44 yoa healthy male less my chronic, lumbar pain, 24/7, constant throbbing/aching w/a steady 6/7 & up pain level. Years of back pain, gradual. 1st Discography is negative. A 2007&09 MRI reveal L4-5 & L5-S1 DDD/herniations. All Ortho's deny me as surgical candidate for discography does not support it and I have never had, nor to this day, ever any leg radiating pain. ONLY in center Lumbar. I have exhausted all Interventional procedures, i.e. P/T, Chiros, epidurals, facet blocks, etc. PM meds. band aide the pain till my system gains to much tolerance, and I take a "drug holiday". Never been addicted to any med., but cannot work or even socialize without. I am looking for a surgical solution, not a remaining opiate style of life. A current Discography in 1/2011 however is POSITIVE matching the 09'MRI levels as "I screamed like a baby in pain", 1-10 pain level went up to 11 & 12 upon dye insert! Referring Ortho "will now" perform surgery as medical proof is there, even though the 09' MRI clearly shows the DDD in above levels. Million $ question is now: Ortho v. Neuro Surgeon? I have been told I have a healthy and strong spine. And we all know Ortho is bone & Neuro is nerve, right? And it is the nerve telling my brain to pain me. On 1/31st is my 1st time ever Neuro Surgeon consult. Either way, it is Ortho or Neuro to do the Disc. Fusion I need. I am leaning towards Neuro, for all data I have read and research done. Your thoughts please? Is Fusion the only option? Your thoughts on Laser Surgery? Fusion recovery time? Thx. for the read n your time! MegaLumbarPain out.