Who was "they" that diagnosed you?
Was it from a radiology reading only?

Have you seen a spine specialist?

If not, you need to see a spine specialist to evaluate and diagnose you.

You need a new MRI as well. Essentially, your MRI from 2007 is useless now as it is far to old to be of any real value.

Many things could have changed with what is going on with your spine and they only way to determine what is going on now, is with a new MRI and an evaluation with a spine specialist.

You need to see a spine surgeon, either an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spines only or a neurosurgeon that specializes in spines only.

Depending on what your MRI shows and an evaluation with a spine surgeon, would determine if surgery would be a good option for you.

Usually, all conservative measures are tried before surgery is considered, unless there is an emergency situation presenting.

You don't say how long ago you tried, chiropractors, NSAIDS, core strengthening and reduced lifting pts.

Did you do core strengthening with a physical therapist? If not, that may be why core strengthening didn't help. You not only need to learn to properly strengthen your cores, but you need to know how to do them properly with a spine problem. You also need to learn how to properly move and do things that a physical therapist will show you.

A spine specialist might want to try you on a reducing dose of steroids, called a medrol pack as well.

And yes, trasnforaminal steroid injections could help as can selective nerve blocks as well as surgery.

All of this is speculation as you need to be evaluated by a spine surgeon and have a new MRI done.

It does sound like, though, you are suffering with spinal stenosis. The question is the location, and what is causing the stenosis.

That you need to find out.

Good luck

Fran