I know people who will not have surgery for religious reasons.  I respect that but I totally do not understand it.    I have had surgery on both hands and arms to relieve neuropathy in both ulnar nerves.   I have 4 stents that keep the circulation going in my legs and two more that keep the heart functioning normally.  In April of this year I had a Total knee replacement.    In July I went with the Boy Scouts on an 80 mile backpack trip.   Following that with a two week camping trip with eight of my grandchildren.  
Thanks to modern surgery, I am enjoying an active life at 79.  Without surgery, I would have died over 10 years ago and the last years of my life would have been as a cripple.