As with any spine problem, the key is making the correct diagnosis for the problem which is causing the pain. Surgery is technically easy. It is important, though, to make the right diagnosis beforehand. Currently, there is no large experience with this type of therapy, and it should be approached with significant caution. Sticking a needle into the disc is not a benign intervention.
Any infection caused by introduction of a needle into the disc can have catastrophic consequences.
I had heard about a thing where they put in a needle type device and heat it up. In this procedure, a thermal probe is introduced into the disc to shrink lax tissue. Although there is a new experience with this type of procedure, large long-term studies have not been done to either prove or disprove its efficacy. If it was my spine, I would use a more conventional treatment until those type of studies are available. At my hospital, I have seen one such catheter from such an IDET procedure broken off in the disc.