Has anyone had spinal surgery on the NHS???

I have been bedridden for a week and a half with a herniated disc, and I think that I am going to look into having surgery for this maybe in a year or so...when I am finished having children.

About 2.5 years ago, I vacuumed out my car and I swear, I have never been the same. I have had maybe 4 flare ups of the herniated disc in that time, and the one I have had this week has rendered me immobile for more than a week, thanks to the help of a good physio and laying on my tummy for that time, I am not feeling more human and am on the road to recovery.

Does anyone have experience of having back surgery on the NHS? I am a huge fan of the NHS, but my big worry is kind of silly, I worry that the NHS won't have the same modern techniques that my mother in NYC keeps bloody emaililng me about. I think its probably quite an irrational fear, but its one that I have.

If anyone has any experiences at all, I would love to hear about them. TIA!

Have you tried a Chiro first? IT's cheaper and less invasive.

My L5-S1 disc burst on Halloween 2006. I opted out of surgery and to have a cortisone epidural injection instead, and continued down that route for the past few years. When the cortisone would stop working, I'd take painkillers (Ultram... nothing too serious) if I needed them. When it got bad again, another injection. I was planning to have surgery in January, but decided to do PT instead, which seemed to help until I realized I couldn't afford it. I just had another shot, and am about to move to the UK, so I have the same questions/concerns, actually.

When I told him I was moving, my doctor said that the UK is fond of the cortisone injections and shies away from surgery for disc herniation. Whether or not that is true, I have no idea. But it was nice to get a little heads up about what to expect.

I'm most looking forward to having other options now... acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, injections, without paying an arm and a leg for them as I have been doing here.