An Orthopaedic surgeon has today recommended surgery (private) for prolapsed disc L4/L5. As I have had pain for 6 months before getting it diagnosed he recommends surgery this week. I didn t get everything straight in my mind as a bit shocked. Work commitments would make it better for me to delay by 3 to 4 weeks and I will be pressured. What are dangers of delaying?
Hello, Thanks for the query, I understand your problem me tell you that you can wait without much problem.  With due respect to your treating doctor please find the response as follows management of disc problem whether medical or surgical depends upon the clinical and investigations findings. It should never be based upon the MRI findings. If a patient has pain and neurological deficit (documented by a neurologist) and pain has not responded to medical management and MRI shows problem with clinical correlation, then surgery is the best option. However, if a patient has pain alone and there are no other neurological deficits, initial treatment should always be conservative with medicines and physiotherapy.  Persistent pain despite treatment is another indications for surgery. You can discuss this with your doctor or get re-evaluated initially by a neurologist. Hope this clarifies Best wishes Chat Doctor. Chat Doctor .com/doctors/