[MBW]

First and foremost, want to thank everybody on this site for the incredibly helpful information. Seems like I definitely found the right place to get good information re: my ongoing lower back issues.

My brief history-
hurt my back in college (lifting something- herniated disc lower back). Over years, on and off pain, but liveable for sure.
Cut to Dec. 2009- moving wood, hurt back again. This time, just not going away. On pain scale of 1-10, worst in morning. Pain level 4-5. Hard to bend/ wash lower body/ put pants on. A bit better during day. Also feeling some pain in left calf, slight numbness in left foot.
left foot.

Can I live with my pain level now? I think so. With that said, my low back pain absolutely affects my quality of life.
I would very much like to understand the following:

1) Is preemptive surgery a wise decision (i.e. if we know I am only going to continue to get worse…….)?
2) Is being young/ in good shape helpful in recovery assuming I was a candidate/ chose to have ADR surgery? Is there some argument to me made to have surgery when one is younger, as opposed to waiting?
3) Surgery, based on info I have read on this site, I have reached out to the Dr. Blumenthal in Texas, Dr. Bertagnoli in Germany, Dr. Regan and Delamarter in California, and the Boston Spine Institute. Would very much like to stay in the US if at all possible (assuming all things being equal, quality being the most important, followed by cost, then proximity to my location- NY). Any update on recommendations is appreciated.
4) United Healthcare- does anyone have any success getting them to cover the surgery?
5) And finally, is there any merit whatsoever to this minimally invasive laser surgery I read about?

Anyway, thanks everybody. I very much appreciate any insights the group can give me.