Back surgeries and level of success or failure are very personal to the persons level of damage and quite frankly, pain tolerance. It’s very difficult to gauge your prognosis based on someone else’s surgery and recovery.
That being said, do your due diligence and find the best surgeon you can. As you said above, looking out of town may be your best bet. You need to research patient reviews, but more importantly patient outcome and infection rates.
Having 4 herniated discs in my lower back, I understand how horribly restrictive and painful back/neck pain can be. Hopefully you will get a reduction in daily pain, but also arrest the deterioration.