I have a herniated disc at l5-s1. i suffer acute back pain crisis frequently. should i resort to surgery?

Sciatica: True sciatica is leg pain that shoots from back, down the leg past the knee. This mimics the path of the sciatic nerve, thus it's name. Young patients more likely to have herniated disc. Older patients, pressure from arthritic spurs. All can be treated non-surgically if not getting worse. Physical therapy, tylenol (acetaminophen) or aleve, nerve blocks, the combination works 80% of the time.