My range of motion is increasing, but my pain level hasn’t changed much.  We were able to determine that the dull ache I feel most of the time is probably the disc and the sharp pains I feel in flexion/extension/twists are my facets.  The disc pain might subside as the bulge is cannibalized by my body and begins to shrink, but the facet pain will increase as I lose more height and lordosis.   I cannot see my condition improving without some kind of intervention.  At least I have established that.

As for prolonging surgery:  Sure, I may be able to avoid surgery for a while yet… but I think it will bite me in the ass facet-wise years down the road.  I think some thing should be done sooner than later.