Morgans wrote:


"Matt Whiting" wrote

They all recommended against surgery until one of these happened:
1. The numbness progressed to more than my toes and top of foot
2. Loss of muscle strength/control occured
3. The pain became unbearable.


There is one thing that they have not told you yet, and if I were you, I
would ask about it.

If you go too long with pain and numbness in your foot, or any other
part, even if the surgery is done and is successful, the pain and
numbness can become a permanent thing. Once nerve damage proceeds to a
certain point, the nerve will not recover, even when the pressure is
taken off of it.

Actually, they did tell me this. The lucky part is that the sciatica so
far has really only affected my right leg and foot and this is the same
foot I crushed severely in a logging accident many years ago. The foot
has been about 1/2 numb since I was 18, so the little extra numbness
(one toe added to the two that have been numb), really isn't a big deal.
:-)

They did tell me to not let the numbness go any farther than what I'm
willing to live with forever, but thanks for mentioning that.


That is the situation I am in. There are also other issues with me,
though, and I have been told that I will have to live with it. The
doctor will sign for me to get job and social security disability any
time I say I am read. Right now, I can't afford it. I'm not even 48 yet.

Yes, my doctor hinted at the same thing, but I can't for the same
reason! Also, I really don't think my current job is any worse on my
back than anything I'd do around the house if I was on disability. And
being on disability has its own downdside such as folks who are always
watching you to see if you are a fraud and calling the authorities if
you do anything that looks like it would suggest that you really aren't
disabled.

Plus, I just can't see myself on disability unless I were in a lot worse
shape. I've always been very independent and fiercly self-reliant, so
as long as I can climb out of bed in the morning (or roll out as I do
now!), I plan to keep on working.


Matt