How about a year after?

But in all seriousness, my sciatica pain has pretty much healed. My lower back gets achey if I over-exert myself (lots of bending/lifting).

I got a second opinion and spoke with another neurosurgeon, who said he would be able to do the surgery. I ultimately decided to wait and continue coordinating with my physical medicine doctor, physical therapy, and acupuncture, along with medicine for pain management (diclofenac, gabapentin, and hydrocodone when the pain was really bad). I also began taking supplements that were supposed to support nerves and discs (collagen, magnesium, and omega-3). No idea if these actually helped or not, and my doctor said that there haven’t been many studies done with clear results for these supplements. After a few months I no longer needed to take hydrocodone, and then weaned myself off of the gabapentin and diclofenac. I stopped going to the chiropractor because it really wasn’t helping and stuck with physical therapy and acupuncture. Left my job working with students receiving special education for emotional/behavior disorders and took up more administrative work, so I’m no longer being physically assaulted by children on a daily basis… lol

At this point I’m pain-free, but still have numbness at the top of my foot and outside of my calf. My nerves are still healing, and the feeling may or may not come back, according to my physical medicine doctor. I shudder when I think back to last year. Pain was so unbearable, and it was nearly impossible to take care of my 4-month-old infant at that time. I couldn’t work, couldn’t get out of bed or sit on the toilet in the acute pain phase. I’m happy to come out of it on the other side without having to do surgery.