[BRIAN]

If you needed surgery you would know it. Surgery is required when you have cord or nerve damages. If you have either you will loose strength in the associated part of your body. Certain middle back areas will cause you to loose feeling in your legs or even bowel control. Surgery does not usually correct pain issues unless the are associated with nerve damages or compression.

I think it is like 65% of Americans have herniated discs. Some do not know they even have them. Everybody has a different name from ruptured to slipped. If your disc was truly ruptured and hitting your spinal cord you would be in the hospital as you wouldn't feel a part of your body.

Injections do help but also be careful and make sure they are done by either an orthopedic surgeon or a certified pain mgt Doctor. Most back pain is muscle related caused by the body trying to correct itself from the disc movement.

Try a pilates based physical therapy and stay away from most chiro's. If you think your back hurts now think how it will feel after you operate on it. That is why you only get surgery to relieve loss of feeling or shooting pain not muscle pain in your back.