Hi there blah69nz! Let me first say how VERY sorry I am for you. I literally feel your pain! I had my first back surgery age 25 and my sec. age 39 and I am so damaged and my surgeries were exactly where yours would be. The first time I got so bad I could not walk, crawl or move! My doctor did the mri and couldn't see how bad it was until they opened me up! I too lost the feeling in my leg and yet you can still feel that pain there are no words for! I waited around for almost two months getting worse and worse, taking prednisone, pain meds etc. By the time surgery was done my doc. said it was horrible in there and the nerve had been mashed flat by the herniated disc. but it had also crumbled and little pieces were floating around in there..one piece was severing the mashed nerve..needless to say my doc. said w/out surg. I would have ended up paralyzed. I had immediate relief!! Now let me tell ya the pain never completely left and as I said I just had my sec. surgery last year! This time was kinda the same except now I have osteoporosis and degen. disc. disease and other issues which made it even more dangerous. The first one they just cleaned up the mess and let the nerve loose. The sec. one they actually replaced one of the disc with a plastic one almost a year later and I'm sorry to say the pain is still there. Advice? If you know you need surgery like i did........don't stop complaining!!! The Exact same thing happened to my sister and she had three surg. now...still in pain. I know that does not sound good but the pain before the surgery made us want to die and now the pain is just well it's chronic but about 75% better and we CAN deal with it. I would tell you to research and research and then do it some more. Have you considered a sec. opin? You do have that right and there is nothing wrong with it.
Please don't hesitate to ask me anything...... if I can remember or I know I will tell you. My heart truly hurts for you but hang in there and don't give up! I will be praying for you "I promise"
Clarity28