I have suffered with herniated and bulging disk in my lower back for over five years. I am being treated by a neurosurgeon and have chosen the epidural route which has helped moderately until now. The pain is there every day and I find no quality of life. I have new symptoms which are numbness in my feet and now in my hands the left in particular. I see a psychiatrist because I am having trouble coping with panic attacks associated with this, I am very hard on myself, I worked at the same job for the last 20 years, retail prior to that which was strenuous. I finally had to visit the OR this week for the fist time and was treated with narcotics and steroids. I have appointment with my neurosurgeon tomorrow, is it time to consider the surgery?