[yetibone]

I'm on the fence about back surgery as well. My case is a bulging, or possibly herniated disc between L5, and S1 that is putting pressure on the sciatic nerve to my left leg. The discomfort is almost always there as a feeling like I've been hit in the back of my leg with a hammer. When transitioning from standing to seated, or from seated or crouching to standing up, I get a 30 second hot, crampy, plasticy feeling all the way to the ball of my left foot that makes sitting still impossible, and walking difficult until the feeling passes.

Injections have made all but the hammer blow sensation go away temporarily. I usually enjoy about 10 days totally pain free afterwards, but the symptoms eventually creep back. I've had 4 so far, and the second one I had right before I took a vacation was a dud. I have a back brace for when I know I'm going to be lifting something heavy or awkward, and Norco for when the discomfort really starts pissing me off.

I currently can't see it fit to shut down work for recovery and rehab after surgery because I continually have too much to do, and no suitable understudy in the wings. I have a great fellow working with me now at the shop who's very well skilled, and full of common sense, but I wouldn't expect him to take my place in my absence. Also, it's not like the pain is unmanagable, but it did take me about 13 months to adjust my daily routines to include mitigating the chronic physical discomfort, and just learning to live with it.

I know that one day, I'll have to get it fixed.