I'm very sorry to hear that. Is that the typical result from a micro-discectomy?

Your story confirms my own fears... my disc is still intact, though the bulge is rather sizable (9mm). If they were to cut that off would compromise the integrity of the disc, and it seems to me it would make things worse in the long run.

What else can you do? Is fusion the only option they are giving you?

I assume the non-traumatic discectomy has the same risks, minus the damage to the foramina?