[annapurna]

With one level and beginning arthritis, you do have more options but with little disk left you do need to move out on those options to get yourself to the decision point quickly. There's lots of discussion on the board about where to go and who's the best or who's the best for the out-of-pocket cost. Rather than rehashing it, I'd suggest getting a copy of the MRI films and report, locating a local doc who'll confirm your pain originates with the L4-5 disk with a disogram (if that's necessary) and spending all of the free time until that's done finding a surgeon. As most surgeons want the MRI films to review as well as the report and like to have a discogram to confirm the pain source, you'll not waste your time there.