Thankyou @Emelia8 for responding and sharing. I'm sorry you've been through so much, and such massive surgical interventions, but it's good to hear they were successful and you're now relatively pain free. I hope and trust your rehab continues to go well.

I've been inconvenienced more than anything, with the intermittent pain and restrictions. My gp's ongoing dismissal may be mh stigma but I found a physio and osteopath who diagnosed likely causation and the osteopath insisted I follow through with the MRI that confirmed it. It's good to know there's light at the end of the tunnel (I've been very depressed, which is also limiting.

Thanks again, I appreciate your support - and I'll look forward to hearing your progress.