Take a break from lifting heavy, and go see a physiotherapist or other expert who specializes in rehabilitation of sports injuries.
If the pain is not chronic when you're resting and not straining your back, then there is no need for surgery. First focus on rehabilitation and strengthening and flexibility exercises.
I recently had a knee injury which I thought I would need surgery for as the pain was constant and I could barely walk, but taking a long break from weights and being patient with rehabilitation has made my knee feel better than ever.
In my case, several of my muscles were tight and unbalanced, with trigger points in the muscles which were shortening them, tilting my pelvis (giving me back pain too for many months, making sitting for long uncomfortable) and pulling my patella out of alignment. I added foam roller exercises, stretches and ibuprofen for several weeks.
Most joint pain is due to muscles pulling at the joint, degeneration in the joint itself does not necessarily mean pain. My fathers back in scans looks like a train wreck, cartridge and bone worn in an 'advanced' stage but he is free of pain as long as he doesn't strain his back at awkward angle.
There are no nerves in the joint itself, pain will usually come from the surrounding muscles.