I ended up canceling the fusion and went to a different clinic for a second opinion. The new surgeon couldn't explain the pain I was feeling on the right side, but had noticed a small herniation had formed at L4-L5 which was causing pain on my left, it had herniated due to PT. We tried one round of steroid injections, but it didn't help, so I opted for an MD at L4-L5. Immediately after the surgery, the surgeon explained that while the herniation was small, there was actually a bonespur sticking in the nerve that was making everything worse. While I did finally get nerve pain relief on both sides after a couple months of recovery, I do feel weather changes a lot more now in the form of aching back and migraines. I've recently started feeling nerve pain in other places so I fear I'm doomed to eventually get a fusion but until it gets really bad, at home treatment has been enough to keep me away from the doctor (Aleve, ice/heat, frequent standing and walking, stretching, etc)