Khandro - 3rd attempt to reply. AB was impossible to use and eventually deleted everything Start again.
I am, personally, delaying my op. as long as possible, and Sqad did say that he would do the same, but would go for the discectomy. My reasons are varied, but boil down to the risks I face against an estimate of only 50/50 that the back pain will go - one of the smaller risks is that it will increase and I don't know how I'd bear that.
My situation is that I don't know how Mr J2 would cope if I lost mobility as a result of the op. At the moment I walk the dog etc., etc. and manage to more-or-less control the pain except for bad periods. He is 84, I am 68. I would be hospitalised for some time about an hour away, leaving him to cope with sweet, but problem rescue-dog etc.. I foresee that I will be driven to have the procedure eventually. Right now I am following neuro-surgeon's advice and trying to build-up my spinal muscles by swimming. (Nearly up to half a mile, twice a week now.)
OH's nurse (sees to his leg once a week)has 2 metal discs in her spine - she's in her late fifties. Friend's sister had a discectomy in her neck and is perfectly OK and pleased she had it (in her fifties).
Don't know if this helps. I could moan more. Good luck to Mrs. Kh. :)