Good Morning--or Whatever, Contingent On Your Time Zone! I Am

Good morning--or whatever, contingent on your time zone! I am a chronic pain patient, looking at surgery to REMOVE (??!) a vertebra(e) in the L6/S1 region. I have been treated for severe, debilitating pain with hydromorphone 4mg po tid or qid (though it hasn't been quite enough--I used to receive a low dose of time-release pain medication along with it--it DOES help tremendously, giving me the ability to be at least nominally functional). I was a pre-med student at one time, and disability prevented me from proceeding with my education--but I've never heard of a vertebra being REMOVED. Is this correct? And even if it IS, would I be wiser to decline the procedure, and stick with my medication? Thank you!