Finally, gerd symptoms can be compounded by defective clearance of acid and fluid from the lower (distal) esophagus due to esophageal damage or esophageal motility disorders learn more about surgery for hiatal hernia and gerd medical management of gerd lifestyle changes – the treatment of gerd begins with behavioral and lifestyle changes. Surgery treatment for gerd. Because you're taking a risk with any operation, you should consider surgery for acid reflux or gerd (gastroesophageal reflux disease) only after other treatments don't work, and when there's a.