Thanks, I just looked at kiphoplasty link.
They inflate a balloon in the spine for a lift and fill it up with cement, yikes.
No more table-tops or carrot-tops. Congrats you get to do your favorite thing again. Only this time you are smarter and 1/2" shorter.

I have my badge of honor, 1/2" a scar, from Microdiscectomy.
I am trying hard not to get hooked on pain-med I am on.

I am a snowboarder but I would never try jump higher than my height.
Man gotta do what man gotta do!

Let me know if you know any ski resort in Peru opens during summer time in N. America. Summer in So. Cal is way way too long for me.