ANTWERP: Specialist herniated disk?

Try an orthopedic surgeon,  I had an almost identical problem years ago and had an orthopedic surgeon fixed it without a problem.  They might be more accessible than neurology. 

And from what you're describing of symptoms, surgery might be the best option.  It's not that bad.  18 years later, I don't regret it one bit.  My back had more flexibility and strength after recovery than it didn't before I had the injury and surgery.  To say there isn't reliable data to support surgery for this in not correct!

@romaniac Thank you for your reply! I'm happy you've been pain free for such a long time. It can be a very painful condition that has a huge impact on your stability in daily life. What type of surgery did you have?

With long term I am thinking more in the direction of 50 years. I can imagine taking tissue out of the back could have a negative impact on the spine at a later age, since the discs in your back keep wearing out more and more. This could cause the need for more surgeries, impacting the quality of life in a bad way and bringing more risk since the body doesn't recover that easily anymore at a later age. So I'm also very curious about the experiences of older people in their sixties and seventies (and older) who had a surgery around their thirties.

    @romaniac Thank you for your reply! I'm happy you've been pain free for such a long time. It can be a very painful condition that has a huge impact on your stability in daily life. What type of surgery did you have?
With long term I am thinking more in the direction of 50 years. I can imagine taking tissue out of the back could have a negative impact on the spine at a later age, since the discs in your back keep wearing out more and more. This could cause the need for more surgeries, impacting the quality of life in a bad way and bringing more risk since the body doesn't recover that easily anymore at a later age. So I'm also very curious about the experiences of older people in their sixties and seventies (and older) who had a surgery around their thirties.
   

    -@Nousch

I had surgery for a herniated disk L5-S1, when I was 30, which was nearly 20 years ago.    Guess what, no matter the choice, your joints and spine will deteriorate with age, that's just the nature of the human body for the majority of people.  IMO, it seems silly to worry about 50 years down the road when you say your partner is essentially disabled right now and in dire need of treatment.   I won't get into it further than this.  His choice is his choice, but I would suggest he gets fully informed before discounting the benefit of a surgical procedure, which a doctor (ortho or neuro) should be happy to help him with.