Microdiscectomy was performed on me at ST Vincents hospital in Melbourne by Dr Hann. The operation happend without any hitches and I was awake before I realised I had fallen asleep. There was no pain in my back but a little, very little tightness brought on by a plaster on my one inch scar. I never had any morphene and really did not require the panadine forte. After a day I got sore lying in bed and accepted the fortes for the overall pain in my upper back through lying there. I quickly moved onto panadine though which are lower strength and only when I needed them which wasnt often. I praised the good doctor hann for his work and expertese. The scar wil not be huge neither to visable. I felt no pain. I now only have a miled sensation of numbness which I am sure is all about the small amount of muscle the surgeon had to remove from the bone to get at the disc. I have been walking without pain for about a week since the operation and have been covering about 2 miles now every walk. I try not to speed or twist but I walk at a fair pace. I dont feel pain after the walks which means I am alright. I have a friend who works with me in the police dept and he is out there doing the work again. I am gonna do that as well. 6 weeks recovery then back to it but slowly at first. Look at the facts. If op is not done you may go lame and also sffer severe pain. You will lose your job. If you have the operation you may regain the feeling and wont go lame but later you may develope some pain. Where is the choice?? There is no choice.. I say godbless the brain surgeons who give theri time and skills to try and help us. And I thank the employers who believe in the work cover schemes. Good bless them all.