I have been suffering with lower back pain for two and a half years, having sought help with chiropractor, physiotherapy, laser, and acupuncture treatments.  Have now had a MRI and met with a neurosurgeon who has indicated he can preform back surgery on my L5-S1 vertebrae. He said he would chip (removing bone) a passage way between the two.  I understand this procedure could also possibly be done by endoscopic surgery.  Is one better or safer than the other?
Hi, thanks for writing to Chat Doctor. As all modalities of treatment have failed to provide you complete relief from pain, the next available option is surgical decompression. As you rightly said, endoscopic surgery is a better option than conventional open procedure. Endoscopic discectomy offers early return to your activities and generally, no bed rest is needed after this procedure. But, it has to be done by a surgeon having adequate experience in that field. Hope this information is helpful. Good day