Is surgery necessary for someone who has herniated disk?

No there are many options and surgery doesn't always fix the problem. Physical therapy can help through exercise or heat, and to learn exercises to do at home that strengthen your muscles that support your lower back.
Rehabilitation programs teach you how to care for your back.
Chronic pain management programs help with your pain using medication, physical therapy, complementary medicine, and psychological counseling. There are many options don't go straight to surgery. Good Luck.

usually

Your doctor(s) will be better suited to answer that question based upon medical evalutions. Painmanagement is another story. Doctors may prescribe pain killers and you may have to deal with this issue for a very long time. There are other alternatives to managing the pain. Accupuncture, meditation, excerise, diet, and food supplements can help you to cope and handle the pain. I have heard personal stories of people with multiple injuires recover to where the pain is so drastically reduced through taking food supplements alone that their quality of life hs turned around for the better. As always, make sure you consult your physcian as well.

not having any medical degree nor any practical knowledge on the subject and as long as you left this question open to people like me I would say drill a hole through your flesh (a 1/4" bit would work fine) over the area of the herniated disk then squeeze a tube of crazy glue in to it. No need for a clean bandage over the area as the crazy glue dries quickly and will create a secure safe clean area over the wound cause by the drill bit. If this fails repeat the procedure but use two part marine epoxy.

My wife and I are both sufferers with herniated discs. As my wife's pain was much more acute than mine, the neurosurgeon insisted that she should have the operation, otherwise she would become a cripple.She was 23 years old at that time. In my case, I have managed very well with spinal traction, lumbar exercises and physiotherapy. I was 37 years old when it was diagnosed, and I am now 72.
Only a doctor can say whether in your case it is necessary.
Don't be scared. It is not all that bad. A good neurosurgeon can work wonders. Good luck and God Bless.

no normally a doctor will tell you they will not do surgery unless the disk is ruptured. but as long as it's only herniated they will normally just give you pain meds.