Dilemna

I met with the consultant yesterday and I am seriously considering surgery. He is not entirely happy about doing it because he says it's not a cure and keeps stressing that I have to make long-term changes to my lifestyle. He thinks that if I have the op I will carry on as before, but I can't remember what I did before. Does he mean I have to give up work? Well I work from home anyway. How can he tell me to change my lifestyle when he doesn't know what my lifestyle is? He definitely thinks I'm neurotic but David thinks its because I was talking very loudly in his room and he is a very quietly spoken man.

Here's a lesson, adapt the speaking tone to match that of the person you are speaking to. That has never occurred to me before.

He explained what the fusion entails, mainly for David's benefit because I know it chapter and verse from the spine universe website. He also stressed that the op will relieve the pain in my leg but not my back. I don't have much back pain though, it's mainly starts in my buttock and then radiates down my leg. The pregabalin is definitely taking the edge off the stabbing pains in my legs, but it's strong medication, it spaces me out and I'm putting on weight, which I hate.
I'm just going to have to see how I do over the next few weeks while I try and increase my activities.

The fusion has got an 80% chance of success, a 10% chance of not working and a 10% chance of making me worse. My options now are

1. To have the op in the next few weeks if the pain worsens
2. Wait another 4-6 weeks to see if there is an improvement, and if there is, just take the meds and manage my flare ups as and when they happen.
3. Wait another 4-6 weeks and if the pain has not improved radically, have another epidural.

But can I wait another 4-6 to see what happens and then go all the way back again.
I think I'm going to monitor my leg pain and that will be the the deciding factor.

1. Wait