Hi Afooa,
This is a difficult situation to manage. I really feel for you mate. I slipped my L5-S1 about 7 years ago. I was on 30/500 co-codamol and all other manner of POM; diazepam and gabapentin originally. I went through consultations for surgery, but like yourself was told that at the age of 26 the risk of further damage and repeat surgery outweighed the benefits, so was advised not to undergo operations.
Those epiderals didn't agree with me either. Minor relief, if any, and massive discomfort. I had just one before deciding I would have no more, so maybe seeing the full course through would be more beneficial, but I decided to never know.
The physio I found useful, if only to drag me out of my slump and get me to realise that exercise will help, but now involves a little discomfort/pain. Realising the difference between pain and discomfort became very important. Normally, pain makes you stop what your doing, and it's hard to retrain your body to ignore the chronic pain for benefits, while still paying attention to the pain which is debilitating.
Chirapracting helped, but I found it inconvenient for my lifestyle, as it would knacker me out for the rest of the day, and was more than I could afford. It didn't help long term I found either, not a lot I have personally found does for me. Its all ongoing pain -managment.
I was refered to a pain rehabilitation clinic, which did help. Some 'congitive rehabilitation therapy' I believe it was called. Just getting together with others in a similar situation helped me realise how to deal with it. There were some hard truths, and I'm not ashamed to admit I walked out of the first session when the instructor said "your pain will not get better or go away, this is a fact, but here you will learn to manage it so it doesn't affect you so much". I just felt total despair and wanted to escape and be alone, no other health professional had said this to me yet and it was news to my ears. I felt I'd been lied to. The best thing I did was listen to my wife and go back. I learnt how to live with the pain; not standing for too long, not sitting for too long, and realising that when work demands make the pain flair up, then that is possibly the worst it will be for the day, until I can get some ice on it, lie down, maybe use my back massage chair, take some ibupfrofen and 8/500 co-codamol, and maybe have a beer.
I sleep on my side, with a pillow inbetween my knees to avoid it getting any worse during the night. It's not a gauranteed good nights sleep for me, I still sometimes wake early in pain and cannot sleep again, but its better that not doing it. I'm down to 8/500 co-codamol, with 400 ibuprofen and some deep heat ocassionally, but I have two ice packs in the freezer to help with reducing the inflammation after a hard day. When I travel, they come with me, Hard days will ocassionally wipe out my evening, but they always come to an end, and I try to focus on that. I know this is probably not what you want to hear, but it's the best I've found, and I've been scouring the net for solution for over 6 years.
I've learnt to read my pain so I don't push it past the point where it wipes out my day. Some activities are unavoidable, like getting dressed and putting on shoes, but I do them in a way that limits the pain, such as sitting down, not twisting and using both hands. I also avoid altogether certain movements if they cause a throbbing sensation in my back, which I can push through, but I know will cause trouble later. I avoid using my hands to lift me out of a chair, as it will only make it more neccessary next time. It's hard, everytime, but correct posture is very important to maintain good pain managment, so I'm told.
Today I had an unavoidable situation at work, where I had to bend over some equipment for just a few minutes at an inconveinient angle, which set my pain levels up and it lasted for the day. Burning, tired, numb legs, and a stinking attitude which made me feel even worse when I came home to my wife and daughter and was snappy to them. I had trouble putting my daughter in her cot and had a very down day. I felt terrible, so spent my evening alone, with ice, ibuprofen, back massager, deep heat, co-codamol a beer or two, and came across your thread here. My wife is understanding to the point of unbelievable. Occassionally an evening is ruined, but then, it will always get better.
What can I do next? Get an few ice packs, a tube of deep heat and consider the pain management route. I highly recommend it. If it is anything like mine was, it will be very emotional, challenging and fun, but you will see the average age of participants is much higher than your own, and it is encouraging to see that everyone is making the best of the hand they have been dealt. You'll all be in it together and its good to talk to strangers who understand.
Is that me like this for the rest of my days? Unfortunately, probably so. But that doesn't mean it has to seem as bad as it is right now. I found the initial stages most depressing, with the least support. Doctor will realise they can't cure you and cut you loose. They are not to blame, they know no better. Your next option is the pain clinic. You should do this.
Am I now classed as disabled? No, I looked into this when I slipped mine initially, and so long as you can walk a certain distance, we cannot qualify for a disabled badge or allowances 
I hope you find a manageable solution to your situation. 