Back Trouble

For almost a year now I've had trouble walking for more than 15 minutes.  Pain in my hip makes me stop.  I was diagnosed with some sort of disk fragment pinching a nerve in my spine.  So it was not my hip but a pinched nerve in my back that was causing the pain.
I ignored this for the longest time because when I stopped walking the pain stopped.  That was until a few months ago when the pain was coming whenever I stood up.  I was alternating taking Tylenol and Aleve all day long.
My doctor set me up for 3 spinal injections of steroid & pain killer.

Here is a description:  Allow a few seconds for the film to start. (REMEMBER TO HIT THE BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO THIS BLOG)
http://www.hopkinsorthogsh.com/lumbar_epidural_steroid_inject.html


If this does not work he may do spinal surgery.  It involves a 3 hour operation and 3 painful days in the hospital

Here is a description: Allow a few seconds for the film to start. (REMEMBER TO HIT THE BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO THIS BLOG)
http://www.hopkinsorthogsh.com/spinal_fusion.html

My rheumatologist told me not to have the operation.
Why:
- Sometimes the spinal injections work for many years.  Most of the time they need to be done once a year.  Too many injections given too close in time will weaken the spine bones. But they easier than the operation.
-The operation does not always work & is riskier.

I'm not sure what to do.