I am 60 year old female who had always been active in sport and demanding teaching jobs all of which I love. In March 2011 I started having severe left leg pain, and some numbness and weakness, my GP diagnosed a herniated disc which he said should sort itself out in 6-8 weeks. However it didn't and I was referred to a spinal surgeon who confirmed the diagnosis in L4/5 disc which was badly herniated. Gabapentin helped enormously but eventually I had surgery in September 2011 and unfortunately a revision 6 weeks later as it herniated again. I had relief for just over a year and was able to return to playing tennis etc (gradually). However, in Dec 2012 I started experiencing mild symptoms again and, despite physiotherapy, these became worse until August 2013 when I had very severe pain, weakness in my left leg (such that I fell over 4 times) and numbness in my whole left foot. An MRI revealed the largest herniation my consultant had ever seen in the same disc but he was loath to operate a 3rd time unless absolutely necessary and between Aug and Dec 2013 I had 2 injections which temporarily relieved the situation and the weakness is now not as bad but the pain (without the Gabapentin which works really well) has got worse again. I have increased the Gabapentin to 1800 mg a day and can still drive (just) and do my job. However, I worried about the continual damage to the nerves and the possibility of that weakness/numbness returning (this is gradually getting worse again but isn't at the extreme levels experienced in Summer 2013) and am now on the waiting list for a microdiscectomy for a 3rd time - fusion is not an option. Should I go ahead? Any ideas?