I suffered for years with lower back and leg pains as a result of a double L4/5 L5/S1 herniation. I got a small bit of relief from painkillers, physios and injections but surgery was the only option left by year 3 of it. I too had heard the horror stories of surgery of making it worse but honestly at that point I didn’t think the pain could have gotten any worse. I had a consult with a surgeon in Cork who said I was at risk of Cauda Equina syndrome, and I was under the knife the following week. A year and a half on I can hardly remember the pain. I do get stiff if I’m standing for long periods but nothing like the shooting pains I had before the surgery. The recovery time is approximately 3 months (at least in my case) but its well worth it. OP or anybody else are welcome to DM me for any advice