🚀 go-pugleaf

Advice and experience wanted:

I am a 44 year old male, dealing with my second serious bout of
sciatica in 8 years.  The first was successfully resolved with
micro-surgery and 6 months of post-op rehabilitation.  Now, 8 years
later I am looking at an MRI that shows tissue buildup around the
sciatic nerve root at L4-L5 but no real well defined re-hernation of
the disc material.  

Given my generally good health (non-smoker, lean build, etc.) my
doctors have recommended conversative treatment (PT, anti-inflamatory
drugs, epidural injection of cortizone, etc.) for 3-5 weeks, after
which surgery seems to be the prevailing suggestion.

The sciatica is pretty severe - I cannot sit or stand more than 5
minutes without pain reaching the bottom of my foot - and there are
slight deficits of touch (numbness) and strength in my right leg.

MY QUESTION IS whether anyone has had positive (or negative)
experience with (a) second surgery or (b) alternative care, including
chiropractic or acupuncture, for this ailment.

Please e-mail me at:    ksingle@mail.cpbx.net

Thank you for any suggestions!!!!