Have you tried having decompression therapy?
It was my saving grace. I was scheduled for back surgery, in the worst pain of my life, and found out about decompression therapy. I had 3 sessions one a day for three days and by the third day I was able to drive myself in, before I was having to lay down in the back of the SUV. I was pain free in a couple more days. It is like traction for the spine. I am a walking testimonial. But it has to be done before surgery, nothing lost in trying it.
Now I go in a few times a year for maintenance and I feel when I need it.
Lots of physical therapy facilities have decompression tables and some chiropractic clinics.

Seek another opinion or even two other opinions.

Second opinion!

and are you seeing the right dr? the ortho dr couldn't do anything about traveling pain (except the shots), and suggested seeing arthritis instead...

Just maybe your doctor can't see the improvement that could be archived with surgery, aka, it might not be getting better with surgery?

Yes, get a second opinion!

Moni

Ask you doc to refer you to someone he respects.

Explain what happened and what you would like to happen and see what the second doc says.

I saw two docs at the spine clinic at our local, large clinic. They both said about the same thing - don't bother us, we have people with many problems and yours is not enough of a high priority!

He probably won't do surgery because he doesn't think it will help, for one reason or another. Once you have a failed back surgery, you have no more options. Surgery is not a definitive cure, and in fact could do more harm than good. If it were me, I would seek another opinion but would weigh heavily what both doctors are telling me. You can find anyone to do surgery, but are they doing it with your best interests in mind is the question. I have had terrible back pain, so I understand your pain. Many times, it will heal on its own but it takes time and rest.

My DH had 3 back surgeries and they helped a lot. One time when he had new back pain he had the decompression therapy and his back got much better and he didn't have to have another surgery.

Ask your doc to send you to PT for decompression therapy. If he won't find a new doctor. Make sure you are seeing a neurosurgeon not an orthopedic doc for surgery.

Try all options that are non invasive and surgical before you go under the knife and then limit all other options. Surgery does not help for all conditions.

About Spinal Decompression Therapy
It has worked wonders for so many people. If you don't have a physical therapist find a good chiro that has a table for decompression.

sleeper is right. But get a second opinion to find out if your doctor is doing everything right. Get well!

My mom has degenerative disk disease and they told her once they stabilized the disks, the adjoining ones would have to surgery. And she did. I have spondylolisthesis (congenital back disorder which causes nerve pinching) and my doctor also told me not to do surgery. Pain pills and physical therapy and I was done with the pain. Unless I fall back into my bad habits. Physical therapy and I am back to reasonable pain levels.

Some MDs with the Physical Medicine and Rehab specialty (also called physiatrists, a clumsy and confusing word) specialize in treating back pain with non surgical means, including physical therapy and core strengthening exercises. This approach can be a lot of hard work but results can be truly miraculous. See if you can find one in your town for a consultation.

I won't resurrect the chiropractor discussion, I'll just say don't waste your time and money or risk your health. Stick with MDs.

Best wishes for improvement.