Personal stories about having herniated disc surgery

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

Dean, age 39: I injured my back working in the garden a few weeks ago. Based on the symptoms I'm having, my doctor says it's pretty likely that I have a herniated disc. From what I understand, the pain and leg symptoms will probably go away over time, but I can't wait that long. My doctor says that the surgery will probably help me recover a lot faster, even though over the long term it might not make any difference. The short term is what's important to me right now, and I can accept the potential risks, so I'm going ahead with tests and moving forward with the surgery.

Mai-Li, age 57: Surgery has always made me nervous, even though I've never had a bad experience with it myself. I just prefer not to have surgery if I have any other option available. The pain and other symptoms from my herniated disc are getting better, even if it's happening slowly. My doctor said that it is reasonable for me to just keep doing home treatment and take better care of my back. She also says that I'm not risking any serious problems by not having surgery.

Jane, age 46: The pain from my herniated disc is the worst pain I have ever felt. My leg feels like it is on fire. I know that isn't true for everyone who has a herniated disc, but it sure is in my case. I'm willing to try a week or so of conservative treatment, but if there isn't a dramatic improvement, my doctor has agreed to go ahead with plans for surgery.

Javier, age 43: I'm lucky, because my company has allowed me to take a job in another department where I don't have to lift and where I can move around if I need to during the day. If I wasn't able to do that, or if the pain was really bad, I would definitely have had surgery. But this way I can keep working while my back heals on its own. The pain is definitely still there, but it's manageable. I expect that over time I will be able to return to most of my normal work and recreational activities.