L4-5 laminectomy 2yrs ago. now disc bulging, severe back pain, was told symptoms does not relieve lower back pain, only the leg pain. is this true? pain=8

Yes, it's true: In general, surgery prevents further damage. The old added is if you operate simply for pain, you will be unhappy with the results. If there no other symptoms or signs, 80% of patients are the same, 10% better and 10% worse.

Very true: Thats what i tell my patients plus back inscions are painful not all symptoms can be subtracted.