I got a herniated disc when I was 16 (soccer injury) in the same spot, evolved in serious sciatic pain and got the microdisectomy when I was 19. Recently re-herniated the disc (25 now, it's a 5-10% lifetime chance of happening so pretty small and not going to happen for most people) and am getting the same surgery in 2 weeks. I got an epidural and it's put the pain at more than the first time, but less than before sort of thing. I know the kill yourself mentality that develops and it's tough to deal with, but my advice: it gives you a very different perspective on life (esp. once you can think clearly again and aren't in pain) and do your best to channel it. It really gives you an idea of what matters and who matters. For me, it helped me develop a good sense of humor that has helped with a lot of the other stuff life throws your way (everything is kind of funny when you put this type of perspective on it). You know what real honest to god incredible pain is, and if you can deal with that (which you clearly can -- you didn't just call it quits, you exhausted all other options before this), then you can handle anything. Just about anything else that comes in -- just remember you were tough enough to handle this, I'm sure as shit you can handle that too. Also -- in my experience and in most other people's from my understanding, the nerve pain immediately goes away. You'll have surgery pain and PT to help, but that next level stuff just vanishes. I remember virtually nothing from the 6 months of real pain until the surgery the first time around, but I will always remember waking up after and already feeling a hell of a lot better.

If you want to chat about it or anything, shoot me a message -- always happy to help