John,
My husband also went to an orthopedic surgeon who gave him a steroid injection which had limited value. I do not recall what he recommend DH would do to cure his problem except he acted real afraid of the surgical procedure. We quit going to him.
The reason we ended up in Memphis is because of the results of others who had gone there and were treated successfully. The surgeon there (this clinic had 30 neurologists with most being surgeons), Dr. Engelburg, did not order a battery of tests to discern what needed to be done. My husband filled out a sheet detailing all he had done and he concluded all that is to be done is surgery. He did that, removed the disc, did not fuse it saying convalescence would take longer and the discs would fuse on their own anyways.
My husband's surgery was done 32 years ago and has never regretted it - remember this was long before it became commonplace. When people heard we were going there, you wouldn't believe the people that came by to discourage us from doing so. The only person among family and friends was his brother who was working on a Ph.D in biological sciences! But my husband's pain was so bad he could not walk upright - had to crawl on hands and knees. He sustained an injury by riding a horse barebacked.
In the years since he has had stiffness in that place, but he has been able to work like as though he never had the problem.
During this time a friend of ours in our church developed a similar problem and he did what popular opinion advised - no surgery, go to chiropractors and take their advice. It was not too many years since then he became disabled and still is. The contrast between these two men is striking.
Anyhow, it was 32 years ago when Rollin had his surgery and he had excellent results. But have learned since then not all who have the procedure done can say the same. Since this is the case, I would highly recommend you find a surgeon with an excellent tract record. Dr. Engelburg said his' were 90% successful, others said 50% or less back then. Just be careful ....
God bless.
ginnyrose