Advice about whether to have a microdiscectomy or not: Right L4/5 disc extrusion with L5 radiculopathy
64M usually reasonably fit and healthy. I have been suffering from back pain, which has spread to my glute / leg and foot for a few months now and have finally decided to have a microdiscectomy next week, but am still having doubts about whether it is the right thing to do or if I should wait a bit longer for it to heal naturally. I have summarised my history below.
09.02.26 GP referral to physio for a history of pain in the back / glute
25.02.26 first physio appointment.
08.03.26 waking the night with back pain, taking over the counter co-codamol and ibuprofen
11.03.26 agony driving home from work, last time I drove a car, start travelling to work by bus / train instead when unable to work from home.
12.03.26 GP prescribes Naproxen (NSAID) and Zapain (stronger co-codamol).
18.03.26 cancelled physio as in too much pain.
24.03.26 MRI scan shows: Right L4/5 disc extrusion with L5 radiculopathy
31.03.26 last day of work due to planned retirement
07.04.26 spinal surgeon prescribes 100ml Pregablin daily as current medication levels not working.
20.4.26 GP advises to increase Pregabalin to 300mg as current medication levels not managing the pain.
08.05.26 steroid cortisol injection, has no noticeable effect.
June 26: general pattern of mainly resting during the day and doing max 3000-4000 steps a day on high level of medication, Naproxen + pregabalin 300mg + Zapain 6-8 tablets a day. Unable to walk more than 10-20 mins without pain. Unable to do any gentle stretching exercises without pain especially the next day. Most days spent lying down watching TV (luckily lots of sport on tv with cricket, football, tennis). Although now rarely in intense pain due to mostly sedentary lifestyle and high level of medication I feel I am unable to live a normal life and enjoy my retirement and spend time travelling to see family etc (and likely unable to work if I still had to) so have decided to have a microdiscectomy which is now planned on 30.06.26. I have been having doubts and wondering if I should continue and wait for it to possibly improve over the next 3-6 months. Also concerned about side effects of long term levels of medication. What would anyone else here do?