THIRTY-NINE YEAR OLD SUSAN FLANAGAN HAS LIVED WITH A SORE BACK MOST OF HER LIFE.

ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE PAIN WORSENED AND SHE WAS BARELY ABLE TO WALK.

It's just terrible pain down the leg. I mean, not one position is comfortable.

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON ANDREW CASDEN DIAGNOSED A HERNIATED DISK THAT HAD PROGRESSED TO SCIATICA.... A PIECE OF THE DISK WAS PRESSING ON THE NERVE IN THE LOWER BACK.

Most commonly they complain of pain that starts in the buttocks region, radiates down the back of the leg, and down to the foot, they may have some numbness, some tingling in the leg.

OVER THE COUNTER PAIN RELIEVERS, PHYSICAL THERAPY AND EVEN ACUPUNCTURE CAN HELP EASE THE DISCOMFORT, BUT AFTER EXHAUSTING ALL OTHER TREATMENTS, SUSAN OPTED FOR SURGERY.

Surgery is considered usually when the patient has had pain 6-8 weeks duration, it's not getting significantly better and it's interfering with their quality of life.

WITH THE SCIATICA PAIN GONE, SUSAN REPORTS HER LIFE IS BACK ON TRACK AND SHE CAN DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.