I’m single Mom with three small children to support. I can’t afford to take time off from work. Right now I have sciatica so bad, I can’t wait tables at my job. Is there some kind of quick in-and-out surgery that could be done for someone like me?

You may be a good candidate for a surgical procedure called microdiscectomy. The surgeon makes a tiny incision in the skin and inserts an endoscope. The herniated disc can be removed through the endoscope. The surgeon may take part or all of the disc.

Many people can recovery fully from a herniated disc without surgery. But it takes time before the painful symptoms go away. Studies show that in a year’s time, patients who don’t have surgery have just as good of results as those who do.

But like you, sometimes people have hardships that go beyond pain. Many blue-collar workers don’t have the insurance or savings to go without working. They may not even be able to take off work for one to two weeks much less months.

If you are at risk for losing your job, early surgery may be the best option. The first step is to see a surgeon. Explain your social and work situation to the surgeon. This way, the information can be taken into consideration. It may still be possible to recover with nonsurgical care. Find out what all your options are before making a final decision.