If you are not on physical therapy you need to be on it and you ned to start an excersice program. I went through a simillar time in my life many people believe that the spine and the kidney's are related and it is common for people with back problems to have kidney trouble. I would highly recomend yoga every morning to start your day. Rodney Yee has a great video called back care yoga, losing weight is key as that takes the pressure off the disks and fixing muscle imbalances is a must as NO SURGERY IS GOING TO CORRECT A MUSCLE IMBLANCE and is you go though with the surgery and do not correct the muscle imbalance or lose the weight you will have problems with the level about the level that was fixed and will need another surgery.

My advice:
1)See a physical therapist
2)See an acupuncturist at least once a week and count on continuing to see him every week for at least the next 3 years
3)Lose weight even is you are not over weight every extra pound makes your back hurt more
4)Stat doing yoga EVERY DAY
5)Detox your body with kidney and gllbladder clense
6)Sunlight is key make sure your getting enough
7)Take you vitamines
8)Read and learn more

I know I'm talking a little hard to you and I know people have already told you all this stuff already but this is what works the surgery will be a wast if you don't fix the real problems.

May God Bless you
,Mike