Anyone had surgery on Central Herniation?

Hello everyone I post here a little while ago for my back pain and with my MRI results. Long story short I have a central disc extrusion at L5 S1 and a bulge a L1 L2 . Both of those level also have minor degeneration. Recent EMG confirms S1 irritation ad minor nerve damage. I've had 2 epidurals with no relief, I have done physical therapy, rest, massage, and recently chiropractic. Chiropractic has given me mixed results at best. My neurosurgeon said I can go back to being an Emergency Medical Technician, which requires at times heavy heavy lifting because many NFL and NHL players still play with my condition and whatnot. He said I have to live with the pain or get a fusion, which he said is not smart to have at 23 (male FYI). I'm guessing he doesn't want to do a discectomy on a centrally herniated disc because of the lower success rates. My question is: Has anyone here had any success with a discectomy (either open or micro) on a centrally herniated disc? I know my disc is slightly degenerated at that level, but at 23 maybe I can recover. I want to be active again so at this point I'm not incredibly desperate because it's only been 3 months but I'm getting to that point. I know that most people here know what I mean I already made up my mind that I won't get a fusion at a young age unless I absolutely have to, because that is a major major surgery and I'm too chicken about what would lie down that road later in life, with me being so young. Maybe I should just live with the pain in my sacral area and legs? Not sure I'm just kind of at a loss for now. Thank you in advance to anyone and everyone and I hope whatever brought you to this forum is better soon.