8mm is a very large herniation and it is also spilling into the s1 space....mine spilled like this too. I agree with surgery being the last option but this isn't going to improve at this point and depending on the size of the cord (smallest at this point) it may actually require the surgery to preserve the cord.

Get two opinions from doctors from different hospitals/groups.

thank you
 

Thank you for your responses. My son is seeing a pain management doctor who is doing the epidurals and prescribed the PT and traction

Did you have surgery gatorhead? If so what was the outcome like?

I have had 2 cervical surgeries and have not had a lumbar surgery.........yet. They have been trying for the past 3 years to get me to have the surgery but I will not do it! I will when the time comes, but for now mine is a pain thing svs mechanical, when it starts affecting something then I will decide too.