Welch said even bending down to tie up his shoes ... He’ll have surgery to correct the issue after suffering “shooting pain” down his leg even when he sneezed. “I’ve got a long life ...

Melbourne Storm veteran Christian Welch has confirmed his immediate retirement ... to relieve the nerve pressure in his left leg which has left him struggling to do "pretty basic life things".

Christian Welch has opened up on the debilitating injuries that forced him into retirement, while Melbourne have presented the NRL with a bulging medical report as they attempt to free up his $ ...

Welch is now preparing to undergo a discectomy to relieve the nerve pressure that makes simple things like bending over extremely painful. Christian Welch (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images ...