Herniated S1-L5 with a tear as well. Also have a herniated T-8,T-9 and another in my neck. Can't remember without looking on the report what the cervical number was.
For my S1-L5 I had shots last of them was back in October where I had a series of 3 shots (below,at the site, and above the pain) and have had little problems out of it since. I am about due for another round here soon since they say they should last from 3-6 months.
Pain management told me the LAST thing they want to do is surgery because it might make the pain worse and also limit my movement so that's why they went with the shots. The first was an epidural and did nothing, second was a facet joint injection right at the site of pain that did nothing, this last time they sandwiched the pain area by going above, below and at the site of the pain. Worked just fine going that route.
Did the PT and chiropractor 3x a week for months right after I got my back injury and did help a little but not much. The PT seemed to make it worse when I did my core as well so the second round of PT they did in the pool. Worked but not for long. At the Chiropractor they did E-stem, decompression table as well as ultra violet light therapy and adjustments. The only thing that worked for me was the 3 site Facet joint injections. I take no pain meds and work a job where I have to carry a #85 ladder off and on all day long. No real issues but I do still have the ache and discomfort from driving for too long at a time but thats more muscular then anything else. Just have to be careful and watch what I'm doing and realize my back will NEVER be the same as it was before the accident.