re: Herniated disc L5: Orthopedist or neurologist help

Have you had surgery?

At 32 I had exactly the same thing. Listhesis at L5-S1 plus the other things.
I was in the medical field and had a lot of people tell me not to have surgery. I finally thought that I could not take it any more and had the fusion. Pain is relative. What you think is a 10/10 today may be a 6/10 in 6 months.
If I could go back and redo one thing in my life, it would be not having that surgery.
Ten years later I continue to have trouble every day. The first surgery failed to fuse, had a revision done from the front to L5 S1.
I have had the discs at the two levels above the fusion herniate and rupture, requiring 2 more surgeries.
Oddly enough, the only thing that keeps that pain bearable at this point is exercise. If I miss a day, I know it. I ride a bike daily.
My advice is find a book called "Heal your own back" or the McKenzie Method and follow it religiously. This includes all manner of posture, forget about what sitting in a recliner feels like.Exercise daily and strengthen your core muscles.
Just my two cents from someone who has been there