KIM
It depends on how severe the herniation is, an MRI will tell you that. My herniation is small and does not impinge my spinal cord. To me its an abnormaility that shows on my MRI. When it first happened it caused me alot of pain. I am an active pain management patient. I too have had an epidural but my biggest pain gernator has proven to be my facet joint. I had steroid injections and most recently radio frequency leisoning which burns the nerves that serve the facet joints. I fortunatly have a wonderful pain management doctor who picked up on it right away and has just about completely curred me. Yes I still have a hernated disc, 2 bulging discs, lots oa degeneration but I didn't have surgery and I lead a very active and productive life. Degeneration affects almost all people over the age of 25. A surgeon proposed I needed a drastic surgery but I didn't just a doc who has his head on straight and had the good ears to listen to me. Yes you will always have the degeneration which simply means there has been a loss of hydration to the disc. If the herniation impinges upon a nerve or spinal cord then surgery may be the only answer but always go the pain mnagement route first. My radical surgery that was proposed would have totally disabled me and I still function at a very high level despite my pain. Good luck to you. KIM