Welcome to the board. I'm not sure what you meant by the right track or which direction you are headed. I fear surgery when it is considered as the first option rather than the last. For many of us, surgery brings only temporary relief, then the pain and complications return, often worse than before...that is my experience, I am by no means saying what is best or right for anyone else on the board.
Some things to do before considering surgery might be a pain medicine more effective than Vioxx, acupucture, soaking in hot baths, massage therapy, yoga, etc. There is a book called Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn written for people with chronic pain that has helped turn my life around. Mind you, none of these things take away or cure ARD, they are simply ways of learning to accept the pain and have a good life and outlook anyhow.
Again welcome, Gerry...I hope you find some of what you need here, please feel free to e-mail me if you'd like.
Hugs,
Janet