Comments on Lumbar Decompression Surgery for Spinal Stenosis?

I have spinal stenosis from from L3 to L5, with numbness and tingling in my left leg and foot. I had success initially with physical therapy a year ago, and have been doing my at home PT daily, but in the past 3 months, the situation has worsened. I can see the atrophy of the muscles in my left leg. I have been to 4 surgeons, and they have all recommended different surgery using procedures, most recently minimally invasive surgery to remove the ligament impinging on the spine, not the more traditional laminectomy. Doctor says no risk of paralysis since the procedure is on on L3 - L5 area, and normally, can be done as an out-patient procedure.

I hoped to avoid surgery, but all the doctors and neurologist have said that I risk "foot drop" if I don't do the surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerves. Have had two MRI's done, that clearly show the narrowing of the space between the disc and ligamentum in the lower back.

Anyone with experience in this surgery that can tell me how it went?

Paul