I had to get surgery after I broke my leg playing football. The break was so bad they actually had to use a screw to reconnect the bones.
Although I wouldn't worry. I know the thought of surgery is probably scary for you, but trust me, once you get it you will find it isn't that bad. You are not awake for any of it, they will knock you out for the procedure and you will wake up on pain medicine. Those stories you heard are probably just random occurrences. Think about it, thousands of surgerys are preformed each day. The only reason you never hear about them is because they go by so smoothly. Only the bad ones are reported so that is what causes you to think something will happen.
With spinal surgery you will have multiple trained professionals working and you won't have to feel any of it. It is easier than it sounds, don't worry.