A slightly different case to yourself, since I was already employed by an airline, but it may help. I had back trouble a few years ago which resulted in my licence being temporarily suspended (more than 28 days sick is I believe the rule). The upshot was the removal of a lumbar disc. The CAA medical people were very good about the whole thing, their requirement being that I could demonstrate to the AME that I had full function back in my legs, with the reach and the strength to cope with the assymetric case. After that my licence was re-instated immediately. Good luck, whichever way you decide to go.