Surgery is scheduled for Friday to do the bone shave... I am worried about the first two months on stall rest. anything I should watch out for specifically? any tips on keeping the horse more comfortable and lowest stress possible? sedatives? 

If you had the surgery done, what was your post-surgery rehab like?

My mare had kissing spine surgery a year ago. 7 spaces shaved. And it consisted of only 2 weeks of stall rest. The rest was turn out time for about 120 days? It was longer than normal because of the number of spaces. I also did back injections and Osphos. I was terrified the first time I turned her out, but because they lack a lot of muscle on their backs and are pretty sore, she didn't do any wild antics. 

At 90 days or so I started to lunge her at her own pace, worked on perfect circles at a walk/trot, then added in ground poles and functional exercises. I made risers for my poles to elevate them, worked on backing and added in hill work. The main thing is teaching them how to utilize their bodies correctly and build muscles in proper areas. I kept things slow and easy, and listened to my mare. 

Superior Therapy has a lot of good exercises for kissing spine horses. I utilized her exercises a lot and was able to meet with Summer in person late last year which was really helpful. My mare had some seromas on her back on the surgery site. She showed me how to use a rubber curry and work over her back to loosen the area which has mostly helped the seromas. 

Feed them at ground level so they stretch their backs and necks every time they eat. I have rehabbed a few very successfully.  I like to pony them the first few weeks and build up slowly. Don't go from zero exercise to overdoing it. Walk at least 5 minutes, trot 5, walk 5.  After 2 or 3 days of that, increase trotting to 6 minutes more 3 days or more. Gradually add more time. After 2 or 3 weeks, start loping a few minutes every day in addition to the walking/trotting.  Increase slowly.  Also back them a few steps every day and built up to backing 10-12 steps a day.  I like to exercise them in straight lines only for the first 30 days, then gradually start trotting and loping big circles after 30 days but continue to exercise in straight lines too. Climb some hills, step over logs or timbers.  Don't work on barrels for at least 6-8 weeks and that is if you are religiously doing the exercises every day.  I think the worst thing you can do is put them back to work on the pattern too soon.  I have ridden several KS horses before/after surgery and I'm convinced it takes them close to a year to fully recover and get the pain out of their mind.