Whether or not to have surgery depends on the severity of your symptoms, and surgery can be done if they are severe. The surgical options are one, to relieve the nerve compression, and two, when the compression is relieved, if the disc is empty or more bony structures are removed, you will need to be stabilized with stent fixation, otherwise you won't need a brace. The cost of the stent is about $30,000 or more. Without immobilization, there is some chance of recurrence. But not every recurrence.