I am going to echo Bobby and recommend that you get a second opinion.

What some people do not understand about spinal issues...especially DDD - (I have that in a diagnosis too) is it cannot be healed. A key term in the diagnosis is degenerative....

What you can do is learn about it, evaluate your life, your condition, your pain and start taking the steps to acceptance.

What I would do if I were you is to first talk to the doctor who is treating me. I would explain my symptoms, my pain, my life, my hardships, and his diagnosis and ask why he isn't considering surgery.
(if surgery is what you want)

Take care of yourself.

Kim