My Aching Back

I am trying to decide if surgery for my back is the option for me. I injured my back in May, two weeks after delivering Zach, and herniated my L5-S1. Words I never thought I would say. Now 7 months into it I am tired. I have done chiropractic care 3x a week since the beginning until last month when I started PT. I just didn't have time to take out with 4 kids to go 2x a week for a hour to PT but now I am making the time for my back. I have had three steroid injections in my back which have help stop the stabbing sciatic pain down my right leg. I forgot my favorite thing . I started Weight Watchers when Zach was 1 month and lost 20 pounds. I still have 20 more to go to see if that helps too. I also can't work out because the pain start after about 5 minutes. Now I am just dealing with the low back pain and numbness/tingling in my right leg.

What does the pain limit me to? A lot. I am limited to everything. I can't clean my house. Now my husband has to do most of that too. I can't carry laundry baskets. I can't stand in one place for too long. I can't shop. I know right. But to me that is important because I enjoy it, a lot. I can't make cards or scrapbook because if I do then my symptoms return. I don't carry my 2 year old as much as I would like. I have refused not to do that with my 8 month old, Zach. I can't throw my boys into the beanbag which they love and daddy does very well. So I know I am complaining but I am so sick of it.

I hear don't do the surgery but if you had to live each day with worries of pain/numbness/tingling or actual pain/numbness/tingling. How would you feel?

I am writing this because I need some guidance through your experience or knowledge. I want my pain-free life back.

I have been praying since my injury for healing. I know God sends things in different forms but boy would I love to wake up healed. No more. What a blessing that would be. I know God has a reason for everything we go through and I feel closer to him because of this. I will never falter from him.

Thank You and God Bless
Charity