Just wanted your input on this. I have been recently diagnosed with a herniated disc in my spine that is pinching my sciatic nerve causing pain down my leg that can only be described as crippling. I can only stand for short periods of time and it takes forever to get out out a chair or a bed and for the last three weeks rather than cancel band bookings I've had to play while sitting on a stool. My Orthopedic Dr. has me scheduled to get a steriod shot in my spine but says it's a temporary fix for a permanant problem and that unless I have surgery (Discectomy) it will keep coming back as soon as the shot wears off. My question: Have any of you ever had (Or known someone who has had) this surgery? If so what was the outcome? Quite frankly, it scares the shit out of me to think of getting my back cut. But unfortunatley, it looks inevitable.
Any thoughts/input would be greatly appreciated.
-DM
.. and the fluid leaking into your spine causes nerve damage which can take 2 years to regenerate. Believe me you do not want to deal with that. I have no more constant pain, but spotty numbness in my left leg and bottom of my foot still about 1 1/2 years since the Ozzman did the surgery. Do yourself a favor and don't hesitate.
One tip if you do beans. It magnifies the after effects. I couldn't wait to go home and have one. But when I did I could feel everything..where they cut, where they stitched and scrapped. It ruined the buzz!! Hold off on that awhile...LOL!!
and in the last few months some minor Spring cleaning has majorly aggravated it and my lower back has again grabbed at me. None of that, for me, has compared to the constant pain from disc herniations in my neck. An MRI from last year states: Disc protrusion at the C6-7 level is impinging upon the cord. Left-sided foraminal compromise at the C5-6 and C6-7 levels could contribute to left upper extremity radiculopathy. Possible congenital (born with) osseous fusion of the right facet at the C3-4 level. The last one is something I was previously not aware of. My upper back has been in a constant state of muscle spasm for years, I've been down the nerve block route, and was recently told due to the time between needing them became less and less, I'm no longer a good candidate for them. Due to fears of becoming hooked, I've never taken anything stronger than Darvocet, and that was one prescription last year with no refills, which lasted several months. After someone gave me 1 last year, I know Vicodin does take the edge off for me for 6 hours or so. However, 
a good bit of beans were also involved...6 hours of simply taking the edge off is not enough to risk that nightmare. Although on occasion, I could sure use a little relief and a good night's sleep. Topamax (Dr. Lipitz gave that to me for BAD headaches 4 years ago.) let me down today and I had such a freakin head and neck ache most of the day, that I would definitely have taken a Vicodin if I had it! 
Imo though, for the most part, prescriptions for pain are a bleeping joke, only make you loopy and not care about the pain...they certainly don't take it away or help you to function any better. (Also, if the bottle says 'Do not drink alcohol.' PAY HEED! 
Over the years, I have gone the chiropractic and physical therapy until it hurt route. Included was traction, a foam collar and something called a tens unit. The technician told me they had never seen anyone be able to have it turned all the way up. The only thing I still use from all of that is a cervical pillow, exercises and stretching.
