased pain and difficulty standing and walking any distance will occur. Certainly your quality of life may suffer. Surgical intervention can offer relief of pain when conservative methods have failed.