Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. I understand your frustration with the opioid crisis and the mandatory reduction to 90 morphine equivalents regardless of need or suffering. Your question is should you have to go through another painful fusion and why can t you be comfortable on meds. The fusion is a personal decision you will have to make based on the condition of your vertebra, the disc(s), and what will or may happen if they are not fused. Regardless of the fusion issue, pain control will be a lifetime issue for you.I have several words of advice. When dealing with pain management and limited resources, you must use everything at hand from massage therapy, to physical therapy, to daily exercises, hydrotherapy, cognitive behavioral counseling, mindfulness therapy, meditation and lastly, consider the legalities in your area of utilizing cannabidiols or CBDs. CBDs are sold as supplements in many high quality vitamin stores in most states of the US and used in a variety of dosages, individualized to each patient. These are useful pain treatments in areas where it is legal, the military is not one of them. They are rarely mentioned in traditional medical settings, but recent evidence cannot dispute their effectiveness in pain and mood management or their role in our endocannabinoid system. The combination of all of the above therapies will more than likely be needed for chronic lifetime pain management. Dependence on opioids is no longer a medical option by law and I understand the total lack of control you must feel.I am hoping that you gather the strength to find your way to manage your pain without too much quality of life compromise. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.