Hello welcome to HCM, Surgery for herniated disc is absolutely indicated if 1.You have weakness in your legs( inability to move any part of your legs). 2. You have problem with passing urine or stools.3.your pain is unrelenting and non responsive to conservative measures which include bed rest,physiotherapy , nerve numbing medications and anti inflammatory medications all tried for a period of 12 weeks. If any of three conditions apply to your condition and it is affecting your quality of life and your job, getting the surgery done at the earliest is advisable. The source of pain can be inflammatory or mechanical. during the initial few weeks sine the pain is related to inflammation it has more chances of getting resolved on its own , but once the pain is related to mechanical pressure it is unlikely that your pain will resolve without relieving the mechanical pressure by surgery. If the pressure is due to inflammation you might do well even without surgery , whereas if it is due to mechanical pressure it is likely that your symptoms will progress if not operated. Hope this answers your question. With Kind regards, Dr. Shashidhar.B.K Spine surgeon Bangalore