I have had 24 holes poked in my back and not a single one did any good, if they start talking about nerve blocks.....run, you don't want them, trust me.
I have L-3, L-4 & L-5 herniated and the only thing left for me is surgery but they don't give me very good odds on that and they don't want to do it because of my age also, the younger you are the less they like to opperate.
The best advice I can give you is see multiple Dr's don't take one Dr's opinion when it comes to surgery and other serious medical issues, I have been to 3 different pain management Dr's, 2 ortho Dr's 2 nuro surgens and 2 different chiropractors, to try different things and get 2nd or 3rd opinions.
Your spine is the worst thing to screw up, so for all you guy's who don't have any problems yet, be careful, it doesn't matter how big, strong, healthy, or young you are, it can give out just by twisting wrong, my case was too many years of thinking I was invincable, I was in the best shape of my life when mine let loose.
Bentiron, good luck, I wish you the best, I know what your going through.
welder19