Hi, I'm new here. 3 and a half years ago I had a lumbar stabilisation of L4/5 using Dynesys. My recovery was slow at first but after a couple of years my pain levels had reached a much more tollerable level than before the surgery and I was able to walk unaided, returned to work and even started jogging earlier this year.

6 months ago I started a new job that requires me to drive quite a lot. I had been coping with this quite well up until a couple of weeks ago when I suddenly started to get sciatica again. This week my pain levels have been unbearable. I've been back to the hospital again today and am waiting for an MRI scan. They suspect I have another prolapsed disc, but this time it's L5/S1 instead. I remember my surgeon telling me before my previous operation that if I had subsequent disc problems they would not be able to do the same proceedure again.

I guess my question is has anyone had anything similar? I'm trying not to panic this early on but I'm really concerned that I may have to go through 2 and half years of being in complete agony and being unable to work for 2 years like last time. I'm currently taking Diclofenac, Tramadol and Diazipam for the pain, (so I'm like a zombie much of the time!) but even that doesn't really ease the sciatic pain. I know it's difficult to say anything until after my scan results but I'm so concerned about what may be ahead. I live alone and if I can't work I can't pay my bills and will therefore lose my house. Any suggestions or stories would be gratefully received!

Thanks x