Some backs need ops some don't. My story and advice if I may 37 Years ago at age 26 I suddenly had severe pain. Back, left leg , the whole thing . I drank 12 Syndols a day. I see a specialist . Herniated disc L5 and 6. Fusion only option. Co worker suggests a chiro. A very specific one. Chiro explains problem. Sacrum sticky on the left. It doesn't move forward when I bend ,so the discs pop . Fuse 5 and 6 and you will end up fusing more because of the underlying problem. He told me that I may need surgery in the future and HE will send me to a doctor. That was almost 36 years ago. Every few years my back bites me again. I had to cancel almost all my races last year. I could hardly walk. X rays tells me my discs are gone and my posture bad. Visit same chiro and a feisty physio and I get better to about 70-80%. This can take up to a month or six weeks If I may . Get all the opinions but delay the op as long as you can. Find the root cause and try and work on that with stretches , yoga whatever you may find will work. I got specific exercises from the physio and chiro . My wife found a book with stretches for cyclists. I added some that may help me, but you must understand your specific problem to select what will work for you . Trial and error and know your new limits , a bit of luck and you may just get by without the op. I'm trying not to give an absolute opinion of this is good and that is bad. Good luck. I hope you get better. Edit: Physio recommended that I see a Bio for specific exercises , which I didn't but should. Chiro reckons the best thing for a back is to lie flat on a carpet , a small pillow under your head . Put your lower legs on a chair or table parallel to the floor ,so your back and thighs are at 90 deg. Arms at your side. Relax for 20 min or so. Repeat often.
