There's actually a pretty awesome web site explaining all sorts of things regarding disk herniations/protrusions etc at http://www.chirogeek.com/
The website is maintained by a chiropractor with lots of spine experience, including with his own back. I'd recommend sifting through some of the information he has on the site to better understand some of what you're going through.

I personally had surgery for a disk herniation in 2001, and just recently had a revision surgery to clean up a bit more of herniation and remove scar tissue (at l4/l5). The doctor only recommended the surgery because I had leg/foot weaknes and an EMG indicating that there was ongoing nerve damage. Had it just been pain he wouldn't have recommended the surgery. I did have relief from severe sciatic pain earlier in the year from a spinal injection done by a physiatrist (pain management MD); that's something else you could ask your medical professionals about.

Good luck!

Kay