I am not a doctor. I am also not an advocate for surgery either. What is kicking my teeth in lately is this bandwagon all of these docs are jumping on with these shots like they are the miracle cure all.

Honestly how is a a nerve root block going to improve that situation? There is a foreign mass touching/rubbing/compressing the nerve root, which is the cause of the pain. Unless the magic formula they have in the shot is a shrinking solution your problem will be there indefinitely. I also don't think medication is always the best answer, but I know of more than a few people who have received the epidurals and after they essential overdosed the body over a series of injections they are worse off than they were before. The steroids are TERRIBLE to the rest of the body!

I could be wrong. It is open for discussion as this is a discussion board, but that is the way I see it. Dubious may chime in and have a better perspective but so far as I know there isn't a therapy that will retract that extrusion, nor a shot that will either. The body will not absorb it either. From what I read it seems that it would be a simple procedure to remove that piece with no other ortho work needed just a snip and cauterize, if that is even needed. It could probably even be done arthroscopically. Just my himble .02 and whatever way you go you have my thoughts and prayer's!