Kris: Welcome back! A few years back I had major back surgery, implants of screws , 2 SS rods and a “rotorouter” procedure up the spinal column. Rehab took a full year and even for gym rat me, was grueling. Like you , I ended with a very good, but not perfect result. So , I commiserate.

Reminds me of a line by the Command Master Chief in GI Jane. Not an exact quote, but something like: Pain is good. You have to be alive to feel pain ! A bit apocryphal. But you get the idea.