[thelastgallon]

> Speaking as someone with a herniated disc that went through a discectomy which re-herniated immediately following surgery.

Sorry to hear about re-herniation. Thats what I am concerned about. I have multiple disc herniations, one with cauda equina. Multiple neurosurgeons have recommended surgery, but each is going to do a different procedure. I understood as they don't fully understand whats the root cause, everyone wants to do the procedure they are comfortable with and what they've been doing. One wants to cut the disc, another remove lamina, another fusion and something else. I decided its not worth taking the risk when they don't know what they are doing. There are so many reports of failed back syndrome, revision surgeries, cascading failures (because it increases pressure on adjacent discs).

> with the caveat that many physios don't seem to know what they're doing either

Yes, this is true of nearly any profession. We just have to spend significant time researching and troubleshooting with an engineering mindset.