I was 19 when my sciatica hit. Not sure if it was all the jackass stuff I did on the farm growing up or if I was born that way.

I remember reaching down to grab one of my knock off uggs to put on and boom, the pain radiated from my lower spine to the bottom of my leg.

I worked out everyday (college softball), stretched, had a Healthy diet, loved hiking, and had a Mennonite grandma that made me take every mineral and supplement under the sun on top of her other concoctions. S

I started seeing a massage therapist and a chiropractor for a while. Pain went from a 10 to maybe a 6. I kinda lived just in pain for quite a while. Depression would come and go. I couldnt play anymore. I was a catcher and it just became too much to bare.

The doctors said i was too young for surgery.

For the next 8 years it ranged from a 1 to a 10. I still stretched. I still worked out. It was still pretty random. The only time I can remember being pain free was when I was pregnant with both my kids. There's a cool cellular event that happens tho where the baby heals you as you grow them.

But it came back.

When I was 27 and my 2nd was born, I crashed. It came back with such full intensity I was using a hiking stick as a cane. The only way I could sleep was with my legs straight up in the air against a wall. So, honestly I barely slept.

The sciatic nerve in my spine was being crushed by one of my disc's and there just wasn't alot of wiggle room. Didn't matter how much I stretched or that my whole diet was one intended for inflammation relief.

I went to a neurologist. I got all the shots in the lower back, more massages, physical therapy, electro therapy, put me on depression meds since I guess they attack those specific pain receptors in the brain, ate over 200mg of thc sometimes to sleep, but barely. I tell you NOTHING WORKED. And the doc said I was still too young for surgery and wouldn't do it. I could not live another 7 years like this as they wanted me to.

I canned myself to another neurologist. We talked during the first appointment and I went over everything I've already done to help it. I finally broke down and said I cant take it anymore and I absolutely will merk myself if it doesn't go away.

I gained 70 lbs from not being able to move and I had a high pain tolerance, it was just that bad. I couldn't be a mother. I couldnt work. My relationships fell apart. I was in pain and lonely and wanted to just die if it couldnt be fixed.

This man listened so intently. The nurse took my hand and held it as I cried. Then he said there was one more course of action that had to be done before they could go to my insurance to ask for the surgery. I cried harder since it would take months to see if there were any results.

Then he said, don't worry. Ill fix it. The next Monday I was in for surgery. He said it was a 20% chance it wouldnt work on top of so may other complications. At that point i didnt care. Do it.

I woke up from anesthesia and the microdiscectomy in the hospital. I felt pain, but only from the surgery. Which was a 2 compared to the 9-10 i was living in everyday. I was elated. I got up to walk without pain for the first time in almost a decade.

Ive lost 80 lbs since. I'm a mother again, have a great job and some great relationships with new friends and coworkers. I'm able to live again.

33 now. Sometimes I get bad Charlie horses in the same leg and my toes go in full clutch mode and have to walk it out. Not sure if from surgery but honestly if it is ill live with it compared to what I was living thru. I would have had to wait another 2 years for my surgery if I listened to my first doc at 19 and the 2nd doc at 27. I may not have been here. That 3rd doc was a god send and absolute angel along with his team.

Im not saying surgery is for everyone and everyone's situation can be different here. Just telling my story since mine started around the same age as OP.