Hi there, Saundy,
I wish you luck.
I've had 4 done right down to the tailbone. 2 X L3-4, in the same year. The 2nd had the whole disc removed, then L4-5. Had probs with my Cervical & Thoracic as well, T1,2&3 1st Neurosurgeon did 1st 3 operations at the Mater in North Sydney, '96 &'99. For the 4th, was L5-S1. At the time, my neuro., informed that there were only 4 neuro's in NSW who could perform that particular op. He fully described to me what was involved, also with coloured diagrams etc. He gave me the names etc. of those neuro's, &, said that the choice was mine to make. Had it done at the St. Vincents Pvt Clinic in Darlinghurst in year '01.
My 1st Neuro., described me as a "Surgical Impossibility" with numerous disc prolapsings down the length of my spine. He picked the major ones to operate on.
I still get the "Odd" tickle down my legs, but, other than that, I'm travelling at the proverbial 99MPH, &, not holding back. I must have had at least 6/7 pre & post op CT scans, plus the same with pre & post op MRI scans. On another, I was was put under anaesthetic, &, also performed under X-Ray, had Gadolinium dye inserted into the spine.
In yr 2000, I had a trial "Spinal Stimulator" inserted as well in Royal Nth Shore Hospital at St.Leonards by another Neuro. That was prior to 4th op. He wanted to do a "Spinal Block" on me to lock up the vertibraes. I opted out of that suggestion by him.
All expenses covered by workers comp, thankfully.
I havn't looked back. Also had 2 new knees put in as well, down along the line.
Anyone who is suffering from bad Sciatica, you can bet that you have prolapsed discs somewhere down your spine. And, I know how bad you feel as I was real "Crook".
That's it for me.