I am now over 50 years old and have a long history of lumbar disc issues (herniated disc L4-L5 and buldging at L5-S1) for more than 25 years and only sought real treatment over the last 12 years due to work injury. I have degenerative disc disease from the top of the cervical spine to the sacrum. My first herniated disc stopped hurting after a few weeks in my early 20's. The major disc blew out at work when I was only 39 years old. I was a passenger in an auto accident that did neck disc damage and more lower back pain in 2006; had therapy and numerous visits for PT from that. Doctors who use the worker's comp system to their advantage give the patients all the hoops to jump through......he (Orthopedic doc) told me I had to go through a series of Three epidural injections done in a hospital setting for maximum $$$$ from the insurance company and none helped me; in fact the second hit the nerve and almost made me fall a couple of hours afterwards.

Bottom Line: YOU have to be informed as much as possible with the medical terms so you get the Doctor's attention much quicker that way. Get at the very least THREE verified opinions as to your condition. CAUTION: Do not let them do surgery unless they give you a better than 50% chance of improvement because you can get more PAIN from just the scar tissue left by the incision than the original pain the operation was suppose to help. Please heed this advise as from one who had to endure 10 years of worker's comp doctors before settling just last year and as I called it "Jumping through the hoops" the insurance company, former employer and doctors had me hopping right up to the very end.