I have an 8mm herniated disk (L5) and still have pain after a year. Will I have a chance to heal without surgery?

I had an MRI that shows an 8mm herniation that is pushing on my nerve and causing pain. The pain comes and goes, and is less in the morning and more as the day goes on. I do exercises (pelvic lift, yoga poses) on a daily basis and use an inversion rack on occasion. I should probably use it more. I sit at a desk (with a good chair), and I sit on the bus for a couple hours a day. Before noon, I normally need to take a Norco and then another a few hours later just to get through the day without freaking out. Anybody ever heal up from something like this?