PC discectomy (sp) or spinal fusion, or both if discectomy is decided as the best route but doesn't work. But, I have some other things to discuss too and have just started a new pain management treatment plan so will probably stall it a little to see how this new plan goes.
And I am not 100% sure the diagnosis is the full diagnosis.
I had an MRI in May I think it was, showed central disc bulge, severe dehydration and few other things, but they did not think it was, at that time affecting the nerves and I saw this senior clinici physio then, who ruled out surgery as the 'end game' option. However, he gave me some quite intense exercises to do to get my upright, and pretty much as soon as I went upright, the pain shifted from right, to left, and severity increased 10 fold. From then on my back has 'gone' regularly very few weeks with horrendous leg pain since, so I am not surprised the MRI now shows different results. It took me 4 months to get referred back even though I was promised a review in 2 months.
I have not seen the MRI report myself yet and so the above is only a snippet of the letter, I expect the other things shown in previous MRI are still present, cant imagine the dehydrated disc has miraculously repaired itself, and so I think, due to type of pain going on, facet joints are affected now too as pain has changed/increased since even seeing the spinal pathway team at the beginning of December.
I am also armed with so much more knowledge, questions and a clue about what is going on inside my spine now, when well and when sick so I am not just a nodding dog not knowing what to expect or treatment. Before, I was willing to just --unhappily- leave with a bundle of pills as presumed the docs would only give me the 'best' option. Not the easiest.