awww Kirsten! Good news but also some bad. But then you knew it was *something* and now it has a name right? I have the same thing only mine is in the cervical spine (neck area) and so far they tell me surgery is a last resort. First things they tried right away were anti-inflammatory drugs to help stop the swelling. There are also medicines they can inject right at the disc but I have not had that. Then I had physical therapy which was ice packs, hot packs, electrical zaps with a TENS unit and some traction. Traction helped so much that they sent me a unit to take home. Not sure if there is any such thing for lumbar discs though. While in physical therapy, I did see some lumbar patients fitted with belt-type things like you might see worn at places where they have heavy lifting work - sort of a support device-bust down to mid hip - like a corset!!. I wonder if they have something like this that you could wear to work in? You know, to keep your spine straight and aligned/supported? I also have a series of exercises to do every day to keep flexibility and build muscle strength with the idea of helping to use muscles to keep the dics from rubbing and touching as much by better posture, etc. Then I also have muscle relaxant and pain medication to take when it really flares up and I can't sleep. I also splurge on massages now and then! This may or may not be allowed for lumbar rupture!! The idea is to relieve muscle spasms.
So sorry you are having this! It is bad enough at the neck I know but I would think pain at the lower back would affect literally EVERYTHING you do!! I mean every motion somehow affects your back doesn't it? I sure hope that some of these other therapies will help you avoid surgery. I know that here, surgery they say is the last thing they try. But, only your doctors know your situation - still perhaps you can press for things to try first???
Take care and keep us updated please!! ((((((Kirsten)))))