Of course everyone is different. I have NOT had surgery at the advice of my neurologist. In March of 2010 I had major problems walking --- no pain but intermittent claudication, numbness, veering to the left -- had to use a cane. MRI revealed multilevel degenerative disk disease, compressed nerve (chronic radiculopathy), spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis. It's taken a year and a half and two major back outages but I've finally found a brilliant physical therapist and also normalized my vitamin D levels. At present I'm 85-95% improved and hoping my back does not go out again. What I'm trying to say is that recovery is slow (nerves heal at the rate of hair growth), but it can happen without surgery. I'm doing as well or better than friend who've undergone surgery but like I said upfront everyone is different.
That is my concern for sure. I am also wondering if after 8-10 months of herniation occurring if it will even be fixed with surgery
At a doc appointment the other day...still having some nerve pain after a L5S1 fuse, he said that the longer you walk with problems, the faster arthitis starts.