Hi there, I understand that you are hesitant for surgery, and I also understand the position of your doctors who are suggesting surgery. This is because we can already see that your disc problem is pinching your nerves, which is what is causing your pain. This means that it is more likely that the surgery will be successful in relieving your pain. Unfortunately there is no one single best option, and everyone will have their own preferences and opinions. One important point to consider is whether you have residual numbness or discomfort even at rest. If this is so, it is highly likely that there is already damage to the nerve, and surgery is definitely preferable. Otherwise, there is time to try physiotherapy and medication first, or even treatment with a chiropractor, and see how it goes for a few months. Some people find that this combination brings down the swelling in the nerve enough that they are left with symptoms that are bearable and they can live with, which makes surgery unnecessary. It doesn t fix the problem, but if it doesn t stop you from functioning daily, then you don t need to fix it. If there is not much improvement and you continue to be disabled by the pain, then the risk of the surgery may be worth it. There is the possibility that the problem will come back again because disc disease may happen at several levels and not just one, but you can t make decisions on a current problem based on what may or may not happen in the future. So yes, go ahead with physiotherapy or the chiropractor s and medication for a few months. However, do not be afraid of going for the surgery if the physiotherapy doesn t work well and the alternative means that you are so disabled by the pain. Hope this helps, and all the best to you. Regards, Dr. Teh