Yes, I also think it's better to remove the cause, but these days, doctors here are reluctant when it comes to spine surgeries, that's why I was told to try alternative treatments first. They said that 90% of all disc hernias are treated without surgery. But my personal feeling is that I'm beyond the state where physiotherapy helps.

I had a back surgery in 2004 after my first herniated disc had been diagnosed, and it wasn't as bad as expected. In fact, I felt much better after that, and was immediately painfree. The bad thing is that they keep you in hospital for a long time here in Germany, in (2004, I stayed for 10 days), and after that, they usually send you to rehab for three or four weeks. In 2004, I could avoid that, but I don't think it will work this time, because the health insurance has already called and suggested rehab as soon as they heard that I have a herniacted disc. I hope I can do that in a day clinic, I don't want to leave my girls that long!