Do I need surgery for a herniated disc?

These days, my life is really unbearable because of my back. ㅠㅠ

I'm in my late twenties, and I can't believe I already have a herniated disc. At first, I thought it was just some minor back pain. I thought, "If I rest a bit, it'll be fine," and didn't take it seriously. But gradually, the situation became more serious.

At first, I felt a tingling sensation while sitting, but later the pain became so severe that walking was difficult. Especially in the early morning, when my lower back suddenly prickled and hurt, I would really cry. When I went to the hospital and had an MRI, they said my disc had herniated seriously. The doctor told me, "You shouldn't neglect this."

I have a lot of worries right now. Whether to undergo surgery or opt for conservative treatment. They say surgery can lead to a quicker recovery, but at the same time, the risks of surgery can't be ignored. I also heard from an older sister I know that she had surgery and is suffering from aftereffects, which makes me even more scared.

I'm also receiving physical therapy, but honestly, the effects are minimal. It alleviates the pain, but I don't think it's a fundamental solution. It's very difficult to sit and work at my job. When I sit in a chair, my legs go numb, and I feel the urge to keep moving.

People around me give various advice like "Try visiting a Korean medicine clinic" or "Get acupuncture," but honestly, I don't know what the right answer is right now.

I'm still young at this age, but it’s so upsetting to suffer from back pain like this. I enjoy exercising and want to live an active life, but right now, it's very difficult. I'm really struggling with whether to have surgery or not, and which treatment to choose.

Please give me some advice. What should I do?